It’s all in the Family for United Striping Company

Balancing business and family is easier when everyone gets involved

Family 11317168

Running your own business is never a walk in the park, but for United Striping Company out of Rochester, NY, it’s been a marathon. Since the company started in line striping services to business owners and property managers in 1999, they have been continually expanding their services and service area.

“We started as an entry level company and through extensive research, training and experience have become a full service striping company both locally and nationally,” says Luke Menear, vice president at United Striping Company.

Today, United Striping Company has operated in over 12 states and has future plans to be able to accept jobs all over the country.

Customer focused

Menear attributes much of the success of the company to their customer focused approach. “We put the customer’s needs first,” says Menear.  “Our 24 hour service has made a big difference for our customers.  We can accommodate any schedule.”

Since United Striping Company handles jobs for business owners, retailers, municipalities and airports, it pays to be flexible. Menear says the company will also team up with other striping and paving companies to complete large jobs.

Safety is also something that Menear stresses to his customers when bidding a job. “I understand the importance of safety and protecting the liability of my clients,” says Menear. “We take the responsibility of liability to another level by not only protecting our own, but also the liability of our customers and their customers.”

United Striping Company has placed rules and regulations in place for job sites that incorporate safety for everyone as well as “visual awareness checks”.  “This means visual awareness on job sites at all times,” says Menear.  “For example:   if we see a trip hazard, garbage or broken glass in the parking lot, etc., we will handle it accordingly on a case by case basis, but will never ignore it.”

Part of their safety training also includes scheduling all crew leaders and members for 10 hour OSHA training.  United Striping’s safety initiatives also includes using beacon lights, reflective vests and reflective safety cones. “Safety training is important to us because it teaches our workers to pay attention to their surroundings,” says Menear. 

Extensive training provides an edge

Menear and his employees realize that in order to get ahead, you have to be ahead of the competition. This is why his employees will go through extensive training at the company headquarters to fully develop the techniques to ensure quality workmanship.

“Our crew leaders have all started at entry level positions with our company,” says Menear. “Which means as a crew member on a truck they would be filling paint, filling gas, gathering tools, “learning the ropes”, which is typically part of a 2-3 man crew.  From there, they start taking on more responsibilities as a crew member.  Our goal is to develop experienced senior crew members and crew leaders.”

 

 Work/life balance

As with most busy careers, it’s hard to find a balance between your job and your family. Menear says that has been the most challenging part of growing his business. With three children, Menear decided it was time to bring the two worlds together.

“My biggest challenge is a personal conflict between balancing business and family,” says Menear. “Recently, I have decided to make more of an effort to incorporate the two together. Both require a lot of my time and attention.” In an effort to bring the two together, Menear recently brought his wife, three kids and his niece to the 2014 National Pavement Expo. “In previous years I have attended the convention alone,” says Menear.  “We had a wonderful time and are already talking about going to next year’s show.”

As Menear and his company begin to train the second generation, they plan on expanding their roadway striping division also. “In the years to come, we hope to be the first company of our kind to offer water blasting services for line removal to the state of New York,” says Menear. “This state of the art process uses water pressure as high as 40,000 PSI to remove existing paint, epoxy, and thermoplastic. This process far exceeds grinding or shot blasting and we see it as becoming the new standard for the removal process.” Menear says they plan on purchasing a Water Blasting Technologies Inc. truck in the near future.

With the next generation in queue and new services on the horizon, Menear finishes “the future of United Striping Company is looking as bright as a newly painted line.”

Latest