Get to Know the Expert Team at Five Star Painting in Fort Myers

Rich started in the painting industry in 2020 as a way of escaping the corporate world and private equity takeovers as well as to spend more time at home with his family. Before entering the world of painting, Rich worked in medical product manufacturing for 35 years, first as a design engineer, followed by product manager, and for the last 25 years as a CEO or President of 5 different companies. Most recently, Rich was the President of DeVilbiss Healthcare, a division of Drive Medical. If you see a person with a walker, wheelchair, oxygen products, or the like, there is a good chance you will see the Drive logo. Rich also has a passion for fly fishing, which includes tying his own flies and making fly rods, Rich volunteers with Project Healing Waters & Fish With a Hero. These groups focus on getting disabled veterans fly fishing and out on the water. These programs have had great benefits and are widespread throughout the United States. Most recently Rich helped several veterans make their own fly rods for a national competition that takes place every year. Rich is married to a barrel racer (horses) and as a result lives on a property with 6 horses, 4 cattle (for son’s 4H), a sheep (who knows why?), three dogs, and a barn cat. That is a lot of mouths to feed!

Rich’s wife, Heather originates from Columbus, OH where she grew up competing as a hunter/jumper rider and has been around and on horses for most of her life. This passion continues to this day (much to Rich’s dismay) and she currently competes in barrel racing. Our 17-year-old son, Cole is a Junior in high school and is on the swim team as well as being active in 4H. Cole hopes to become an engineer and last year, won the science fair at his school, then won regionals, qualifying him for State Science Fare. Unfortunately, COVID caused the state science fair to be cancelled. As a consolation prize, we got him a 3D printer which he now uses to design and make parts for various applications.