Presenter's Bios
Cat Faust
Faux Effects International, Inc.
Cat Faust has been in the decorative painting industry for over 22 years. The last 10 have been dedicated to representing the leading manufacturer of Faux and Decorative finishing products, Faux Effects International, Inc. based out of Vero Beach, Fla. Faust is an instructor, a technical support specialist and a contractor. She is also a contributing writer for the internationally distributed Faux Effects World magazine as well as several other trade publications including American Paint Contractor.
Joe Alexander
Senior Area Manager
Rust-Oleum Brands
Joe Alexander has been in the paint and coatings industry for 30 years. He worked for Glidden Paints over 20 years as an area manager, regional account manager, national training manager and district manger for the SE and Puerto Rico. For the past seven years he has worked as a Commercial Sales Manager working with designers and architects specificing Rustoleum and Zinsser products for small and large projects including fire and water restoration, waterproofing, flooring, hospitality, school remodeling, large retail box retailers and commercial applications.
Regina Garay
Owner
Garay Artisans
Regina Garay runs the Orlando, FL-based Garay Artisans, an award-winning decorative painting firm, with her siblings. She also pens the Fauxology blog, one of the top decorative painting and interior design blogs in the industry. She enjoys helping others learn more about maximizing their online business presence in addition to sharing her knowledge on all things paint.
Aaron Albert
McNeal & White
Aaron Albert has been in the construction for over 15 years. Aaron has managed construction firms in both residential and commercial fields. Aaron is the training manager for McNeal & White’s EPA approved Lead RRP course. He is also a state of Florida general contractor.
Past Presenters
Robert Marx
Owner
The Finishing School
Robert Marx has been working and teaching in the field of decorative painting since 1976, when he began his career restoring painted furniture. In 1983, along with his parents Ina Brosseau and Allen Marx, he helped to establish The Finishing School as one of the premier institutions of its kind. In 1993,following the publication of their book Professional Painted Finishes, Robert was instrumental in bringing environmentally friendly, water-based materials manufactured by Faux Effects, Inc., to a wide range of professionals. In addition to teaching and working with individual companies, Robert’s current commissions include graining doors at the White House and a 20,000 square foot residence in Vermont.
James V. Trezzo
Account Manager
Rust-Oleum Brands
James V. Trezzo is an account manager for Rust-Oleum Brands – Paint Channel. Trezzo has been in the coatings industry for 14 years assisting contractors with industrial, architectural and specialty coatings. He started in the industry at Cook & Dunn, he then worked for Insl-X for six years and has now been with Rustoleum/Zinsser for five years. Trezzo runs the Long Island, five Borough's and Westchester market calling and training the paint stores in the area. He also works with local contractors, assisting them with technical questions and information on proper application.
Debbie Zimmer
Paint Quality Institute
Debbie Zimmer is the paint and color expert for Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute. For additional information on color trends, paints and good painting practices, visit www.paintquality.com.
John Stahl
Owner
The Growth Coach of New York
John Stahl is a seasoned business owner with over 30 years of experience in the painting industry. He began as a contractor, then grew into an inventor and manufacturer of unique products for the painting and building restoration markets. Stahl is currently the owner of The Growth Coach of New York, a business coaching firm serving the unique needs of contractors, vendors and professionals in the painting industry. For more information, email jhstahl@msn.com.
Dave Mirel
Manufacturer's Representative
Intertape Polymer Group
Dave Mirel is a manufacturer's representative for IPG (Intertape Polymer Group). A veteran working in the building products industry for 28 years, he currently works for Hackett & Company, Inc. Previously, Mirel worked for other companies such as Cabot Stain, Absolute Coatings, Dickies, and Clarke Sanders to name a few.
Santiago Concepcion. CAC
Senior Project Manager
National Econ Corporation
Santiago Concepcion is a native of the U.S. Territory of Guam. His environmental career started in 1982 with his enlistment in the United States Army Chemical Corps. During his ten years of service as a Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Warfare Specialist, Santiago completed two stateside tours of duty, two overseas tours of duty and one combat tour of duty during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Santiago is a graduate of the U.S. Army Chemical School, Ft. McClellan, Alabama where he received extensive training including Toxic Agent Training at the Chemical Decontamination Training Facility (CDTF) at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. In July of 1988, Santiago returned to Ft. McClellan to successfully complete the Chemical Operations Specialist Non Commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC). During Santiago’s first overseas tour of duty to the Federal Republic of Germany, he served as a Nuclear Accident/Incident Control Team Leader during the withdrawal of the Army’s Tactical PERSHING nuclear missiles from the European theater as a result of the INF treaty. In December of 1990, during his second overseas tour, Santiago was deployed to Operation Desert Shield/Storm with the Army’s 1st Armored Division, Nuremberg, Germany where he served as a chemical survey team leader in preparation for the anticipated use of chemical weapons against U.S. troops by Iraqi forces.
