by HJ HOLTZ | Jan 29, 2020 | Commercial Painting
Professional meetings and conferences are where people go to learn from others in the same field: what works, what doesn’t, what to do. Through workshops and casual conversations, tips and tools of the trade are revealed and shared.
Last fall’s annual convention of the Middle Atlantic Council of the Painting Contractors Association (PCA) gave attendees the opportunity to hear from H.J. Holtz & Son painting company president Rick Holtz and his business coach, Bill Silverman. The two spoke in a session titled “Transforming from Plateaued and Frustrated to Growing a Profitable, Smooth-running Business.”
Anita Dallas, executive vice president of the Middle Atlantic Council PCA, says the presentation was beneficial to association members because Holtz and Silverman’s collaboration is obviously succeeding.
“Rick didn’t inherit his business; he worked in the business and purchased it,” she says. “He’s made it his painting company and did it with [Silverman’s] help.”
Over the last seven years, H.J. Holtz & Son has more than doubled in business volume, and the workshop used that growth as a case study for attendees to see how an owner can seek and accept input from a business coach.
“As the company got bigger, and we all got busier, I couldn’t be everywhere at once,” Holtz says. “I needed help in creating a team that I could trust to identify what needs to be done and to do that in a way that helps everyone be successful. That’s when I turned to Bill.”
Holtz says he was happy to speak because the gathering is about sharing experiences – both good and bad.
“I learn from others,” he says. “I’m happy to talk about what’s worked and what hasn’t worked for us. All of us who go are there to learn.”
It’s important for the conference to have practical instruction for attendees, Dallas says.
“Many guys come from being painters and then start their own businesses, but they don’t [think about] all the details that had been hidden…all the overhead costs, like trucks, gas, phone,” she says. “This gets their eyes opened.”
Holtz, who has spoken at the conference before, is a favorite, she says, adding that another presenter shortened his session so he could hear Holtz.
“He really didn’t want to miss Rick’s seminar,” Dallas says.
by HJ HOLTZ | Sep 14, 2019 | Commercial Painting, Employees
Oscar Ayala, who has just celebrated 10 years of employment with H.J. Holtz & Son, believes that part of doing a job well is doing it neatly.
“I always like to have everything nice – how everyone looks, how they work,” he says. “I want each job to be the best.”
Ayala’s position as foreman means he coordinates project details between the main office and the work site, managing the site and handling unforeseen developments that necessitate quick responses.
“Sometimes, there are differences [to navigate,] but we always figure it out,” he says.
One recent project that featured distinctive challenges was the Cedar Works apartment building, in Richmond’s Rocketts Landing neighborhood. The building, which had been part of a multi-structure manufacturing complex, was renovated and restyled with upscale apartments that featured bare brick walls and wood support beams.
Ayala spearheaded the painting of the building’s six levels (five residential floors and the basement), which necessitated working around the historic wood beams – some of which are said to have markings left by workers more than 100 years ago – and steering clear of exposed ceiling duct work.
Despite the obstacles, and residents, who were eager to see the project completed, Ayala says the job was a delight.
“I always like a big job because we get to work in one place for a while,” he says. “We do have to clean it every day – because people live there – but it was a good job. We just worked around everything.”
Ayala had worked as a painter for six years before coming to the company at the encouraging of several friends, who were then working for H.J. Holtz & Son. Even though Ayala was already an experienced painter, he had to learn the “Holtz ways” of doing things, he says. He was quickly promoted to foreman because of his ability to coordinate multiple tasks and keep projects on schedule.
“This company is one of the best in Richmond, and the painters are good to work with,” he says. Ayala says he enjoys his work because it’s always changing. “Every day, we learn something different,” he says, adding that he keeps abreast of new paints and techniques through videos and product classes.
In the end, he says, he enjoys both leading a team as well as delivering a finished project that will satisfy the client, noting “We want to make sure everything looks good.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Sep 5, 2019 | Client Work, Commercial Painting, Residential Painting
Today’s painting projects require much more than brushes, rollers and drop cloths. H.J. Holtz & Son has a range of highly specialized equipment to create the best finished product while ensuring the safety of staff and homeowners.
“We want to be careful and thorough,” company President Rick Holtz says. “By investing in the right products, we can provide a level of service that we know customers appreciate.”
The most commonly used piece of equipment in the Holtz repertoire is a combination vacuum cleaner-dust extractor made by Festool, an American company well-known for its extensive line of machinery and power tools. Holtz says the benefit of the extractor is that it removes dust as the team is working, which protects furniture and flooring while saving time.
When a paint job involves spraying, as opposed to rolling, Holtz team members will often use a negative air machine, which draws paint particles and fumes from the air and traps them in filters. “We can’t eliminate paint odor entirely,” Holtz says, “but we can minimize it.”
For large spraying jobs, the company recently added full-body protection in the form of two oxygen suits that come with compressors carried as backpacks. When in the suit, the painter is completely enclosed, with a clean air source. “It’s just safer for our employees,” Holtz says.
Moving this equipment from job to job also requires some special effort. The company’s large box truck, which is used to deliver cabinets and shutters that have been painted in-house, was recently enhanced with an attractive graphic wrap, promoting the company as it makes its deliveries. “People think we bought it new,” Holtz says, “but we didn’t. We just made it prettier.”
The company recently outfitted another truck with a large utility box that has many compartments, accessible from the exterior, for various tools and supplies used primarily by the carpentry team. “It’s so much easier to get to things when we can just open one or two lockers,” Holtz says. “We can keep everything organized and within reach; it’s really efficient.”
The most expensive element in the Holtz arsenal, however, is not something that is obvious. Within the last year, the company invested in a new HVAC system of filters and blowers for the in-house spray room. Here, craftspeople can spray furniture, doors, etc., in a virtually sterile space. Additionally, the HVAC system allows the paint to cure in optimal, temperature-controlled conditions – not too hot, not too humid – which had always been a challenge, given Virginia’s climate.
