I’m writing this after flying back from PCA’s EXPO 2025 in Colorado Springs. I was delighted to meet so many of you.

One of my favorite parts of EXPO this year was seeing it through a newbie’s eyes.

I’ll call him Jim. Although he had long been a professional painter, Jim had never explored the PCA. A friend from the Broadmoor – the swanky hotel hosting the event – called Jim to tell him that he had never seen so many painting contractors in one room.

When I met Jim, he was wide-eyed. He had bought a ticket for the tradeshow, and he looked like a kid in a candy store.

Up until that point, he had been a one-man band running his business. He was doing it the best way he knew how, but he knew he was leaving money on the table.

But he didn’t know how much. Jim confessed that his record-keeping amounted to scribbling figures on receipts and stashing them away until it was time to pay taxes.

Luckily, I knew a guy. I brought Jim over to Daniel Honan of Bookkeeping for Painters, a frequent guest on APC’s podcast, Paint Radio. Daniel generously offered Jim a free consultation the following week, and set up the meeting on the spot.

As we walked through the tradeshow floor, I saw Brandon Pierpont (you probably know him – he’s the author of the Painter’s Playbook column in this very issue).

“How are you marketing your business?” I asked Jim.

The short answer: He wasn’t.

So I introduced him to Brandon, who was more than happy to walk him through the basics of digital marketing and how to get the most leads for his limited buck.

Before he knew it, Jim also found someone to build him a proper website, and a Meta expert to run his socials.

Then Jim ran into his paint rep from Sherwin-Williams, who offered a complimentary headshot for Jim to put on his new website.

On the way out, Jim stopped at the PCA booth, where he talked to my friend Janell Roedl, the membership director of the PCA.

Jim couldn’t wait to sign up – for a PCA membership, and to attend EXPO next year. He could not believe that these resources were available, and that everyone was so friendly and generous.

Jim left with a plan. It was a plan to grow his business.

I know that not everyone can attend EXPO. It involves travel, and spending time away from running your business.

In this magazine, I hope to share some of that same feeling that Jim experienced. I hope you will be as delighted as Jim to discover so many experts in your corner, cheering on your business to success.

And Jim, if you’re reading this: I can’t wait to see you next year.