My name is... [Archive] - NATIONAL GUILD OF PROFESSIONAL PAPERHANGERS Bulletin Board

Gary Lucas

03-24-2009, 07:01 PM

I've been intending to set up this forum for some time now. Finally, here it is.

I'll start. I'm Gary Lucas, a paperhanger from Columbus Ohio with 34 years in the business. Been a Guild member since '91. It has been a fantastic learning and sharing experience.

Well that's enough about me.:D

Your turn.

My-T-Fine

03-24-2009, 07:40 PM

:tiphat: I'm Peter Fine from MY-T-FINE INC. I'm based in Fort Lauderdale and have been installing wallcovering for 21 years mostly in the yachting industry. I joined the NGPP today and look forward to gaining knowledge and making friends. Your turn.

Check out my site here (http://www.mytfineinc.com/)

cgreene

03-24-2009, 08:04 PM

I'm Carolyn Greene. I live and work in Northridge,LA area, California. Been a Guild member for over 20 years. Not too active with National. Enjoy attending as many Conventions as I can. More active with the LA Chapter. Past President, presently Secretary. I prefer residential, but do quite a bit commercial also. Enjoy reading and posting on the Wallpaper forums.
I am married and have 5 children and 3 step daughters. Their ages range from 40 to 15. 5 Grand-Children. My passion outside of my family is my Horse, Magic. He takes me away from my very busy real world.

Dave D

03-24-2009, 09:25 PM

Great idea Gary!

And welcome to the Guild Pete.

My name is Dave DiBacco. I am serving as the National president. Have been a Guild member since 1987 and have been in the paint and wallpapering business since I was about 14. I love it and look forward to going to work everyday, though things have been a bit tough lately.

Dave

Bill Archibald

03-24-2009, 11:06 PM

Bill Archibald, been a member since 90. Self taught. NGPP has added greatly to that.
Hung my first strip in 72. Gave up painting in the 80's, now just sticking with wallcoverings.
Residential.

For the rest of my bio, just look on the wall of any post office:

1563

Chris Nelson

03-25-2009, 07:21 AM

Chris Nelson from Hagerstown, MD, west of Baltimore,north of DC,east of Pittsburgh( way east) , south of Harrisburgh, right on the Mason Dixon line. Been a member of the Guild for 11 years and have learned a lot here on the forum and when ever I have had a question,all I need to do is ask and I will get an answer,either here or the other cyber networks.

gadams

03-25-2009, 08:42 AM

Hi folks,My name is Guy Adams.I have been involved in the wallpapering industry since I started pasting for my dad during summer vacation in 1966. Hung my first bathroom for my great grandmother in 1971.Have been in and out of the business since but hanging full force since the eighties.I mostly now install high end residential and specialty commercial ,here in the Atlanta area.

Lee Epstein

03-25-2009, 04:30 PM

Me next, Me next. I'm Lee Epstein. President of Metro/NY. Hanging for 32 years as my job. (I'm the Union Guy in my chapter.) Hanging for over 40 years with my dad as a kid. Closer to 45 years. Geez i'm old. BTW Bill I see they got your good side.

Buff1

03-25-2009, 07:29 PM

Buffy Groves here. I've been a Guild member for 7 years (in May) and I am currently the Mid-Adlantic Regional Director. Joining the Guild has garnered me many friends, and has improved my hanging skills immensely. There have been a couple of jobs I might have turned down, but because of the help/education/input, I was able to tackle them and achieve the results that I strive for.

I live on a 20 acre farm in Heathsville, VA. We have 9 dogs, 4 cats, 2 donkeys, a horse, a flock of chickens and one guinea hen. We also have one very sassy Eclectus Parrot (don't ask him "where's Uncle Joe").

I'm married and have 3 step-sons in their 40's. Joe and I have a son together who will be graduating from VaTech (cum laude :thumbup:) this spring.

