Your name: Mike Routon
Your position:  Owner
Email: mike.routon@fivestarpainting.com
Company name: Five Star Painting 
Website: www.fivestarpainting.com
Phone number: 509-850-7915
Industry: Painting & Epoxy Flooring
How many people does the company employ? 5 full-time employees
How long has it been in business? 8 years

What prompted you to start your own business? There was an accident at work that ended with me falling 25 feet. I was out of work for 4 years. Nobody wanted to hire such a big liability. This forced me to start my own business. The fall was the worst and best thing that ever happened to me.

How did you decide on this industry? Like I said, I sort of fell into it. I had worked for a painting company at 20 years old. It was my brother-in-law who told me I had a natural gift for painting. He believed I could make a good living painting if I honed my skills. It was then that I started mastering my craft. 

Describe what you do: Five Star specializes in interior and exterior re-paints. We also do smaller commercial projects. We also do epoxy flooring.

Given the expertise in your field, what advice would you give to the residents of Legacy Ridge: Don’t neglect your paint until it needs it. Prep is a really costly part of painting. If you maintain the paint job it’ll save you a lot of money. On average every 6 years your home is due for a repaint due to the broad temperature ranges. On the exterior walls, the temperatures will get down to -10 in the winter and 140 degrees in the summer! Paint is not designed to stretch that far which is why it demands upkeep. 

Where did you grow up? I was born in Phoenix, Arizona where I spent the younger part of my childhood there. My family moved to Brewster, Washington when I was 8 years old. Sports were my thing growing up. Between football, wrestling, and track and field, I lettered eleven times! 

Tell us about your family: I’ve been married to Amy for 6 years now. We met at the Physical Therapy office where I was going after my big fall. She still works there and loves it! I have four children, 3 daughters and 1 son, most of whom are grown and off on their own in their 20s now. My son works with me at Five Star which is nice. 

When you aren’t working or spending time with your family, what might we catch you doing? You would definitely find me outside. I’m a big hunter and love traveling to different locations to do so, all the way from Alaska to the Arkansas, and anywhere in between! The craziest trip was hunting in Texas right near the border. Arkansas was the most memorable due to the difference in terrain. The swamp is unlike anything else. My brother-in-law’s family and I got up early and there was so much fog. The scenery was creepy it reminded me of a horror film. I remember being happy to have a gun with me! Honestly though, I could sit in a duck blind all day long, not shoot my gun once, and still be just as happy because I love the outdoors so much. 

Why do you run your own business? I have a passion to be perfect. I’m not looking to be the cheapest but I will do the job right. I’ll be a painter for life.