Curious about what drives us to complete your project with precision and care? Look no further than this Q&A with owner and founder, Jonathan Shenk!
Q: You lived in Kenya until you were 12. Why did you start your first 12 years abroad?
A: I’m the third generation in my family to have lived in East Africa. My dad was born in Tanzania to my missionary grandparents from Lancaster County, PA. Then he and my mother returned to East Africa. I have fond memories of playing outdoors year-round: hide-and-seek, soccer, and climbing mango and guava trees. We moved back to the United States when my oldest sister was ready for college.
Q: What kind of novels do you like to read? Do you have a favorite author and/or book?
A: I enjoy historical fiction like The Good Lord Bird by James McBride about the 19th century abolitionist John Brown or What is the What by Dave Eggers about one of the Lost Boys of Sudan.
I could write a novel about the novels I love. I enjoyed Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson. I’ve made some finds through my son, Gabriel, who is a graduate of Rutgers University. After Marlon James spoke on campus, Gabe bought me his novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings, which revolves around Bob Marley. And years ago, I plucked The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy from Gabe’s high school summer reading list and found it captivating.
Q: What do you like/love about working in your area?
A: Central New Jersey is a beautiful part of the country. Our customers range from lifelong residents to people who have landed here from around the country or the world. People take pride in their homes, and I love becoming a part of the projects they bring us into.
Q: Why did you start Greenleaf Painters? What did you see in the industry that you felt you could improve on or that made you want to start your own business?
A: I wanted to be on the frontline of offering customers paint products that were healthier to use in their homes. Thankfully, the paint industry has shifted to offering excellent paint products that are less toxic for people and our environment.
I also wanted to significantly raise the bar of what people could count on from a painting contractor: We keep our word about scheduling and cost. We strive to exceed expectations. We create an environment of respect and care for our customers, employees, and workspaces.
Q: You’ve been doing this for almost 20 years. What makes you keep going?
A: There are a lot of moving pieces to running a small business, so every day is different. I’m always learning something new. That keeps my job interesting. There is also a nice balance between short-term rewards–like a beautiful finish on a home and a delighted customer–and long-term rewards like building a strong team and an excellent company.
One time, a builder colleague called me to say he had just driven by one of our worksites and was so impressed with how well our crew was working together on a house project that he felt moved to just call and tell me how much he appreciated the work we do. That is the kind of exchange that makes it all feel worthwhile.
Q: Pie or cake?
A: Not a big dessert eater, but I do love a fine plain cheesecake with fresh strawberries on top. However, my doctor would prefer if I just stuck to the strawberries.
Jonathan’s vibrant personality is what drives us to do what we do.
