n o v/d e c • 2 0 0 8 - Subscribe

18
DECO: How did you go about selecting Ron for
the award?
AS: Actually, it was pretty simple. Ron exemplifies the award
criteria daily. We weren’t looking for someone in our company
that would fit the award. It was the other way around: The award
has clear criteria which pointed to someone in our company.
DECO: How long did it take you to prepare
the entry?
AS: It took approximately 15 to 20 hours. Of course, we were
very thorough. There are guidelines for the submission process,
which include customer and employee testimonials, as well as
job photos. I think it was important to provide as many of these
as possible. We also bound the information professionally with
tab dividers, page protectors, and the like. Not only did that
show how seriously we were taking the submission, but it also
organized the information nicely and made a nice permanent
binder. Since we were going through the trouble to put it all
together, it wasn’t much harder to put together a couple extra
copies. We keep one copy at the office and it was a pleasure
to give Ron and his parents a copy to show how proud we are
of him.
DECO: That’s quite a lot of work!
AS: It is I think it’s important to note, though, that you should
have fun preparing the entry. It was definitely exciting to be a
part of the process. I felt like a kid coloring a pretty picture to
give to mom for her birthday.
DECO: Do you have a recommendation for
someone who is thinking of making an entry?
AS: I have quite a few. I would say, make it fun. Don’t make
it work. You’re doing something nice for someone
else, so take time to enjoy it. Also, be thorough and
organized. Make it come from the heart. This isn’t
a marketing ploy. It’s a reward for a commendable
achievement. Of course, be sure you’re submitting a
true craftsman. And don’t diminish the significance of
the award. Ask the nominee’s co-workers for a letter of
recommendation, but don’t force them to participate.
Send an email to a few customers, too, and ask them for
their comments. Include as many pictures as you can. But
again, I would say, Have fun with it!
Highly Recommended
“Craftsmanship is making the trim shine, the lines straight,
the walls smooth, keeping the floor clean, and bringing the
job in on time. Ron Swick does all these things effortlessly.
Craftsmanship does not stop with painting alone. Not only does
Ron Swick produce a fantastic looking paint job that I would put
my reputation on, but he instills quality in his crew members
and acts quickly when he is faced with adverse conditions.
Instilled in him is the drive to make the job as perfect as he can,
whether it is one bedroom, or a brand-new staircase. Somehow
he knows exactly what the customer wants, and then exceeds
their expectations. Ron treats each job like he owns it and
makes each customer feel like they are dealing with an owner.
When Ron joined SNL Painting, we had no idea how he would
| pdca.org
impact our company. What a find! He allows us to put trust in
him on a daily basis and focus on developing SNL Painting into
a smooth-running organization. We would not be the company
we are today without Ron's help.”
Nick LoGrasso, Vice President, SNL Painting
“It’s easy to talk highly of ‘your guy’ when you’re nominating
him for contractor of the year. You could probably write a
whole letter about him and all the great jobs he has worked
on. What can I say about Ron that everyone hasn’t heard
about a hundred other guys? Nothing! So, I'm going to write
about me. I started my painting career in May of 2006, about
a year and a half ago. It started with a lot of prep work, some
cut and roll work, and sometimes a little spray work. I thought
I was doing alright. I didn’t know how bad I was until my first
performance evaluation. It was horrible. My good grades were
all personal characteristics, like honesty, job flexibility, and
receptiveness to criticism—nothing to do with painting itself!
One of my bosses—my own brother—wanted to fire me! But
he and co-owner Nick LoGrasso decided to pair me with Ron
Swick for a one month trial period. After soaking up knowledge
from Ron, they evaluated me again. After just one month, my
evaluation soared. As of December 2007, after a year and a
half of painting, I’m considered my team's second Lead Painter.
I owe much of my success to Ron and his pursuit of perfection,
his obsessive organization skills, and his elite training ability.”
Matt Snarzyk
SNL Painting is a St. Louis-based painting company that recently
celebrated its five year anniversary. For more information, visit
www.snlpainting.com.