Meet Steve – CertaPro® CEO (Chief Excellence Officer)
Steve has lived in Burke for the past 25+ years. He was born in San Diego, but as the child of a Naval officer, he lived in Norfolk, VA and Newport, RI and Aiea, HI and Los Alamitos, CA and Annandale, VA. Though this gave Steve exposure to many different cultures and different parts of the country, he considers himself to be a typical Midwestern boy at heart, due to the fact that his parents are both from Ohio.
Steve has since laid down roots in Fairfax County. He has lived there with his wife for most of his adult life, with the exception of four years of college at VCU and living in D.C. for seven years. He is a graduate of Lake Braddock Secondary, as are both of their children.
What does the path to becoming a CertaPro Painter® franchise owner look like? For Steve, it starts with a degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in Marketing and includes holding the position of CEO for two different companies, all while learning the in’s and out’s of marketing, sales, event management, and personnel management along the way. He has held the title of CEO for a logistics society and an association serving communications professionals in the cable TV industry. These roles have taught him how to be agile, how to understand a customer’s needs, and most importantly, how to run a successful business.
A Business Leader Who Loves Painting Should Lead a Painting Business
Steve decided to investigate owning his own business when the association he ran for 16+ years merged. He was ready for a new adventure, a new challenge. CertaPro Painters® was extremely attractive as a well-run organization. They strive for excellence in everything they do. Steve thought this felt like a natural fit. He had always painted and enjoyed home improvement projects in the past, he also had experience working as a carpenter during college in the summer. So, after thoroughly reviewing the background on CertaPro Painters®, it was an easy decision. Steve jumped at the opportunity to become a member of the CertaPro family, and he never looked back.
As the owner of a new franchise, Steve has the rare opportunity to build a business from the ground up – and as a man who has managed successful businesses in the past, he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. His key roles are planning, budgeting, recruiting great painters, and doing estimates for customers.
Excellence is the Only Option
Steve is extremely passionate about doing an excellent job for his customers, and he only hires people with a similar passion for customer service. He wants his employees to understand the transformation they can have on a customer’s home. As Steve says, “We need to paint with an attention to detail as if we are painting our mother’s home.” It is important to provide quality work, which is one of the reasons his franchise is EPA RRP certified for homes built before 1978.
“The greatest thing about being a CertaPro Painter® is helping customers change a space within their homes into a dream they have always wanted. I get the same feeling of satisfaction with an exterior job. Customers see how sharp their homes now look, but they also receive the peace of mind knowing that it’s protected for years to come from the harshness of mother nature.”
Who is Steve When He’s Not at the Office?
When he’s not working, Steve and his family love to travel. They have taken trips to Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and all over the United States. His wife’s favorite destination is Hawaii. The family has been on three different trips to Hawaii, and each time they explore a new island!
You can also find Steve exploring his local community or attending a Washington Nationals game. He is a season ticket holder, and has been since their first season in D.C. in 2005. Go Nats!