Santiago is currently the Senior Project Manager with National Econ Corporation (NEC), a leading environmental consulting firm located in Anaheim, CA. During his 16 years of service with NEC, Santiago has managed a wide variety of environmental projects in the residential, commercial & industrial sector. As a Certified Asbestos Consultant and California Department of Public Health Certified Lead Inspector/Assessor and Project Monitor Santiago, has conducted inspections, risk assessments, indoor air quality studies and written asbestos & lead abatement specifications for numerous projects. After studying Microscopical Identification of Asbestos with the McCrone Research Institute in Chicago, IL, Santiago pioneered NEC’s Asbestos Laboratory receiving accreditation from the National Institute of Standards & Technology. For more than 6 years, Santiago served as corporate laboratory director for NEC’s Irvine, CA asbestos laboratory as well as NEC’s Memphis TN laboratory. Santiago is also NEC’s primary instructor for numerous environmental training courses including the EPA accredited Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair & Painting course, Asbestos & Lead Operations & Maintenance course, Asbestos, Lead & Mold Awareness course, and the NIOSH 582 equivalency course.
Santiago also holds the following additional certifications: Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response, Certified Building Science Infrared Thermographer, Water Damage Restoration Certification through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification (IICRC), OSHA General Industry Course.
Personal Awards:
Army Commendation Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal w/3 Bronze Stars, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal-3rd Award, National Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon w/Number 2, Overseas Service Ribbon w/Number 2
Linnea J. Blair
President
Advisors On Target
The president of Advisors On Target, Linnea Blair provides business coaching and consulting to business owners and executives, who are ready to take action to become effective leaders and run a more profitable and professional business. Her specialties include Business Strategy, Relationship Marketing, Leadership and Financial Management.
Linnea developed the On Target Program for Painting Contractors in 2002 and over the last eight years has worked with over 75 Residential and Small Commercial Painting Contractors to help them develop more successful painting businesses.
In addition to individual business coaching and consulting, Linnea provides monthly teleclasses or webinars on a variety of business topics to the public as well as her own clients. She also provides workshops at On Target conferences as well as speaking at other events including workshops at PACE, the PDCA Residential Forum's Advanced Shop Talk, Painting & Decorating Contractors of California (PDCC), the Lincoln State Council PDCA and the PDCA Commercial Forum.
Prior to launching Advisors On Target, Linnea coordinated business consulting services at Peterson & Co, LLP in her role as Business Consulting Manager. Before joining Peterson & Co. in 1995, Linnea worked in the business sector as a manager in retail and service industries, as well as a serving as a field consultant for franchisees of a national corporation.
Linnea is a member of the San Diego Professional Coaches Alliance and San Diego Business Resources, a business to business resource group in San Diego. Committed to making a difference in the world, Linnea is active in charitable work locally as a Red Cross volunteer, and internationally as a work team volunteer and Board Member for Many Hands Foundation.
Frank Glowacki
Director of Brands
Primers & Coatings
Rust-Oleum Corporation
Frank Glowacki has been working in the coatings industry since 1984. The Business Mgr for numerous Zinsser brand platforms at Rust-Oleum since 1999, Frank has taken an active role in the research and development of specialty primers and coatings. He has spoken at numerous industry related seminars and has received certifications from IICRC, ASCR and IAQA on the prevention of mold through coatings. Frank now leads the strategic marketing for Zinsser primers such as BIN, Bulls Eye 1-2-3, and advanced technology Smart Prime.
Brian Phillips
Brian Phillips has owned and operated a paint contracting company in Houston for 24 years. He has taught workshops for the Certified Contractors NetWork, the National Alliance of Professional Painters, and Pittsburgh Paints. He owns and operates OutoftheBucket.com, a website that provides information and resources for painting contractors who want to build a better, more profitable business.