When I'm not at the wall, I like to fish (saltwater), cook, crochet and sleep...not necessarily in that order :roflmao:

Rusty

03-25-2009, 09:25 PM

I am Rusty Gauthier. I fell in love with a blue eyed blonde whose dad was a commercial painting contractor. I was a carpenter at the time. I wanted to marry his daughter and he said I needed a better job. I really think he was in the market for a paperhanger more than a son-in-law. The next thing you know I'm off to Rutland Vermont not even fully understanding what a paperhanger did. 25 Years later and my crew consists of 2 graduates from the US School of Professional Paperhangers and a third guy has been taught by us and has run taping and floating crews for 15 years before coming to work with me. Now days all my work is upper end in a prominent neighborhood. My passion is salt water fishing. You can catch me chasing speckled trout, redfish, tarpon ,and sharks in the surf year round. In addition I also take an occasional trip to the high country to do some fly fishing.

Paul Stickley

03-25-2009, 11:00 PM

HI, my name is Paul Stickley,a paperhanger/painter from western Maryland.I'm in a small town in a rural area named Flintstone.Our work is approximatly 75% residential and 25% commercial.I've been in this business for 23 years and a member of the Guild for 2 years.

Chris Nelson

03-26-2009, 06:59 AM

Flintstone, you are probably the closest neighbor I have, welcome Paul.

LaRusso

03-26-2009, 09:58 AM

Hello , my name is Vincent J. LaRusso from New York City area and I have been a member for the past eight years (only wish it was 20).

Installing for 29 years all over the tri-state area (NY-NJ-CT)

Along with my lovely Wife of 19 years, we have identical twin girls, age 15 and live in Brewster, NY the past 16 years. Which is 45 miles north of NYC.

The Westchester Chapter is my home away from home and served as past Vice-President and President. Currently I am the Regional Director of the Metro area, as well as the International membership chairperson.

Besides our member base here in the States, we have members in Australia, South Africa, England, Mexico, Canada and just this past convention seven gentleman visited us from Japan.

The networking/knowledge/education along with what I believe is the most important is the passion of each member to share their stories, tools and families with you is just great!

tag your it

Boston Hangman

03-26-2009, 09:19 PM

Hi

My name is Mark White , I reside in Beverly, Ma. with my lovely wife and daughter.

I am a third generation paperhanger/ painter. Growing up I pasted for my father as a young boy and learned a tremendous amount working alongside him,my uncle and brothers as well as various employees of his business.

In Jan. 1985 ,I attended the US School of Prof. Paperhanging in Rutland VT .
This was the best thing I could have done for my paperhanging career.

In 1993 I joined the guild as part of the Boston (aka the best;) ) Chapter and have been active at the local level since the beginning. The guild has proven to be better than I could have imagined when I first called to join. I look forward to finishing my career as an NGPP member. :thumbup:

Thanks to all who have helped me to become a better paperhanger than I could have ever achieved on my own. :tiphat:

Mark
Boston Chapter

ProWallGuy

03-26-2009, 10:34 PM

Hi
Thanks to all who have helped me to become a better paperhanger than I could have ever achieved on my own. :tiphat:

Mark
Boston Chapter
Mark, I too am proud to see how far you've come. :lol:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/prowallguy/mahke.jpg

Boston Hangman

03-26-2009, 10:43 PM

man it is sad that you feel so bad about your excessive back hair you have to attack me on the BB ...:roflmao:

When paperhangers have to wear hard hats and resort to using torches d:( to apply wallcoverings as well as trim their friends back hair, we know we're in deep:lol:

Jeff Evans

03-26-2009, 10:46 PM

Hi, Jeff Evans from Los Angeles. I've been installing residentially for 26 years in LA. I work alone, and knew for years about the Guild, but didn't think I'd enjoy it. Also, truth be told, I think I was timid because I didn't know if I was any good or not, seeing as I never worked around anyone else since leaving my mentor after 4 months of training.

