Joe Moore: Two Trades are Better Than One
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
WINDSOR — By the time Joe Moore was ready to start his own business, he’d already amassed a wealth of professional experience in the painting and roofing trades. “I started painting when I was a kid and spent much of my youth working for my uncle, who was a well-known painter in San Francisco,” he says. “Later, I dated a girl whose father was a roofer and ended up working for his company for 15 years. When I reached my 20th year in roofing, I felt it was time to start my own business.” Rather than decide which of his two fields of expertise to focus on, Joe opted to incorporate both. “Since I had experience in both painting and roofing, I thought, ‘Why not combine them?’ After all, when a homeowner is getting a new roof installed, they often need their chimney or house painted as well, so I figured it would be convenient for them to have a one-stop shop.”
Today, as owner of Joe Moore Painting & Roofing, Joe says he’s a big believer in educating clients. “The majority of my business consists of giving people information. In most cases, homeowners who call us about a new roof don’t need one—they usually just need a repair. That why I like educating customers about what’s happening on their roofs and helping them make informed decisions that can save them some money.”
A resident of the North Bay (where he lives with his wife, Dawn), Joe expresses his appreciation for the many advantages his location offers. “The weather is good, the people are nice and it’s a good place to raise a family. Also, there’s easy access to anything you might want to do—it’s 45 minutes from the city and the ocean, and two hours from the mountains, so we really have it all.”
Outside of work, Joe has taken to a high-altitude hobby. “We just purchased an airplane, which will allow us to do more traveling and make it easier to visit friends and family,” he explains. “We also own a lake house, so we enjoy going there to relax and do some waterskiing when we get a chance.” Joe says he also likes giving back to his community. “My wife and I are invested in local youth sports—I coached youth football for 10 years and Dawn coached girls’ softball. Most weekends, we’re attending a football, baseball or basketball game, rooting for the local team.” Additionally, Joe likes keeping in touch with his and Dawn’s two children: Joe, who is pursuing a career in law enforcement, and Megan, who is attending college in Washington on a soccer scholarship.
In his life and career, Joe espouses the importance of integrity. “One of the things my father told me was, ‘You leave this world with just your name,’ and I’ve kept that in mind my entire life. In regard to my business, it means upholding our reputation by treating customers honestly and with respect. I’ve tried to do that from the beginning and I’ve been blessed to have a good experience in my profession.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he could retire tomorrow, Joe says he wouldn’t. “I enjoy what I do. I don’t think I’m ever going to retire—I’m not built that way. However, if I were to start working less, I’d definitely spend more time with my family. They’re the most important part of my life.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your earliest memory?
A: Hanging out with my dad on his fishing yacht when I was six or seven years old.
Q: What kind of music do you like?
A: Light rock.
Q: Pancakes or waffles?
A: Pancakes.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Coin-operated banks and Mickey Mouse stuff.
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