'Our employees believe in Habitat's mission'

Q: Tell us a little bit about Valspar.

A: What started as Samuel Tuck's “Paint and Color” store in 1806 in Boston has grown to become the fifth-largest paints and coatings manufacturer in the world with 11,000 employees operating in 100 countries. We offer more distinct, long-lasting colors and finishes than any other paint company in the world, and our paint is the most widely distributed brand in North America with over 10,000 points of sales. But architectural paint is just one segment of our company; Valspar is also a leader in industrial coatings, including packaging, wood, coil, general industrial and automotive refinishing applications. Our paint and coatings protect some of the world's most well-known brands, equipment and structures, including John Deere farm machinery, Caterpillar heavy equipment, Whirlpool appliances, Coca-Cola beverage cans and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. This wide range of technical leadership means that whether you are painting a room, staining a deck, refurbishing furniture or customizing your car, Valspar has the right product to beautify and protect.

Q: What are some of Valspar's products?

A: We offer a wide variety of consumer paints, primers and spray paints through large home improvement centers, hardware stores and independent retailers. Our primary brands in the U.S. are Valspar and Cabot stain. Our coatings segment includes a broad range of decorative and protective coatings for metal, wood and plastic used by customers in a number of industries, including agricultural and construction equipment, appliances, building products, furniture, metal fabrication, packaging and transportation.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your personal history.

A: My father was a carpenter so I grew up surrounded by tradesman, which explains my passion for the home improvement and construction industries. My entire career has been centered on connecting powerful brands, innovative building products, and great customers with end consumers that either use these products to make a living or to improve their own homes. I began my career with Black and Decker right out of college and spent two decades there building leading brands including DeWalt Industrial products. My roles took me around the world and allowed me to work with outstanding customers in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. I joined Valspar in December of 2014 as the leader of our Global Consumer Paint business focused on building our leading paint and stain brands in our core regions of North America, China, Australia and Europe.

Through my affiliations within the building world I am energized by the work of Habitat for Humanity and currently serve as the board president for ToolBank USA, a national nonprofit that partners with organizations like Habitat to provide tools and equipment to serve volunteers on projects across the U.S.

Q: How is Valspar involved with Habitat for Humanity? Why?

A: Our employees believe in Habitat's mission — helping families in need of decent, affordable housing and creating opportunities for them to build a better future. That's why Valspar has been the national paint partner for Habitat for Humanity since 2002, providing free paint for every Habitat home that is built or refurbished in the United States. At the end of 2015, our paint donations totaled over 2.5 million gallons, and since 1993, we've given $66.5 million in financial and product donations. Valspar also was a founding partner of Habitat's A Brush with Kindness, a neighborhood revitalization program that helps families, seniors and veterans living in homes that are in need of a new coat of paint and minor repairs. We believe that neighborhoods matter, and we're very proud of our connection to Habitat for Humanity.