For Paul Kapothanasis ’82, choosing the University of Southern Maine came down to finances and family. Staying close to Portland, he used a tight family budget to earn an Accounting degree from USM’s School of Business, a decision that proved life changing. When his father Constantine proposed launching Prompto 10-Minute Oil Change in 1984, Paul was ready to join him. Applying the skills he learned in accounting—internal controls, financial management, and strategy—Paul helped expand the family business. Today he leads the growing company as President, overseeing 26 locations across Maine and New Hampshire.
USM remains at the center of Paul’s story. Two of his three children graduated from the University, his company employs one of them (and many other USM alumni), and he continues to recruit interns from the School of Business. He credits the program with giving him the tools to recognize and seize opportunities. “People in Southern Maine sometimes miss the boat and think they need to go out of state,” he says. “But right here in your backyard is an accredited, excellent business program.”
In 2019, Paul’s family lost the man who had urged him to study accounting. To honor him, Paul established the Constantine Kapothanasis Accounting Scholarship, supporting students who show promise and perseverance. “Accounting was the best decision I ever made,” Paul reflected. “It’s served me well my entire life, and I wanted to give other students that same chance.” For Paul, the scholarship is more than a gift—it’s a legacy that ties family, education, and business together. He has a message for business students who dream of building something that can last as Maine evolves.