BOARDMAN, Ohio – The husband-and-wife team of David and Jennifer Raspanti split the managerial duties of their company, Rockwood Painting Contractors.
“I handle the sales and field management and Jennifer handles the office operations,” David says. “We have a mutual respect for each other’s area of expertise and I think that’s what makes our family business work.”
David is the president of the company, which is based in Poland, and Jennifer is vice president.
The company was started in Pittsburgh in 1970 by Rockwood’s father, Carl, and his business partner. Carl relocated the company to Boardman in 1999 and David came on board soon after.
“I learned aspects of the business and about construction from him, including painting, wallpapering and plastering and drywall repairs,” David says.
During the building boom of the 1990s and early 2000s, the company was focused on the new housing sector. But the late Carl Raspanti shifted to repainting in 2008, which David says helped to keep the business afloat during the Great Recession.
The elder Raspanti died unexpectedly in 2010, leaving David unprepared because no succession plan was in place. “We halted operations for a month during the holidays and together with my wife, Jennifer, we reorganized,” he says. “We retained my father’s employees and pushed forward to provide for all of our families.”
Since taking the helm, he has strived to make Rockwood more employee-centric. “We take care of our employees and empower them to take care of our clients,” David says.
Pictured: David and Jennifer Raspanti are the owners of Rockwood Painting Contractors.