“We’re happy to invest in products that allow us to do the best work we can do, while keeping our employees safe and protecting the environment,” Holtz says. “It’s good all around.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Apr 10, 2019 | Commercial Painting
On Saturday, March 2, a team of more than 30 people representing H.J. Holtz & Son joined with other volunteers from the Richmond chapter of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) to do what they do best: paint a space.
The space in question – a church fellowship hall, two hallways and two stairwells – is used by the McShin Foundation, a Richmond nonprofit that serves individuals and families in their fight against substance use disorders. Organizers agree a facelift was needed.
“It was dingy-looking,” says James Herbert, a board member of the Richmond PDCA and owner of Envirowash. “The walls had off-white paint, and the trim was reddish-brown. It was ugly.”
Adds John Shinholser – co-founder of the McShin Foundation and a former painting contractor himself – “We have more than 70,000 consumer visits a year, so we are constantly in need of painting and cosmetics. A healthy paint job creates a healthy environment.”
The Richmond PDCA chapter undertakes one or two charity painting projects every year. Herbert says it was an easy decision to direct their energy toward the Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church space that is leased by the McShin Foundation. “It is a very unique recovery center,” he says. “They help young people, old people, families. And because Hatcher Memorial has done a tremendous job of giving to the community, [The foundation] wanted to do something in return.”
While the main effort happened Saturday, two volunteers from W.W. Nash & Sons did prep work on Friday, patching holes, sanding and starting on the trim work. At 6 a.m. Saturday, Rick Holtz arrived at the church to organize the paint – donated by Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams – and develop a plan of attack. By 7 a.m., the full volunteer team of nearly 70 people were at work.
“They knocked it out, Herbert says. “They were done in four hours.” Herbert says it was impressive to watch the synchronized effort, which in one area meant a worker using a telescopic sandpaper disc to prep the wall was followed closely by another volunteer who wiped the surface clean. Immediately after, someone else applied paint with a roller. “The paint is only as good as the preparation,” Herbert notes.
Holtz says participating in charitable projects is part of the culture the company seeks to foster.
“We get to work together for a common goal,” he says. “It’s nice to make a difference for others who need help.”
Shinholser couldn’t be more grateful. “Our mission is all about healing families and saving lives,” he says. “Nobody funds our operations. Any money we don’t have to spend in maintenance is money we can spend on lives saved, and families healed.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Mar 11, 2019 | Commercial Painting
Residents of the recently renovated Hudson Lofts building enjoy exposed historic brick walls and wood beams along with expansive windows.
And beautiful painted elements executed by H.J. Holtz & Son.
A former tobacco warehouse, the Hudson is located on Richmond’s South Side, in the rapidly evolving Manchester neighborhood. Working with a design firm that conceptualized the graphics and paint scheme, Acorn Sign Graphics turned to Holtz to bring the plan to life.
“They are always willing to collaborate and meet the client’s needs,” says Hillary Beasley, project manager for Acorn Sign Graphics. “Holtz staff will do extra, in terms of meeting with the client up front to discuss the scope of the job and discuss challenges that might arise. By the time we’re on site, we’ve worked out the bugs.”
The commercial painting at the Hudson, a 329,000 square foot building, included exterior signage – both ornamental and directional – and interior hall painting with varying architectural elements. Some hallways feature a shimmering, angled, repeating pattern built on the letter H, bisected by original support beams. Elsewhere, bold graphic elements add pops of color to common spaces.
“The sideways Hudson H is really subtle, and looks really high end,” Beasley says. “The client was definitely looking for high impact in the built environment. We didn’t want to look crafty.”
Additional decorative murals may come, Beasley says. “Our client is very satisfied,” she says. “Holtz did an excellent job throughout the whole process – their communication at every turn was exceptional.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Jan 11, 2019 | Commercial Painting
H.J. Holtz & Son’s ongoing relationship with Independence Golf Club is a win-win
Residential homeowners know that day-to-day living can be hard on a house. Just imagine the effects of 50,000 visitors in a single year.
Independence Golf Club, which hosted more than 270 events in 2017, plus daily golf traffic, began working with H.J. Holtz & Son in 2015 to update the interior color scheme and continues to rely on Holtz staff for regular visits to keep the facility looking its best.
“The building gets beat up,” says Giff Breed, CEO and president of Pros, Inc., the company that now owns the club. “They’re here about every other week to touch up.”
Situated south of Robius Road and east of highway 288, the club was purchased in fall 2013 by Breed and his brothers with a vision of attracting people for more than a round of golf. The Holtz team takes care of regular paint maintenance and partners on changes, such as the updating of the facility’s bridal suite and a planned wallcovering for the main foyer that will add visual interest as well as protect the wall.
“We wanted to make [the club] look more like a home, and they helped us put that new vision in place,” Breed says. “You can tell when you start talking with contractors if they get it. Holtz gets it.”
Quarterly discussions between IGC and Holtz staff ensure long-term goals stay on track. Pointing to peeling wallpaper in a locker room, Breed says Holtz will soon renovate both locker rooms, removing peeling wallpaper and refinishing the wood lockers to brighten the enclosed spaces.
“They are a high-quality brand that’s proud of the work they do,” Breed says. “We are the same mind-set. We want people coming back over and over again.”
While Breed says the club looks “spectacular,” he names another unseen benefit of working with the company. “We’ve learned a lot from them about customer service, how to build a relationship with people,” he says. “With Holtz, it’s not just ‘I painted; pay me.’ I want to learn from what they’re doing.”
The relationship will continue, Breed says. “They’re like Pac-men; they just keep gobbling things up.”
