About

My painting career began the day after I graduated high school in 1986.   At first it was just a way to pay for college.  I started out living at home under mom and dads roof painting for my older brother (who worked my tail off and paid me peanuts), and going to Schoolcraft Community College.  My brother moved on to another business and I worked for his ensuing proprietor.  Those were fun years learning the trade and developing my skill while inching toward a college degree. 

It was the fall of 90’ when I decided to start working for myself.  I put my 2 week notice in and bought ladder racks for my 79’ hand me down Bonnieville.  My first jobs were for my friend’s parents and their referrals.  It was on the first job that I did on my own that my friends father Dave Cifaldi had told me “Tom, I think you found your calling”.  I had no idea how true those words were. 

I knew that I was a good painter at a very young age.  Coming from a family with five kids I learned that what ever I wanted I had to work hard for.  What I wanted was to earn my bachelors degree in business.  In the winter of 1990 I transferred to Eastern Michigan University.  That is where I met my Entrepreneur professor Jim Brady.  Mr. Brady was a management consultant in the Ann Arbor area who taught this course as an interim professor.  He taught with a passion for his students.  He made me realize that painting could be more than just a way to pay for school.  It was then I knew.

I graduated from EMU in August of 92’ and began working on my career. As a licensed painter I have worked a mix of interior/exterior, commercial/residential.  In recent years I have focused on residential interior painting.  My love for painting in all of these areas has been tempered only by the physical price one pays doing this work every day.  Today my clients are 90% repeat customers with many of them waiting weeks for me to get to them.  They wait because they know that I appreciate them and want to do the best for them and I thank them all.

Personally I have been happily married to my beautiful wife Beth since 2001.  I have a seven year old son and a 16 year old step son.  Look for them during the credits of the Paint Like a Pro video.  I live in Plymouth Michigan about two miles from where I grew up.  I am involved with the local A.M. Rotary club and am a Detroit Tigers fan and a Piston fan……sorry Lions.

Painting is a learned skill.  Don’t learn from your mistakes.  Learn from the Painting Guru.