A Young Woman Steps into the Painting Industry with Confidence, Determination, and a Strong Work Ethic

Dunn-Edwards Paints focuses on community building through various activities, including its continuous donations, customer appreciation, and partnerships. Dunn-Edwards recently began partnering with One Treasure Island (OTI), a non-profit organization based on Treasure Island in Northern California that creates an inclusive community with a focus on low-income households and individuals who are or have been homeless. The two organizations work together to host a construction training program for individuals in Northern California seeking help in paving a career within the trades. Sylvia Flores, Dunn-Edwards General Sales Manager who oversees company sales in the Northern California and Nevada region, led the charge in setting up the partnership between Dunn-Edwards and OTI after she noticed a widespread labor shortage, as well as the need for a more accessible route for women to step into the painting industry. As students are graduating from the program, both the gaps in labor and women in the field are being filled.

Sofia De La Roca was born and raised in San Francisco and went into foster care when she was five. She didn’t have parents growing up and moved several times throughout her childhood. Sofia started working at the young age of 14 when she noticed her peers with more stuff than her, like better shoes and clothes. “[These are] things you worry about when you’re 14,” Sofia explains. Once she began earning her own money, Sofia realized she enjoyed working and spent a large bulk of her teenage years doing various jobs. She even transferred schools during high school so she could graduate a year early in order to speed up the process of pursuing a career in construction.

Sofia first became interested in construction when she lived with a foster family that owned a small home renovation business. She would join them on projects to help with simple tasks, like cleanup, then eventually learned more skills from the family, like how to use power tools and install flooring. After tagging along on these jobs for some time, Sofia realized she could see herself going into construction. “It was like endless possibilities,” Sofia says.

After graduating high school, Sofia landed her first official job in construction as the assistant to a general contractor. While she wasn’t doing work out in the field as she hoped, she gained key skills that are required to run a business. She became familiar with invoicing, ordering materials, payroll, and how to get permits and schedule inspections. She spent some time soaking in all the information she could because she plans to run a business of her own one day and recognizes the value that her assistant role brought to her.

While seeking out her next adventure in construction with the goal of getting out of an office, Sofia found OTI. After learning about the organization’s construction training program and how participants earn several necessary certifications during the multi-week training, become familiar with trade unions, receive assistance with job applications, and even go through a three-day hands-on paint training course with OTI’s partner, Dunn-Edwards Paints, Sofia decided she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. She decided to join the program to prepare herself to step further into construction. Sofia was eager to familiarize herself with painting, as she was aware jobs within the painting industry were quickly hiring, and she wanted to take advantage of that opportunity.

Dunn-Edwards paint training course within OTI’s construction training program is conducted by Dunn-Edwards trainers and covers all things trainees need to know about painting. From preparing for a job to hands-on work and cleanup, program participants are able to get a realistic idea of what a painting job entails. Sofia admits that the training provided more information than she expected, “I didn’t really think much about painting because it was like, you slap paint on a wall and call it a day.” After completing the Dunn-Edwards paint training, Sofia realized the skill required more tedious, detail-oriented work than she initially thought, which was a challenge she was up for.

After she fully completed the program, Sofia tapped into another one of OTI’s partners, City Build, an organization that helps program graduates find employment. She called City Build weekly to see if any job opportunities were available, and eventually, they secured Sofia a job interview with M&R Painting and Decorating. Thanks to her resume full of experience and a freshly completed OTI program, along with her ability to carry herself in a professional manner, Sofia was hired on the spot during her interview.

Sofia encourages anyone in the area to look into OTI’s construction training program if they are at all interested in stepping into the trades. In fact, she shared her experience with her social worker and asked them to spread the word to other foster children. She describes the opportunity presented by both OTI and Dunn-Edwards as something that brings a sense of community. “You have people. You have somebody if you have questions or if you need encouragement,” Sofia says.

With the trades being a male-dominated industry, Sofia expresses her appreciation for the accessibility of OTI’s services to women. “It’s really hard for women to get into construction,” Sofia explains. “And One Treasure [Island], they make it easy for women to get into construction.” One Treasure Island welcomes women into its programs and fully prepares them with trainings, certifications, and confidence for when it is their time to begin work.

“I’d say don’t be afraid. Just do it,” Sofia says in encouragement to other women thinking about pursuing a career in the trades. “You will learn a lot about yourself, you’ll learn a lot about working side by side with male peers, and you’ll learn a lot about the industry.” She also recommends women to network with other women in the industry to gain further insight. Sofia recently connected with Sylvia Flores at Dunn-Edwards and recognizes the value in having connections with women, like Sylvia, who have experience in the industry and are routing for and supporting other women.

Sofia’s recent connection with Sylvia has led her to a potential new opportunity: a job with Dunn-Edwards Paints. Sylvia is in the process of potentially getting Sofia hired on with the company, which will give Sofia more experience with and insight into the paint industry.

As Sofia currently works as a painter with M&R Painting and Decorating, she is grateful for the chance to gain experience and strengthen her skillset. This new job opportunity has allowed Sofia to continue independently supporting herself, and the developing opportunity with Dunn-Edwards is sure to support Sofia’s independence.

Sofia recently achieved her goal of moving to a new apartment with a calmer, better environment than she is used to. She is now focused on saving money to create her own business down the line. As someone who started working at an earlier age than the average person and is now a successful woman working in a male-dominated industry, Sofia is familiar with the importance of having a strong work ethic and enjoys working hard to achieve her goals. “You need passion for this job because nothing is handed to you. You have to work for every single thing – really hard.”