Today we’d like to introduce you to Rai Suca.
Hi Rai, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Rai Suca, I have been the owner of Axiom Painting LLC since its beginning early 2021. However, my painting journey began around 2015 when I was still in high school. My family (parents and 2 brothers) migrated from Peru in 2006. My dad Teofilo has since attempted to learn a new trade to make ends meet. He was in his early 50’s when he took on warehouse work, plumbing, asbestos removal work, and ,about a decade later, painting. In the meantime, my mom Prudencia was working a 9-5 cleaning job to pay the bills. We lived in a very modest 2 bedroom apartment for a very long time.
I always admired my parents. They were and non-stop working machines. Their work ethic was beyond what I have seen in anyone. Even if what they made did not compensate their work.
My dad always went above and beyond especially when it came to detail even if the work did not require it. It seems to me as if he wanted the recognition more than the payment.
Halfway through high school I was learning how to drive and I accidentally ran into a metal handrail in front of an apartment building. The bill came up to a thousand dollars. What suprised me the most is that my dad did not yell. I did not get in trouble. All he asked me was if I was okay.
I still payed though. That occurred around the time school let out for summer vacation 2015. I was about 16 years old when I first grabbed a brush to help out my dad in his job repainting apartments. I spent my whole first day (12 hours) repainting one single white door. Keep in mind, the door was already white and clean. While I finished that one door my dad’s boss had finished 3 apartments which included doors, walls, and windows. Not a very productive day but it was the beginning.
Since I was free I just started going to work with my dad and we took on more work as I slowly paid my debt. It felt good to make my first thousand bucks. Sadly I didn’t get to spend it.
After I paid my debt I still wanted to work with my dad. He never ran out of stories to tell.
I remember being with him painting apartments until 1 to 2 in the morning (15 hours shifts) just to get them done and get paid a measly 200 dollars for all our work. We were technically working for free when expenses were taken into account.
About 2 years later I began attending Towson University. I could not help my dad since I was taking classes and it was a long drive home since I was living on-campus. I enjoyed the college experience and actually kept the same work ethic when it came to keeping my grades up.
After finishing up my first year I applied to a big painting company and started making 16$/hour all for myself. It was commercial mixed with industrial work. It was hard work but I began saving up. When that summer ended I bought my first car off from my brother and went back to school.
I had adult money and I actually enjoyed painting so I bought myself some painting tools and began posting on Craigslist for work. I received a decent amount of work but since I was just learning I definitely underpriced most of my work.
One of the best experiences I had with Craigslist was this time when I got scammed out of twelve hundred dollars. It was about 2-3 months into the semester and I was already running out of money. At this point, I was renting a tiny room in a townhome near campus and I really needed the money. It was your typical “ill send you a check but when deposited I need you to wire a chunk of it to the movers” and it bounced type of scam. I woke up to 50 dollars in my bank account and rent was due in 2 days. I contemplated calling my parents to help me out but ended up just posting for more work. Ill never forget his name. Greg. Greg called me and had a painting job in his home and allowed me to finish it up overnight. It was more than enough to cover rent and food for a couple of days. Thank you Greg.
When I went back home for winter break, I teared up after arriving one early morning to a home cooked breakfast.
I have not been scammed since.
Fast forward to the 2020 pandemic. Everything came to a halt. My dad was working a decent painting job with a new company and it was actually going great just by himself but was let go too soon. My mom was the only one working because she was an essential worker. I was finishing up my spring classes online and the pandemic had no end in sight.
My dad was reached out by a General Contractor that were in urgent need to repaint homes and apartments, our specialty.
Since I was taking classes online i was able to work with my dad. It paid well enough to establish Axiom Painting LLC. It was great because my mom no longer had to commute from the Pennsylvania state line to DC just for work. She eventually joined us and we are currently a family company working around the Hagerstown, MD area.
One thing I could say about owning a business is that you never stop learning. It can be good and not good at the same time but I am extremely grateful that I get to work with my family. It was a bumpy ride but I guarantee you I enjoyed the entire experience with my soul.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely nowhere near a smooth road. Learning how to start a company itself was a struggle. Paperwork on top of paperwork. However, the personal experiences I mentioned that got me to where I am today definitely beat the administration and day to day work we currently do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are Axiom Painting LLC and we specialize in apartment and home repainting and drywall repair services (mostly rental). We work directly with property managers and general contractors in the Hagerstown, MD area.
We are known for the speed in painting and same-day drywall repairs. We work in vacant and occupied homes.
With almost 10 years of experience I say the most proud brand wise would be our non-stop development. Whether its a strategic plan, coming up with ways to cut costs for our clients without sacrificing quality, or simply adapting to new systems in our work.
We would just want everyone to know that we serve the Frederick, MD-Chambersburg-PA -Martinsburg, WV tri-state area for apartment and home repainting with drywall repairs.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I do not think the industry itself from our area will have a major shift within the next 5-10 years. As of Axiom Painting LLC, it will grow into a corporation where clients will always receive a solution to all their needs and employees will feel as part of a family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.takeintoaxiom.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DyivTbaqm/?mibextid=wwXIfr
