Everyone’s heard the phrase “you don’t know how good you have it until it’s gone,” but CertaPro Painters of Northwest Indiana has taken that phrase to the next level. This year, not just one, but three former employees returned to CertaPro. No matter what reason they had for leaving, they all realized that CertaPro was their forever home.
“It's exciting that they felt that after spending some time away and experiencing other opportunities they still valued what we have here. We’re proud to have some of our most loyal and experienced people coming back. This is our core team. It just feels right,” said John Jordan, owner of CertraPro Painters of Northwest Indiana.
Many people might think that returning to work for a former employer wouldn’t be the most comfortable experience, but for CertaPro’s recently returned employees, the decision to come back was as easy as breathing.
Daniel Barrasas, operations manager at CertaPro, was formerly a salesperson for CertaPro. He decided to leave CertaPro during the pandemic because he has an immune-compromised child and wanted to do what was best for his family’s safety. Jordan was extremely understanding of Barrasas’ situation and left the door wide open for future opportunities.
It was ultimately Jordan’s compassion that drew Barrasas back. It was incomparable to anything he had ever experienced before and he knew it was something he couldn’t pass up on.
“I've worked in jobs where I was basically on call non-stop. It took so much away from my family. Here, though, the work-life balance is great. What I appreciated about CertaPro was that Jordan understood that our family is just as important as the family we have here. I have a great deal of respect for John and what he did for me,” said Barrasas.
It wasn’t just CertaPro’s work-life balance that encouraged several employees to come back, though. For Jamie Heintz, CertaPro’s office coordinator, her time away made her realize that any opportunity that might come her way could never offer a family quite like her CertaPro team.
“The biggest thing I think of when I think of CertaPro’s culture is family. We’re a family--we support each other with everything whether it is work-related, personal, or just everyday things. We always have each other’s backs,” said Heintz.
Dan Tirpak, the residential sales manager, couldn’t agree more. After working at CertaPro for five years, Tirpak decided he wanted to spend some time away with his kids. Instead of letting Tirpak go his separate way, there was always an open door to come back when he was ready.
“It meant a lot to know that even though I wasn’t there anymore they wanted to make sure I was okay. I felt like a valued part of the team. It felt so good that I wasn't just needed, but that I was missed,” Tirpak said.
Ultimately, this year was a very bright year for CertaPro. The entire CertaPro team is glad to finally be whole again and have found where they permanently belong.
“That's what everybody hopes for, to have a close-knit team like this where you're more than just coworkers--you’re a family,” Tirpak said.
“I’m happy to be home. For me, being a part of this team was meant to be. I want to work here until retirement,” Heintz said.
One thing’s for sure: the CertaPro team is much stronger now than it ever was before and they are ready to get out and serve the customers they love.
“It’s like getting the band back together. I'm very excited about what’s to come and I’m looking forward to what the future holds for us and the growth that we're looking to do for our customers,” Barrasas said. To learn more about CertaPro Painters of Northwest Indiana and its tight-knit team, visit certapro.com/nwi
