Staff

Our Staff

Our stability and growth in the Arizona market stems from a service-oriented approach to daily business where estimating and sales staff bring an average of 28 years each of experience specifically in the coatings industry. Our seasoned estimating staff, coupled with our productive field team, is an unsurpassed combination, explaining our great reputation, broad following, and repeat clients. In addition to providing exceptional painting and wallcovering services, we often work with clients to establish project budgets and schedules and many times we are invited to continue on with these projects through completion.

Dan Foster, Founder and President

Daniel Foster has lived in the Valley of the Sun since 1961. After graduating from high school, he worked and ministered as a youth pastor of a non-denominational church for five years. He then began attending Glendale Community College to pursue a teaching degree and career, and to support himself he also began painting for a small commercial painting firm. In 1980, at age 26, Dan founded Foster’s Painting and Wallcovering, Inc. with an initial investment of $300 and one air-less spray rig. After one year, FPWI employed eight painters, and Dan at that point began switching his own time from painting in the field to estimating in the office and managing his growing company. The first five years through 1985 found Dan experiencing rapid increases in sales and, of course, accompanying cash-flow problems, and the firm weathered these expansion and growth pains with integrity and ingenuity, never missing a payroll or leaving vendors unpaid, while at the same time Dan often went without pay personally. The years 1985 through 1995 saw the company building one step at a time, resulting in FPWI stepping up to some of the most prominent commercial projects and the most prestigious clients in the greater Phoenix area. In 1997, Dan established Foster’s Rent-A-Painter, our residential division, with the idea that people should be able to rent a painter and all necessary equipment for a daily rate. The division has been a big success, keeping dozens of painters busy repainting the whole range of residential projects, from apartments to high-end homes and high-rise condominiums.

During this time Dan became involved in the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA). Dan became President of the local Phoenix PDCA chapter, and very quickly established the need for industry standards. He was concerned with the low state of the painting profession and the construction industry made up largely of inept painting contractors, unknowledgeable general contractors, and no universally accepted criteria and standards either for bidding or for job performance. To this end, Dan was instrumental in establishing an Arizona committee to begin addressing this need, and he chaired and guided the committee in writing what has now become the National PDCA Standards (see www.pdca.org). These standards have become THE benchmark for professional painting and are recognized by all of the various construction trade organizations. Dan was recognized for his impetus and was appointed to the National PDCA as Membership Chairman. Under Dan’s guidance the Arizona PDCA chapter membership had increased membership three-fold, and the national organization tapped Dan’s talents to do the same. In short, Dan’s instrumentality in seeing the need for painting standards, his organizing the writing and publishing of them, and his influence in implementing their acceptance nationally as well as his commitment to the PDCA membership has benefited not only Arizona painting contractors, but the construction industry as a whole on the national level.

Various later time periods saw different types of changes and growth. During the 1990’s, Foster’s Painting and Wallcovering, Inc. prospered and gained recognition throughout the state of Arizona. This time-period witnessed some of the most prominent hotels and hi-rises repainted by FPWI, while many of the larger new construction in Phoenix were handled by Foster’s commercial crews. Several major awards of excellence were conferred on FPWI, carrying the company into the new century. 2000 through 2005 saw consolidation and renewal. Our customer base and type of jobs taken became focused, with a concentration on shopping centers and office complexes. New lifts, booms and high-reach equipment were purchased and policies and procedures were established, And, finally, Dan has established incentive plans, developed great project management and marketing efforts, and revamped the field to allow greater quality control…. all under Dan’s daily management and involvement.

Married to Rachel for 20 years and together blessed with three fantastic sons, Dan’s favorite pastimes include tennis and golf, hiking and outdoor activities, as well as volunteering as a Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America. His oldest son, Eric, age 20, is an Eagle Scout and is a sophomore at Northern Arizona University. Drew, his 16-year-old, and Mathew, his 18-year old, are both Life Scouts and have an overall goal of attaining Eagle Scout also. Dan continues to be committed to his family, his profession, and his company, and he sees FPWI continuing on as an integral part of the construction landscape in Arizona.

Pat Noon, Superintendent

Pat Noon brings over 20 years of experience in all aspects of the painting industry including over seven years of management and coordination experience on large-scale, high-profile commercial projects throughout the Valley as well as the Grand Canyon, Prescott, and Flagstaff. Projects include large tenant improvement (up to 400,000 sf), commercial buildings (tilt-ups up to 250,000 sf), wastewater treatment plants, and wastewater and water reclamation plants.

Pat’s extensive experience enables him to work directly with general contractors, owners, and architects to effectively and efficiently address all project components. He participates in general contractor’s jobsite meetings to coordinate and scheduled related trades. He coordinates with paint, wallcovering, and equipment suppliers to determine the most effective processes to complete the project. Pat also coordinates with other trades to complete projects in the timeliest manner possible. He communicates directly with homeowners for custom residential paint projects. Pat also ensures that his field team comprehends the entire project and is prepared to provide the quality services necessary for a successful project.

Pat understands the need for safety on the job site and has holds numerous specialized training and safety certifications including OSHA certifications; Construction Safety & Health (30 hour training course; respiratory protections, scaffolding competent person; fall protection; confined space entry; certified boom and scissor lift operator, and CPR and first aid.

Prior to moving to Arizona, Pat was the owner, operator, and qualifying principal of a successful painting company in Florida. With this experience, Pat has a well-rounded knowledge of the painting industry including sales, accounts receivable and billable, contract negotiations, job costing, estimating, and interpreting and implementation of plans and specifications.

Pat has been married to his wife Lisa for over 20 years. They have two sons, Patrick (16) and Cullen (14), both avid skateboarders and into computers. They moved to Arizona in 1999 from Florida – and enjoy all the Valley of the Sun has to offer.

Heather, Office Manager

Heather began at Foster’s Painting & Wallcovering, Inc. in April, 2007 and came to FPWI with 20-plus years experience in administrative office procedures. Detail-oriented, organized, and with great people-skills, Heather fills a crucial role at ‘command central’. She has worked as an administrative assistant in the hotel industry, law profession, at a brokerage firm, and in the construction industry… a broad-based plethora of experience. The youngest of 5 children, Heather moved to Arizona when she was eight years old. She is married to a wonderful man, and she and David have three boys: Justin 22, Erich 17, and Timothy 9. She enjoys her boys, outdoor activities like riding quads in the dunes and cinders, running and working out, gardening, her three dogs, and spending time with her family. She brings her background and skills to tackle the variety of work at Foster’s busy office, interacting with the President, the estimators, accounting, and the field, as well as Foster’s commercial customers and the general public through our residential division. She has voluntarily recently added payroll, collections, and the daily accounting duties to her job description at Foster’s. Always with a smile and an optimistic outlook, she’s the perfect fit as part of the Foster family.