When Martin Anderson enrolled at Pitt Community College in the early 1990s, he was focused on Industrial Construction—specifically the electrical trade.
A proud 1995 graduate of the program, the Greenville native seemed destined for a career in the skilled trades. But a part-time job at a sub shop on Arlington Boulevard would ultimately shape his future in ways a blueprint never could.
Today, Anderson owns and operates 27 Jersey Mike’s Subs franchises across eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. His recipe for success? Hard work, an entrepreneurial spirit, a commitment to building people up, and a positive attitude—instilled in him by family and fortified at PCC.
In this Q&A, Anderson reflects on the power of education, the lessons he learned behind the counter and in the classroom, and why he still makes time to wire an outlet when the need arises.
Q: What is your occupation, and how did you get started? Also, what is your favorite Jersey Mike’s Sub?
A: Most important things first: my favorite sub is a #4 (Old Italian), add salami. I get it “Mike’s Way” — no onions, light mayo, brown mustard, pickles and banana peppers.
While taking classes at PCC, I started working part-time at the first Jersey Mike’s Subs in Greenville, on Arlington Boulevard — the 27th location to open nationally. I loved being behind the counter, building relationships with the customers and the team, which is a major component of the Jersey Mike’s culture. When the owners, at the time, extended the offer to me to buy into the second location, I jumped at the opportunity and was fortunate to have an entrepreneurial-minded father who supported my decision and loaned me the money (at 8.25% interest rate) to get started in my Jersey Mike’s journey.
Over the next few years, we expanded and grew the market to include additional stores in Greenville, Winterville (beside PCC) and Washington, N.C. After eight years in this partnership, I decided to sell my shares and go out on my own with the purchase of an existing store in Rocky Mount. Since that time — through a lot of hard work, effort, trials and tribulations — I have grown into owning and operating 27 locations within eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. I have been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by an exceptional team and partners to help drive our growth and success.
Q: What can you tell us about your family?
A: I have been married to my amazing, beautiful wife, Melissa Monroe Anderson, for almost 30 years. She is also a Greenville native and worked at Vidant (now ECU Health) for 27 years in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Sedation Unit. She currently volunteers her time and works with multiple local charities that are important to us within the community.
I have two incredibly talented daughters who make me as proud a father as I could possibly be. My oldest, Merritt (28), lives and works in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and my younger, Anna-Gray (26), lives and works in Denver, Colo.
Q: What is one thing most people wouldn’t know about you but would find interesting?
A: The fact that I have operating partners in the vast majority of all the Jersey Mike’s locations I own. We have a business philosophy and model that rewards those team members with the character, morals, work ethic and attitude that line up with ours. As was done with me, we give them the opportunity to buy into our locations with us, as operating partners. This gives team members true equity in the company they are helping to run each and every day, with the full satisfaction of being an owner of the restaurant.
Q: What is the best advice you ever received and why?
A: My dad always preached to me and my siblings to have a positive attitude above everything else. He always said your attitude is a choice and when you choose to have a positive one, it will take you places further than you can imagine. He believed having a positive and optimistic outlook on life opens more doors and opportunities for people than most ever realize.
It is such a part of my fabric, I live by a quote from Zig Ziglar that I put at the end of every email I send that reads: “It’s your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude.”
Q: What has your PCC education meant to you?
A: What I learned in obtaining my Industrial Construction degree has been so integral in my personal and business life.
My focus was on the electrical side of the degree. Learning and understanding how electricity works and being able to utilize and teach others this knowledge in my home and at work has been invaluable. I love not having to call in an electrician and knowing how to switch out a breaker, an outlet or a switch in my house when one goes bad, and being able to connect my generator to my house when we are expecting inclement weather. I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Q: In your words, what is the value of PCC to Pitt County and the region?
A: There are two equally valuable things that PCC brings to our community and region.
First, there are so many young adults graduating from high school (myself included) who simply are not ready to make that leap into a four-year college. Reasons may include lacking maturity and direction, personal finances, or the simple desire to work and take a break from their academic life. PCC allows these young people the opportunity to navigate these real-life challenges they experience at this time of their life with the comfort of staying closer to home to receive and continue building the educational foundation that best suites them.
Second, we need smart, competent, skilled individuals in these technical trades offered at PCC. Today, for every five skilled workers we lose, we only replace them with two. PCC offers some of the best education and training in so many of these high-demand skilled labor positions. Most of the individuals attending these classes who learn these trades are from here, and once they graduate, they choose to stay here to work in our local communities, which is a ‘win-win’ for the students and the region.
Q: What would you tell someone who is considering going to school at PCC?
A: I would tell them PCC is an outstanding community college, regardless of your goals. You will build a strong foundation, whether your plan is to move on to obtain your four-year degree at another university or whether your goal is to learn a specific trade. It is a top-notch school, and you won’t regret your decision to attend.