DO NOT pay money to go here if you are looking to become a Household or Estate Manager. They will NOT help you find a job. Also, their training is a complete joke. You are stuck in an old warehouse the entire time and it is not hands on what so ever. The first week, you have Charles just talking and talking about himself and his book or his clipping in the newspaper or the show he goes on every week. He does not provide any real on the job training. Then they have these people come in who are suppose to be experts but all they do is just talk about themselves and cannot really offer you much. Plus, if you come in from out of town or out of the country like myself, they don't offer housing, so you are on your own to find a place to stay and live for the month. They don't have advice on where you should stay or where a good and safe location is either. The clothes they have there for you fold, iron or pack are from a dead guys closet and it smells like urine. The so called bar/wine training is a joke. The guy who teaches that class doesn't teach you anything about managing a wine cellar, doesn't teach you the finer things on bartending or planning a party, he again is just someone that talks about himself and things he has done in the past. Then you have the lady who is suppose to teach you about etiquette and party planning but all she does is read to you from a book and again, fails to teach you anything about party planning. All in all, this was a HUGE waste of a month and a big waste of money. There are way better places out there, you are better off going to Mary Starkey's in Colorado or Professional Domestic Services in Ohio. They give you hands on experience and useful information. Better yet, contact DEMA and see if you can shadow an actual butler or household or estate manager for a couple weeks, you'll actually get to see how to manage a household and see how things run and what to do, how to act, and how to truly manage the household in a professional manner. Again, DO NOT waste your money here. They will not help you find a job. There were 6 of us in the class and Charles MacPherson and his staff have not helped any of us after we graduated. I've spoken to my classmates numerous times and they all say the same thing, they won't respond back to your calls or emails. Honestly, why would they? They already collected your money, so why would they bother to help you afterwards? It's a scam. Please, don't waste your time or money here. You will be sorry if you do... read more

I chose to attend the Jan-Feb 2015 session of the Charles McPherson Academy for Butlers and Household Managers because I knew there was quite a lot about private service I hadn't yet been exposed to or had the opportunity to master. I was returning to private service after 10 years away and wanted to be competitive as a candidate and exceptionally well-prepared as an employee. I researched several different academies in the US and found the Charles McPherson Academy to offer the curriculum, learning environment, schedule, value, and, most importantly, the reputation in the private service community that I was looking for. As a graduate of the Academy, I received superb training in a wide range of skills pertinent to Household Managers (a.k.a. Butlers) and also tremendously valuable to Personal Assistants (my focus). The curriculum covers Household Management, Butler Skills, Etiquette & Protocol, Table Setting & Service, Valet Skills, Event Planning, Wardrobe Management, Laundry, Housekeeping, Household Mechanicals, Cigars, Coffee, Cooking, Wine, Champagne, Mixology, Security, and First Aid, all in 4 very full weeks in Toronto, Ontario. Mr. MacPherson presented the Household Management topics and subject matter experts presented the other topics. The Academy staff were actively involved in each day's lessons. We were quizzed every morning on the previous day's lessons and corresponding sections of the textbook, which provided a timely gauge of how well we had learned the material. There was also a mid-term and a final exam. A fellow student and I met up for study sessions, which helped us both. While attending the Academy, Mr. MacPherson helped me negotiate an offer from an outside recruiter to work as a Personal Assistant / Head of Domestic Staff, a position I would have felt unprepared for if it hadn't been for the Academy. Since graduating, I have referred back to the training and the text book often for guidance on household matters. My fellow graduates and I keep in touch and look out for one another. Mr. MacPherson and the Academy staff are very supportive and assist with recruitment placements as well as work-related quandaries, which is invaluable. Of course, no one recruiter's net is large enough to catch all of the job opportunities, so it's still important to work with multiple recruiters. I am proud to be an alumna of the Charles McPherson Academy and believe attending has been an extremely valuable investment in my career and my professional network. I highly recommend the Academy and am happy to try to answer any questions you may have. Heather Higgins heather@heatherhiggins.com read more

I proudly graduated from the "Certified Household Manager" program at Charles MacPherson Associates in June of 2013. Previously, I had been a part-time Property/Estate Manager for 4 families in Connecticut and had decided I wanted to become a full-time Estate Manager for one family. In order to accomplish that, I knew that I would need to add to my training and credentials. After researching my options and talking to graduates and representatives from a couple programs, I decided on Charles MacPherson Associates. I am very happy with my decision and everything about my experience there. The 1-month MacPherson program is a fantastic way to immerse one's self in the mindset of a Household Manager and in my view is a critical first step in landing a position in the field. The program is designed to give students an overview of all aspects of household management. Aside from all the great training, just having Mr. MacPherson and the other various expert instructors there to answer questions, was worth the tuition alone. All of the staff and instructors were warm and professional, and the school has a family feel to it, which made being away from home for that long much easier to handle. About three months after graduating the program I was placed as a full-time Estate Manager for a large estate in Greenwich, CT. I worked there for 14 months, and then landed my dream job as an Estate Manager for an exceptional family in Aspen, Colorado, where I have been since November of 2014. Much of what I learned at CMA has been essential on a daily basis at both of my full-time positions. Fortunately, Mr. MacPherson has always been there for me when I had questions or difficult situations that I needed guidance with. Again, that alone is worth the tuition. Although I did have some fun there, make no mistake, the program is challenging and the schedule exhausting. However, I am so happy that I decided to attend and if given the chance, I wouldn't change a thing about the experience! I would recommend this program without reservation to anyone who is serious about becoming a successful Household or Estate Manager. read more

