A moving truck pulls away, the driveway clears and a thank-you text hits the dispatcher before the team is back on the road. Roman Cowan, brand president of College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving, wants that experience to feel the same in every market—fast, respectful and dependable—because reliability is the real differentiator in a service built on motion.
Cowan set a high bar for hiring, development and retention so every franchise could field A-players, then backed that standard with clear expectations and coaching from field leaders. Playbooks tightened, KPIs clarified and managers learned to turn daily metrics into practical decisions. The shift wasn’t cosmetic. Locations began to run with more consistency, and the network gained a reputation for follow-through that traveled from phone quote to final sweep.
Cowan pushed adoption of artificial intelligence for routing, scheduling and support, which reduced drag and gave crews more time with customers. He treats AI as an amplifier for judgment, not a swap for it, and pairs tools with training that grows problem solving, communication and leadership. The goal is simple: Do more with less while raising the quality of every touchpoint.
The path to the brand presidency reads like a long apprenticeship. Cowan first met founders Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman while still in college, then moved from trusted advisor to executive who could see finance, operations and culture as one system. A certified public accountant by training, he applied that rigor to profitability and brand stewardship without letting spreadsheets eclipse service. Under his direction the company set records, lifted recognition and built a bench that reflects the values on the trucks.
Ambition stretches beyond the next quarter. Cowan works from a 10-year horizon that includes a roadmap through 2035. The plan is to lead the category in customer experience, sustainability and community engagement while expanding offerings that add value beyond moving and junk removal. That means tighter design of services, a stronger footprint and leaders who advance through continuous learning so progression becomes habit.
Energy spreads because Cowan makes progress visible. He spotlights wins from the field, listens hard when something breaks and shares simple rules that travel: Act quickly, communicate clearly, finish strong. Gratitude shows up often, not as a slogan but as a discipline that keeps teams steady when cycles shift.
A Titan 100 Honoree, Cowan stands out for converting hustle into a system that works at scale. He champions mentorship that lifts franchise owners and frontline teammates, and he holds the line on standards that protect trust. The result is a brand that moves more than furniture. It moves careers, strengthens communities and proves that disciplined care can turn a fast-growing idea into a company people recommend without being asked.