5 or so years ago I got into surfing the web, and found a bunch of other installers on various sites (some turn to porn, I turned to paper, yet my wife was always rolling her eyes at me for being online so much:confused:). For about a year I devoured everything I could read on paperhanging. I liked what I saw from Guild members, got to know a few, and joined in 2005.

I've learned vastly more in the nearly 5 years I've been a member, than I did on my own the previous 20+ years. Any time you can get a group of hangers together, it's always going to turn into a great learning experience. I'm a proud member of the Los Angeles Chapter, and I love those guys and gals over there.

I have my wife of 19 years, and 4 sons. Between them, work, and going to church, I have very limited time for the rest of the stuff I like to do, which is Flyfishing, tying flies, golf, and woodworking.

coupal

03-27-2009, 08:23 AM

I'm Roger Coupal, aka "Silent Slim", current president of the small but mighty Berkshire Chapter. I joined the guild in '94 or '95 after going to a "meet the guild night" which included a free buffet. I saw things I had never seen before and met hangers who were willing and able to share techniques and information. My check was in the mail the next morning and I haven't looked back yet. Best thing I ever did for my business. I'm a self taught second generation hanger, never worked a day with my father.

Dick Wilson

03-28-2009, 08:52 PM

Hi, my name is Dick and I'm a hanger....the others:"HI Dick welcome to the Guild"...

Seriously,
My name is Dick Wilson. I started out painting as a summer job in'69 while attending college and a couple years later my employer had me pasting for him. I would sneak in a few strips when he left for lunch and fell in love with hanging.
I began my own business in '79, joined the Guild 5 years ago this month at the Cleveland workshop where the NEO chapter was given birth.

I've been married to Jane for 36 years (?) and we have 3 Estrogen Americans, aged 32, 28 and 25.
I suppose my hobby includes community service. I am a 27 yr member of our local volunteer fire dept. including 7 as chief. I volunteer at church for some events and I am a member of a couple service organizations.

As a member of the NGPP, I have met, and worked with some wonderful people who share the same wallcovering installation passion. From my own experience and from reading posts on this and other bulletin board/forums there is always help from other hangers; one is never alone with a wallcovering problem.

Buff1

03-28-2009, 11:07 PM

... and we have 3 Estrogen Americans...

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

I LOVE IT!!!

Elsie Kapteina

03-29-2009, 11:13 AM

Elsie Kapteina and a proud member of the Guild since 91.
I have been hanging for a very long time, and still get up every morning loving my profession. The Guild definitely brought me to a higher level and I so appreciate all those who have helped me to define all of my skills - and to those, my :tiphat:to you for your dedication in making this Guild viable! e

Gary Lucas

03-29-2009, 05:03 PM

I am thrilled with so many posts. Thanks to everyone.

I just want to make it clear that you don't have to be a Guild member to post here. We have several frequent and valuable posters who are not members of NGPP. We won't give you too much of a hard-sell if you do introduce yourself - just ask My-T-Fine.:lol:

Gary

Cohen

04-02-2009, 10:37 PM

Hello my name is Larry Cohen
I have been hanging wallpaper since 1970 to many years to count. My clients look like a whos who in entertainment sports and forbes 400. I still love the trade and still feel challenged by the different materials everyday. I have a crew of installers so I could have problems with different jobs in one day. I have been a guild member for 3 years. I have a an attitude and did not think I could learn anything from the guild. I was wrong and really appreciate the comroderie that the guild offers. Hope I spelled that word right.
I am happily married for close to thirty years with a son graduating college and a daughter graduating high school. Where did the years go?:cry:

Cliff Hayes

04-03-2009, 12:20 PM

I'm Cliff Hayes, from Freehold, New Jersey. I was taught in 1986 by a friend who'd apprenticed with an outfit in Philly, called WallCrafters. I had worked for a painter while putting myself through school, so I knew a thing or two about the trades. I did both paperhanging and painting until 1994, when I decided to either make it as a full-time paperhanger, or get out of the trades. In the late 90's, I was 'guilted' into joining the NGPP by Bob Kelly, who told me I had an obligation to support the only organization which supported the trade. I joined as an at-large member. At the Philadelphia convention, a couple of years later, I met Phil Reinhard, and we founded the South Jersey chapter, with encouragement from Jack Heinrich and the late Sue Black. I've worked with many, many Guild members since joining, and it's been a real education. I host a casual, online paperhanger's forum, which can be found at http://forums.delphiforums.com/paperhanging