As I was researching the web for information regarding the Charles Macpherson Academy in Toronto on a course in Household Management I came across a disturbing review regarding the Academy on Yelp. Fortunately the sole reviewer did nothing to deter me from attending this outstanding Academy as it was clear to me the reviewer had only one purpose which was a failed attempt to tarnish their reputation. So, for the sake of future reviewers who may be considering attending the Academy it is indeed my pleasure to provide the following comments, including my personal contact information for follow up should you so desire. My initial and follow up calls to the Academy prior to attending were met with both professionalism and sincerity by Judy, Scott and Charles himself. They answered all of my questions and any concerns I had truthfully and promptly. At no time did they, or have they guaranteed me job placement during, or after the course. They did promise every effort would be made to assist me in finding a suitable position upon successful completion of the course, but also added it would and will require my own personal effort as well. They have been very helpful in assisting with the revision of my resume and have sent out, as they do for all students, a very well prepared Graduate Book to several recruiting agencies they partner with. During my initial research of the academy, including several Private Service Industry contacts, (current butlers and estate managers) recruiting agencies and DEMA, I was pleased to hear that all provided me with positive and encouraging feedback regarding this Academy. On arrival of the first day I was pleasantly surprised to find the Academy located in a convienent location to buses, trains, shopping restaurants etc. The internet provides many options on where to stay near the Academy, but in particular, the useful student handout I recieved prior to attending contained a pluthera of information on where to stay, eat, shop etc in Toronto. The school is located in an older, heritage style building and the classroom itself is very well outfitted with everything students would need during the many practical components of the course. Top of the line equipment such as Miele and several pieces of high end clothing were available for classrom instruction. It was a very clean and professionally organized facility as I anticiapted it would be. Opening day with Scott and Charles was very pleasant as they informed us of all the rules, regulations and policies regarding the course, many of which are mandated by the Ontario School Board of Education. This course would not be a cakewalk, there is much content to absorb in 4 weeks, 6 days a week, with reading assignments each evening. Should any student fail to meet certain requirements expected of them they would be informed, and likewise, should the school fail at anytime to meet their expectations they were invited and encouraged to speak with any of the faculty at anytime, in particular with Charles himself. The instructors were nothing short of professional as they shared with us with their impressive bacgrounds and stories to start followed by very informative theory, combined with practical hands on demonstrations. Everything one needs to know in order to successfully run a household is taught during this intense, yet fun and engaging course where everyone is encouraged to participate and ask questions as often as they wished. You will be successful in gaining an exciting career in the Private Service Industry if you study, listen carefully, ask questions and participate in class each day. Graduation Day was performed as though we had all just graduated from university and combined with more importantly how professionally run overall the Charles MacPherson Academy is operated, it was indeed a First Class experience! Mr. MacPherson's favorite quote "Stay professional and you will never go wrong" will be forever imbedded in my mind. Despite my several years of international hospitality management experience, it was very much a valuable, learning experience for which I consider myself fortunate to have attended. Thank you to all the staff at the Charles MacPherson Academy, and Mr. MacPherson for providing a reputable and outstanding Academy preparing those interested in pursuing a career in the Private Service Industry! Kindest regards, Mike Hryniuk - mikehryniuk@gmail.com read more

It is my sincere pleasure to provide this extremely positive review of the The Charles MacPherson Academy (CMA). As a point of background, I am a United States citizen who made the decision to temporarily reside in the Toronto metro area for four weeks specifically to study at CMA and recently became a graduate of their certified "Household Manager" program. Without hesitation or reservation whatsoever, I can confidently state that Mr. MacPherson, his entire leadership team, administrative staff, course instructors, program content, facilities and overall experience more than exceeded my well researched and professional expectations. The level of overall professionalism, attention to detail, qualified instruction, core curriculum, hands on experience, working tools, private industry network building and placement services that CMA has and continues to provide me far outweighs the time, travel and money that I personally invested. Several of the previously posted 5-star YELP reviews have already highlighted many of the positive attributes of CMA that I experienced as well. So I offer this insight for the reviewer to consider ... as with all things in life, you really do reap what you sow. Set a goal, believe that you can achieve it, stay laser focused, keep the faith, execute your plan and receive the success and satisfaction that you desire. And one of the consistently best investments will always be that of investing in yourself .... consistently planting the seeds for personal and professional development and continuous improvement. My goal was to simply enhance my current portfolio of professional skills / experience and acquire new levels of knowledge and expertise to, ultimately, provide the highest level of private service to my employers. Prior to selecting CMA, I personally conducted a full year of due diligence and explored in depth all of the private industry academy and training options on the global stage. And after all of my research, meetings with private industry veterans, attendance at private industry conferences and conversations with employers who ultimately make the hiring decisions, all roads lead me back to investing in myself with CMA. The "pro's" far exceeded any "con's" based upon my homework and hard analysis. So if you are currently a veteran private service professional, or are making a complete career change from another industry or are starting your professional career with a genuine heart for service, I will reaffirm again that an investment with The Charles MacPherson Academy will truly help you to nurture your seeds and reap the success and satisfaction that you desire in the private industry. Warmest regards, Eric T. Wilson Washington, DC U.S.A. read more

