Stepping into a new industry has its challenges, and Christina Rampulla has tackled them all. From working in a daycare center to a tanning salon to a gym, Christina has taken on several different opportunities during her career. As a wife and mother from Slatington, PA with a degree in communication from Kutztown University, she's always dedicated her personal and professional life to service. Whether it be taking care of her daughter or caring for customers, one commonality between all these roles is serving others. So how did she find herself working for a professional painting company?     Three years ago, Christina accepted an open General Manager role at Ryan Amato Painting LLC in Easton, PA. The position matched her values, experience, and qualifications, and soon after meeting with Owner Ryan Amato, Christina joined the team.     Ryan Amato Painting is a family-owned and operated company specializing in both residential and commercial painting services. They boast a wide range of capabilities, including interior and exterior painting, cabinet refinishing, pressure washing, and epoxy flooring & countertops.     With an open mind and willingness to learn, Christina jumped right into the business and started by observing various roles at the company. She takes pride in all that she’s learned, from how to measure a room, to the type of products needed for a given scope of work, to the different paint hues and sheens needed for a space.     As a woman in the professional painting industry, Christina is incredibly proud of how much she’s accomplished and the confidence she exudes when serving customers. It’s true some people find it surprising to hear my voice on the other end of the phone speaking about paint and epoxy!” Christina remarks.     Christina is often the first person to connect with clients and vendors, a responsibility that she does not take lightly. She says, I enjoy building relationships with our clients throughout a project. It’s a pleasure and responsibility of mine that I love doing.”     Her commitment to serving customers exemplifies her dedication and passion to continuously improving her craft. We all know our strengths and limits. It’s important that no matter what service industry you’re in, enjoy it and own it!” Christina exclaims.     To learn more about Women in PaintTM and hear other professional women painters’ stories, visit behr.com/womeninpaint.  

Born from the aftermath of the 2008 real estate crash, BAMM Renovation Group has been providing hotel renovation services for over 15 years. Joe Hernandez, founder and owner, started his career in hotel renovation in 2005 at Westgate Resorts, where he developed a passion for rejuvenating old properties. Soon after, he started his own venture and has since developed a comprehensive in-house renovation program with complete turn-key services.   Joe Hernandez, Founder & Owner of BAMM Renovation Group   In the hotel industry, the exterior appearance of a hotel stands as a crucial element that requires periodic updates. Trends in aesthetics and design shift every 5-7 years, influencing guest expectations and shaping competitive landscapes. One of the company’s most notable renovations was a 150,000 square foot exterior paint transformation of Avanti International Resort in Orlando, Florida in 2023. This resort faced a significant challenge with an outdated and unattractive color scheme that did not align with current hospitality design trends. BAMM Renovation Group, driven by their passion for hotel transformations, recommended a complete color change at the resort to refresh the exterior appearance and create a contemporary and appealing destination for guests. By updating the exterior, it not only enhanced curb appeal but also reinforced brand identity for the hotel.   Exterior Painting   For the paint, the team chose KILZ 2® ALL-PURPOSE Primer and BEHR PRO® e600 Exterior Paint for superior hide and a uniform finish that lasts.   BEHR PRO® e600 Exterior Paint   Working closely with designers, brand specialists, and compliance officers, the selected BEHR® Paint colors were as follows: Sand Drift N310-1 (Body Color): Sand Drift provided a fresh and clean canvas for the resort's exterior, creating a modern and elegant look. Woodland Sage HDC-NT-01 (Doors): Woodland Sage was used for the doors, adding a touch of sophistication and contrast to the overall design. Arrowhead N320-6 (Roof Line and Accent): Arrowhead was added to the roof line and accent areas, introducing a warm and welcoming element to the resort's exterior. Portuguese Dawn S160-4 (Numbers): Portuguese Dawn was used for the numbers, adding a pop of color and a sense of vibrancy to the resort’s façade.   Before   After   The transformation of Avanti International Resort was a resounding success. The collaboration between BAMM Renovation Group and Behr Paint Company took a challenging hospitality renovation and successfully revitalized it into a modern and visually appealing destination. The selected BEHR Paint colors breathed new life into the property, aligning well with current hospitality design trends and making it more inviting to guests for years to come.     Images courtesy of BAMM Renovation Group.

Meet Gloria Fonseca, Owner of Fonsis, a women-owned painting and carpentry business based in Miami-Dade County, Florida specializing in commercial painting, cabinetry, and vinyl flooring installation.     Gloria’s entrance into the construction industry began with a complete career shift in 2016. She had just resigned from her position as a social worker after working there for over 10 years. During this time, her husband Carlos was working in the painting and construction industry, and Gloria decided to take a leap of faith and team up with him. Fast forward to today, the duo has built a strong reputation for themselves and their company that exemplifies customer satisfaction and high-quality work.     Building a reputation for any business demands persistence and time. Gloria knew a significant amount of work was needed to achieve her goals of winning government contracts with counties and municipalities. Safe to say, Gloria and Carlos’ efforts have paid off. One of the company’s first projects was to paint five Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Department Stations using BEHR® Paint, one of which includes a Hangar station for the Air Rescue Department. Since then, Fonsis has been contracted to paint numerous schools and attributes her expertise to the educational work she’s invested in on a professional level, including attending Florida International University's Project Management Cohort and the Miami-Dade College's Turner School of Construction Management.     Today, continuous education remains at the heart of Fonsis’ business model. Not only has it helped facilitate the company’s growth to win government contracts, but it has also fostered employee development through the company’s investment in professional training. Gloria frequently arranges for paint and equipment suppliers to conduct in-depth demonstrations to her team, ensuring they are well-versed in product knowledge, usage, proper techniques, and equipment handling.   I’m a firm believer that employees work best when they feel empowered through knowledge and training,” says Gloria.   Inclusion is also very important to Gloria and Carlos. They have extended numerous opportunities to individuals often overlooked, recruiting employees from women's shelters to give them a chance for a fresh start.     It’s important for me to know that I'm not only giving my woman workers the proper tools to succeed, but that they know and believe they are just as important and capable to perform the job as any other person,” Gloria emphasizes.   Fonsis’ reputation in the Miami-Dade community is a testament to the resilient, hardworking employees that are the heart of the company. Gloria is dedicated to fostering a nurturing environment for her employees and hopes to be an example for all women interested in the skilled trades to pursue your dreams regardless of your beginnings.   To learn more about Women in PaintTM and hear other women professional painters’ stories, visit behr.com/womeninpaint.