Founder and CEO of That 1 Painter, Steven Montgomery, discovered a passion for painting at a young age. His father was a professional painter, and Montgomery learned the trade by working with him on projects after school. During Montgomery’s college years, he borrowed his now-retired father’s old equipment to paint homes for his Realtor mother’s colleagues and clients. By Erika Ortega
FAMILY AFFAIR
Founder and CEO of That 1 Painter, Steven Montgomery, discovered a passion for painting at a young age. His father was a professional painter, and Montgomery learned the trade by working with him on projects after school. During Montgomery’s college years, he borrowed his now-retired father’s old equipment to paint homes for his Realtor mother’s colleagues and clients.
“I realized pretty quickly that the traditional path wasn’t for me,” explained Montgomery. “I started out studying biblical studies at bible college, but I ended up dropping out. I wanted to be my own boss and have the freedom to create something on my own terms. Entrepreneurship gave me that chance.”
In 2011, he founded That 1 Painter. The company specializes in providing interior and exterior painting, limewash, deck staining, drywall repair and additional services to diverse clientele. The brand also offers sell-ready services for property managers and homeowners in the process of preparing homes for the real estate market.
With continuous support from both of his parents, who are currently a big part of the brand’s franchise development team, Montgomery and his team have successfully grown the business from a couple of hired friends to the largest painting franchise in the world by franchise units sold. That 1 Painter continues to expand nationwide while maintaining a reputation for stellar customer service and an excellent company culture.
In addition to Montgomery’s parents working in the business, a number of his other relatives are proud franchisees.
“It’s been awesome to grow the business with people I trust and care about,” said Montgomery. “A lot of my friends have been a part of the journey also.”
Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer Allan Alarcon was trained by Montgomery, and his long-time friend Jay Nielsen currently serves as chief development officer.
Looking to the future, Montgomery and his team plan to keep the momentum going.
“We want to keep supporting our franchisees, growing That 1 Painter and delivering the kind of service that keeps homeowners happy,” he said. “There’s still so much room to grow, and we’re just getting started.”
Erika Ortega