Welcome to a new series highlighting the winners of the 2025 MPI Champion Awards. MPI launched the Champion Awards to celebrate the best in the paint and coatings industry. Each champion sets the bar in product performance, sustainability, education, and leadership. These companies don’t just make great products; they advance the entire industry.
We’re kicking off with Harris Paints, the recipient of this year’s Commitment Champion Award. Based in the Caribbean, Harris Paints has built its reputation on more than color. Their team is deeply invested in raising the standard for coatings across the region—from adopting MPI systems to training staff as trusted, knowledgeable advisors.
“We are very honored and excited to receive this award,” the Harris Paints team told MPI. “Too many times people think that small islands are not able to achieve the same standards as international products, and that’s just not true.”
That sentiment captures the spirit of Harris Paints—bold, proud, and rooted in a commitment to both local knowledge and global best practices. Their deep integration of MPI systems has allowed them to not only match international standards but to elevate the experience for customers across the Caribbean.
“With the help of MPI, we can showcase the quality of our products alongside global competitors,” they said. “This is a very meaningful tribute to our partnership and to our teams.”
Education as a Competitive Advantage
One of the qualities that stood out most to the MPI judging committee was Harris Paints’ emphasis on coatings education. Their commitment to training isn't just internal. It shapes how they serve and support customers.
“Highly educated sales staff can help customers understand the differences between products and guide them on how to prepare and use paints to get the best results,” the team shared. “Above all, our commitment to MPI standards and training gives our staff a lot of confidence, and that’s infectious.”
MPI-trained sales professionals at Harris Paints are equipped with deeper knowledge of product chemistry, performance testing, and problem-solving, which gives their customers peace of mind that they’re getting expert guidance along with quality products.
A True Partner in Progress
Harris Paints has been a collaborative partner in advancing MPI systems and training in new geographies. From organizing regional education programs to qualifying products through MPI testing, they’ve been proactive in pushing the industry forward.
“The MPI team has been very responsive and supportive every step of the way,” they said. “In organizing training, where there were a lot of changes to accommodate, they remained very flexible and gave our teams the best chance of participating and qualifying.”
That kind of cooperation is what the Commitment Champion Award was designed to recognize: companies that don’t just comply with standards but help shape what excellence looks like across the industry.
Looking ahead, Harris Paints is embracing the future of coatings with the same energy and intention that earned them this award. They’re exploring new ways to embed sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation into their products and services, including an AI-powered color matching tool and enhanced multi-surface performance offerings.
They’re also calling for the industry to step up. Not just in terms of technology, but in how we measure success.
“Many companies have moved to an ESG approach, and this will help the industry promote more holistic, long-term value creation,” they said. “It’s a trend we all need to embrace or race to keep up with.”
Harris Paints is already leading in this mission, and that’s why they were selected for this year’s Commitment Champion Award.
Learn More
The MPI Champion Awards recognize companies that go above and beyond to promote better coatings, smarter systems, and a stronger industry. Learn more about the program and explore other winners at www.mpi.net/champions.