Cliff

knockaert

04-03-2009, 08:33 PM

I'm Jeff Knockaert, I have been a member of the Northern California chapter since 2001. Been hanging for 31 years. I am married with 2 children and live in Concord Ca.

shelw

04-03-2009, 09:48 PM

Hi - I'm Shelly Wilkins, located 40 miles west of Baltimore. Started papering in 1983, was a full time hanger until I started my own company in 1991. Then started faux and other painting. I plan on "retiring" back to strictly wallpaper just as soon as the economy lets me, or when my daughter becomes financially able to support herself, (not holding my breath...........) whichever comes first!

lee100

05-13-2009, 03:36 PM

Hi Guys,

Just recieved my membership pack today so I must be the newest member?

I currently live in the North East of England but once my Green Card comes through I will be joining you guys in the US.

We will be settling in Naples Florida and even though the current climate isn't
ideal we can't wait.

I have been in the trade 35 years and have run my own business since 1989.

Lee

Gary Lucas

05-13-2009, 04:36 PM

Welcome to NGPP Lee. And welcome to the US - eventually.:)

I have enabled you for the members-only section of the bulletin board. Enjoy all of the benefits of Guild membership.

Gary

My-T-Fine

05-13-2009, 05:25 PM

Welcome to the guild Lee. I'm a fairly new member as well. I live about an hour and a half from where you will be settling. It's very very nice down here in the tropics and Naples is a nice part of the state. The people are still nice over there :lol:..

Pete

lee100

05-13-2009, 05:40 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome guys, I'm already feeling at home!
Lee

Dave D

05-13-2009, 08:56 PM

Welcome to the Guild. I almost wish you would be staying in England to help us get more involvement there.

Anyway, Great to have you join us and keep us informed of your plans to move here.

Dave

Bill Archibald

05-13-2009, 10:31 PM

welcome Lee,

It's great that you'll be heading across the pond soon.

Best of luck. You know where to turn if need help, or just an ear.

-Bill

lee100

05-15-2009, 12:56 PM

Hi Guys,
Thanks again for the welcome messages, I think its a great idea as it gives newbies such as myself a feeling of actually being part of a guild that values the comraidship between it's members.
By the way I checked out a few of your websites guys and I must say I'm very impressed
especially with Pete's (My-T-Fine), some of those yatchs you work on are incredible, I'm very envious.
Lee

blauvelt

05-24-2009, 10:42 PM

Hi all! Cool site. I popped in here accidentally.
Anyhow my name is Bob I'm 51 and started hanging paper out of high school. Learned in Darien Ct. (where I'm from) Moved to Palm Beach County in 83. I do mostly residential on the Island of Palm Beach and the only thing goofier than some of the material we get down here is the people we work for.
Look forward to reading the threads and contributing when I can.

My-T-Fine

05-24-2009, 11:23 PM

blauvelt

05-25-2009, 12:21 AM

Thanks MTF. I don't work down there much (not a big fan of that ride on 95). But when you have to well then you have to. I actualy worked in Miami yesterday.

lee100

05-25-2009, 11:09 AM

Hi Bob,
Welcome from England.
Lee

blauvelt

05-25-2009, 04:04 PM

Thanks Lee.

I feel your pain man. Twenty and a half inches everywhere you go.

Robert Wagner

01-07-2010, 11:54 AM

Hi, Robert Wagner here, was a member, don't know if I still am? but I still have the "CREED" hanging on my wall, started hanging in 1966 in Washington DC, traveled all over the US, currently in Texas but moving to W. Monroe LA soon...still enjoy my work as a paperhanger.