Tag: “women-professional-painter”

GILLIAN NIELSEN President | Contemporary Surface Solutions, LLC   Gillian Nielsen is considered an industry veteran when it comes to professional painting. With over 35 years of experience under her belt, she understands the true meaning of “work hard and you’ll succeed.” But it wasn’t always an easy road navigating a predominantly male industry. Gillian began her career in residential painting at the age of 20 and was quickly drawn to the hustle and bustle of working in the skilled trades. As one of few women in the industry, she faced resistance on the job but was determined to prove her place. In fact, by the age of 22, she became San Diego’s first woman commercial foreperson and quickly became a sought-after painter.   If you haven’t already realized, Gillian is not one to be discouraged. Rather, she approaches every opportunity as a way to grow and develop her skills rather than set her back, taking on various roles throughout her career from painter to estimator to vice president. These experiences allowed her to hone her expertise and eventually position her to start a painting business.   In 2017, Gillian accomplished what many dream of – owning and operating her own business. She combined her wealth of knowledge and passion for paint and started Contemporary Surface Solutions, LLC, a first-generation women-owned full-service paint contracting company in San Diego specializing in fabric wrapped panels, architectural films, and wallcoverings.     Gillian’s story serves as a promising reminder that through hard work and determination, dreams can be realized. And her story doesn’t stop here – Gillian is committed to mentoring young women in the industry and employs many woman painters at her company.   I want to inspire other women to pursue their dreams, break down barriers, and pave the way for other women to follow,” Gillian says.   Take one look at her on the job and it’s evident her passion and commitment shine with every project she takes on. Gillian continues to be well-recognized and celebrated in the industry by her clients for her leadership, honesty and loyalty and looks forward to what the future holds.   To learn more about Women in PaintTM and hear other professional women painters’ stories, visit behr.com/womeninpaint.  

BILLIE MACHAIN & VERONICA TUCCI Co-Owners/Managing Partners | Billie’s Painting Solutions   Billie Machain and Veronica Tucci are no ordinary mother/daughter duo. They set out to accomplish something special – to co-own a painting business together. In 2022, Billie and Veronica started Billie’s Painting Solutions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a commercial painting community that specializes in new residential painting from homes to apartments. Since starting their business, they have seen great success, surpassing their first-year goal by 300%. Now you may be thinking, how did this dream team come to be and what’s attributed to their rapid growth? This story is a reminder to dream big and chase your passions no matter the path you take.   Billie Machain has spent over 30 years in the paint industry. She started out stocking paint in a paint store and then landed a subcontracting role doing estimating. With a lot of experience and success under her belt, Billie decided to start her own painting company.   It takes a lot of tenacity [to run a business] … but at all levels, very satisfying because you’re in an industry where I think women can excel,” Machain says.   Veronica, daughter of Billie, took a different career path. While going to school for accounting, she worked for a paint manufacturer to keep herself busy. After working in the paint industry for a while, she needed a change and decided to try sales and management in the insurance industry. Well, you know the saying, “you don’t know a good thing until it’s gone.” A lingering feeling was left inside her as she found herself continually intrigued by ‘what could be’ in paint.     After listening to her mom’s ongoing success in the industry, Veronica decided to meet with her mother one day for lunch. That’s when Billie asked Veronica to partner with her and own a painting business together.   I was never a risk taker, but this was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. We have the background, passion and tenacity to build and grow an amazing team and business together and we knew we had to take a chance,” Veronica proclaims.   That chance was well worth the risk as they have not only seen financial success but have also grown closer working alongside each other. The close relationship they hold together brings a fresh approach to communication and problem solving, allowing them to creatively approach each project with a familial lens unique to the industry.   They are excited about the future of their business as they enter the residential repaint market and are proud to have a team of only women professional painters on the job.   To learn more about Women in PaintTM and hear other professional women painters’ stories, visit behr.com/womeninpaint.