Mathnasium Crowned Customer Service Champ

Customer service is key for any business.

But it is “especially important” for service-oriented businesses such as , says owner Julie Williamson.

“Parents are bringing their kids to us, trusting their kids to succeed in math,” she said. “When they first sign up, we assess them and then that allows me to put together a personalized program.”

That individual attention is clearly appreciated by youngsters and parents. The math tutoring center was named customer service king — well, queen in Williamson’s case — by Patch readers.

We started out with 32 businesses and after weeks of polling to narrow down the field of players, the championship round came down to Mathnasium and Oliver’s Cycle Sports.

“I told our students, our parents, our former parents,” Williamson said of Patch's competition. “It looks like they really paid attention!” 

Mathnasium of New Tampa opened on Cross Creek Boulevard in 2006, though Williamson took over from the previous owner in 2007. Her now-husband, Matt, had led her to Mathnasium.

“He was working here as an instructor,” said Williamson, who graduated from the University of South Florida in 2007 with a degree in biology. “I was working for a veterinarian, but when not working I would come in (to Mathnasium) and help out, volunteer. I very quickly realized I enjoyed being here more than my real job.” 

When the previous owner decided to sell the New Tampa franchise, Williamson and her husband, who is now a regional manager for the Mathnasium corporation, took out some loans and became business owners.

What is the most rewarding aspect of the job?

“Definitely seeing those math ideas click in a student’s head,” she said. “We get so many kids who come in and hate math. Once the ideas click, they don’t hate it anymore.”