Larry S. Gutierrez
Larry S. Gutierrez is a native Houstonian, born and raised in southeast Houston TX. He left his home at seventeen to serve his nation as a U.S Marine during the Vietnam War. In addition to attending Sniper School in Japan, Nr. Gutierrez served as Administrative chief and Marksman Instructor. He received an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps in 1978. After returning to Houston, Mr. Gutierrez began working for a number of local environment and safety companies as a bi-lingual training instructor. In 1994, he became President and part-owner of NATEC of Texas Inc., and U.S. EPA accredited asbestos training provider.
As the President of NATEC of Texas Mr. Gutierrez has guided the company to becoming the largest provider of environmental training accreditations in Houston. In addition to continuing to provide accreditation training for professionals involved in asbestos-related activities, NATEC of Texas provides training for professionals involved in the identification and abatement of lead-based paint, and provides training for professionals involved in the assessment and remediation of mold contamination. Mr. Gutierrez maintains certifications in all asbestos lead and mold disciplines in which He trains, and is authorized as a General Industry Outreach Trainer by OSHA.
Mr. Gutierrez has traveled extensively from California, to Montana, to Ohio, to North Carolina, to Nebraska, to Florida, to Alabama, to Puerto Rico, to Aruba, and all along the Gulf Coast providing needed training to consultants and contractors. He has personally trained workers exposed to some of the most high profile environmental and safety hazards over the last twenty years. Mr. Gutierrez personally trained workers involved in the anthrax spores from the U.S. Post office’s distribution center in New Jersey. In addition, he was instrumental in providing immediate, on-site training for workers involved in the massive clean-ups following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike. Most recently he has been asked to go to India to provide safety training to individuals engaged in the highly dangerous process of ship breaking which he has significant expertise about due to his many years of experience with domestic ship breaking companies in Brownsville TX.
Steve Buglione
McNeal & White
Steve Buglione has been in the construction industry for over 15 years. Steve has supervised all aspects of residential and commercial construction from foundation to finish. Steve has recently begun sharing his construction knowledge with others through classes he instructs. In the field of lead, Steve is an EPA authorized trainer; as well as a lead inspector, risk assessor and renovator.
Aaron Albert
McNeal & White
Aaron Albert has been in the construction for over 15 years. Aaron has managed construction firms in both residential and commercial fields. Aaron is the training manager for McNeal & White’s EPA approved Lead RRP course. He is also a state of Florida general contractor.
Faux Finishinge
David McKendry is the Oro Studios and Axius Studios founder and co-owner. McKendry began his career seventeen years ago in restoring a historical land mark in downtown Denver. This historical preservation brought into focus what became a successful career in decorative painting. With a BSBA degree from the University of Denver in business marketing and fine art, David has also trained under some of the world’s most renowned artisans in the trade. Coupled with years of experience in scenic art for the theater, as well as historical preservation work in the Denver area, David offers a high degree of craftsmanship training. In 2007, McKendry partnered with friend, Teri Althouse of Daytona Beach Florida, and Faux Effects International to open Oro Studios Colorado. Located in Downtown Denver, Oro Studios is the only full line distributor for Faux Effects products and training in the Rocky Mountain West.
Remarkable Marketing That Matters
Brandt Domas owned and operated a commercial and residential painting and restoration company for 30 years. He continues to work in the painting industry as a subject matter expert, working with contractors, design pros, owners and owner representatives as a consultant completing project assistance, expert witness and paint failure analysis work. In 1994 he formed A Work Systems Co., a business that provides construction industry and service businesses with operations management consulting and training as well as marketing and PR, media and web development services.
Brandt has been speaking nationally since 1996 and is an author, initiator and producer. He teaches estimating, field operations management, business operating systems, and business communications, marketing and PR. He has presented for several of the major paint industry suppliers and has been a regular contributor to painting industry magazines and websites. Domas served as National President of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America in 2000 - 2001, and has served on dozens of PDCA committees and other construction industry association’s committees.
Angela Emmanuel
Positive Energy Environmental
Atlanta, GA
Positive Energy Environmental is a lead safety training and inspection company committed to the health and well being of children and adults in our community. We are an EPA accredited training provider offering Renovate, Repair, and Painting Training (RRP) for General Contractors (painters, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc.) and Landlords. The RRP Certification applies to any persons disturbing lead based paint in pre-1978 housing and child occupied facilities. This certification is required by law, which was originally established in 1993, and was revised April 22, 2010. The RRP Certification demonstrates the contractors or landlords commitment to preventing childhood lead poisoning and promoting lead safety while performing renovations in pre-1978 homes and child occupied facilities. For more information, visit positiveenergyllc.com.