How did a Washington D.C. native end up with a painting business in Philadelphia?
After graduating from college I was accepted into Georgetown Law School and intended to begin that fall, but then decided to take advantage of an incredible opportunity to join the Peace Corps.
I spent two exciting and life-changing years teaching English in Tunisia, North Africa. Upon my
return to the states I accepted a teaching position in Philadelphia and also began working towards my Masters.
That still doesn’t explain how you got involved in the painting business?
During my break from teaching in the summer of 1974, I worked with two friends painting houses.
They went on to graduate school in the fall and I returned to teaching, but also chose to maintain
and develop the business.
To what do you attribute the success of your business?
We have always hired excellent people. A service business is only as good as the integrity of the owner and the maturity and skillfulness of the employees. We only hire skilled craftsman, who also possess good character, excellent customer service skills, and a commitment to exceed expectations.
The majority of our employees have been with us for ten years or more and take great pride in the work they produce.
Why did you decide to expand your services beyond painting?
We were having difficulty coordinating and completing projects when we had to rely on other tradesmen to complete their portion of the project first. We now have carpenters, paper hangers
and decorative painters on staff to better serve our customers in the seamless completion of their projects.
How did your family become involved in the business?
After college, our eldest son Paul worked at the local YMCA and then at JKST as a youth tennis instructor before deciding to join the business. He now assists in the coordination and execution
of the daily operations of the company. Our second son, David, is currently working part time while pursuing his Masters in Interior Design at Drexel University. He has an undergraduate degree in fine arts and is a part of our decorative painting division. Our daughter Suhaiba accepted a position
with the Philadelphia 76ers after college, but after the birth of her daughter she was finding it too difficult to care for her family with the evening and weekend work hours. She came on board with
us and handles the financials, advertising, marketing, and human resources for the business. They have each brought with them new talents and fresh ideas, and have assisted in the continuing
growth of the company.
We are truly grateful to have both a committed staff and loyal customers, who have helped make
John Neill Painting & Decorating so successful.
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