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» feature
Spotlight
on Award-Winning Craftsmanship
by George Joseph
The L.E. Travis Craftsman of the Year Award recognizes the finest workers in the painting and decorating industry.
This year’s awards went to Evaldas Galentas of Professional Painters; Kristoffer Keubler and Travis Senecal of
Luxbrush Painting; Manuel Acevedo of L.E. Travis and Sons; and Ron Swick of SNL Painting.
To find out how it feels to be a winner—and what it takes to make one—DECO spoke with award-winner Ron Swick
of SNL Painting as well as the company’s President, Art Snarzyk.
Ron joined SNL Painting late in 2005, when the company was still in its infancy. A focused worker who holds himself
to the highest of standards, Ron has been described by SNL Vice President Nick LoGrasso as “the type of employee
that you hope responds to your classified ad.”
A Word with Ron Swick
DECO: What was your reaction upon being
informed that you would receive this award?
RS: I was honored that my company felt I was a viable candidate.
Knowing that they trusted me to represent SNL Painting
to a nationwide organization was a great confidence booster.
DECO: To what factors do you attribute your
success in the painting profession?
RS: I began painting with no formal training or business
structure, so I needed to perform at a higher level than I was
actually capable of. That experience taught me to be a problem
solver, to learn from my mistakes, and to pick up on little details
from the other painters I worked with. I went on to work for a
wide variety of companies, both good and bad, and I learned
to survive in an industry that can be very tough. I learned the
hard way, and I think that gives a person an advantage.
DECO: What about interpersonal skills? Do you
think that’s a key element in being successful?
RS: Absolutely. To run a successful team, you have to respect
not only those above you but also those “below” you. You’ve
got to treat people as permanent clients, not just one-time
customers. In other words, speak to clients as if you’re wearing
a three-piece suit, not painter’s whites. If you develop a reputation
for treating people right, good things will come to you.
DECO: What role have your fellow workers
played in contributing to your achievement?
| pdca.org
RS: We have a very unique group of people at SNL. Most
have backgrounds in other industries, and they bring more to
the table than just painting skills. I felt that I was accepted and
respected from day one, and I was completely at ease working
side by side with my co-workers. That allowed me to focus and
do my best work without anxiety and undue pressure.
DECO: So you would say that having the right
teammates is crucial.
RS: It’s amazing what you can accomplish with the right
people behind you. I can confidently send my team into any
workspace and know that they’ll please the customer, deliver
the best product, and keep me on top of any problems. Who
wouldn’t be successful with that kind of arsenal?
DECO: A good team of co-workers should inspire
you. Do you agree with that?
RS: Yes, definitely. My desire is to be a leader and an expert
in the field. I hope to hone my business and management skills
as much as my painting technique. My co-workers allow me
to do that. With them supporting me, I can be a great leader.
Without them, I can at best only be a “good painter.”
DECO: Let’s talk about the leadership at SNL.
How has that helped you to grow?
RS: I have never witnessed a higher level of dedication to
the employees than I’ve seen here at SNL. The owners have
been willing to make great sacrifices in the development of
our company. Rather than a constant rotation of new hires,