I work in private service helping to run a multimillion dollar operation. This is the new career I now practice with the title of Household Manager. My entering into this field and the success I'm enjoying is entirely due to my training with The Charles MacPherson Academy for Butlers and Household Managers. The instruction was informative and thorough, and the instructors very supportive. The personnel in the front office helped in multiple ways and offered important guidance, up to and including my 1st job placement, which I am thankful for. With no prior direct experience in this field, within 6 weeks of completing the course I was employed part-time. Five months later, I entered full-time service in a busy metropolitan household where I continue to thrive and utilize the skills I was taught. I receive the level of remuneration I'd planned to and have already received 2 increases. Not a workday goes by that I don't rely on the knowledge and education I received during my training with The Charles MacPherson Academy for Butlers and Household Managers. I highly recommend their training and expertise to anyone pursuing this career; without it I would not be enjoying the position I have today. read more

I graduated the program at Charles MacPherson Associates in October of 2015. In February 2016 I taught the Housekeeping and Laundry components of the program to the graduating class. I absolutly love the opportunity to teach and have all intentions of teaching a class again, if the opportunity arises. My review however is a focus only on my classroom expierence as a student. I am doing this for fellow students who are considering the program.  Before enrolling, I did my research carefully. I was concerned about how much new information I would actually be learning after just having spent a decade working as crew onboard privately owned superyachts. While making inquiries, the staff at CMA were always nothing but polite, helpful and honest with me. It was a big decision to make as I would be commuting 6 hours a day and leaving my infant son in daycare for the first time. It turns out the Cambridge to Toronto commute was a time for me to catch up on reading and relax.  It turns out it was worth it, to make that commute twice a day and be in a classroom with instructors who were interesting,  educated and so completely knowledgeable in their subjects. I was also lucky enough to have incredible classmates who were all true professionals, I learned so much from our group discussions.  I could not of asked for a better classroom expierence. The classroom itself is very clean, organized, spacious, airy and set up comfortably. We had all of the amenities we required at arm's length, from high end laundry equipment, to cleaning supplies. I found all of the expectations, rules and regulations were mapped out to us clearly on the first day. I loved the Butler of the Day responsibilities - it kept us all on point and was an accurate way to teach accountability and responsibility while managing the environment.  Each of us had our own updated version of the CMA textbook and additional notes which we used throughout the entire program and took home after graduating.  No empty promises, no wasted time, the focus was learning the top standards and best practices in the House Management.  From ironing a shirt, to understanding how household machinery operates to Household Organizational Charts, we covered a lot of information everyday.  This course is interesting, practical and run by a body of true professionals. I am very proud to of graduated from the school and would offer my highest recommendation to anyone interested. I would also be happy to follow this review up with a phone conversation to those of you who are interested and have questions on my experience at the academy.  Jodie Lee read more

I highly recommend the four week household management program. It is very comprehensive, well organized, and taught by professionals including Mr. MacPherson. The amount of information provided is exhaustive (in an amazing way) and the hands on instruction provided is on point and very thorough. The manual each attendee receives who enrolls for the entire program is itself a detailed, lifelong reference. Mr. Gayman, Director of the Academy, ensures the program runs smoothly and assists each attendee with their concerns and needs with the utmost professionalism. Mr. MacPherson, the Founder, personally opens his door to each attendee as well and invites each one to discuss their career goals with him. Every instructor also provides assistance during each section they teach, as does the entire office staff in the areas they are involved with. This includes Ms. Muromoto, Director of Recruitment, and Mr. Koeller, Director of Placement, who provide the utmost personal assistance to those attendees who are interested in being placed in a position with their resume preparation and being presented as candidates. Upon graduation, each attendee is reminded that the office is there to provide placement support and any other future assistance possible. In addition, each graduate receives a one year membership in the Domestic Estate Management Association. I do not believe those interested in domestic service education, training, or placement could ask for or receive more from any other domestic service educational institute. read more