Lee Dido is a longtime veteran of the painting industry and owner of Wine Country Painters, a Diamond Certified company since 2010. He can be reached at (707) 925-2916 or by email.
Lee Dido: Painting the Wine Country
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
FORESTVILLE — Lee Dido started painting professionally right out of high school and hasn’t looked back since. “After graduating high school, I was offered a job painting houses at $7 an hour, and I took it,” he recounts. “Working for a general contractor, I did other aspects of construction as well, but painting was what I enjoyed most and really excelled at, so I decided to focus on it. By the time I was 28, I’d started my own company.”
Today, as owner of Wine Country Painters, Lee says his favorite part of his job is working with customers. “I love meeting new people and guiding them through the painting process. I understand how frustrating it can be to have someone working in and around your home, so I do my best to ease that stress and educate my customers on what we’re doing.”
A longtime resident of Sonoma County, Lee expresses his fondness for the flavor of Bay Area life. “From the weather to the food and culture, I love the lifestyle we have in the North Bay. I’ve been to a lot of places and nothing is quite like it.”
Outside of work, Lee likes to stay active with exercise and outdoor activities. “I go to the gym five days a week, and I’m an avid swimmer and cyclist. I also do a lot of skiing in the winter and enjoy taking walks along the beach.” Additionally, Lee likes spending time with his wife, Alexandra, their two grown children, Britney and River, and their one-year old daughter, Meadow. “After being in an empty nest for a while, Alexandra and I recently had another daughter. It’s been an amazing experience to have a second go-round at parenthood.”
In regard to his professional career, Lee espouses the virtues of proactive communication. “I pride myself on having good communication with customers,” he affirms. “Whether I’m following up with them after the job or calling ahead to let them know I’m running behind, they really appreciate being kept in the loop. A lot of painters struggle with this, so I make a concerted effort to keep those communication lines open.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Lee says he’d continue doing the things he currently enjoys. “I’d probably spend more time playing with my daughter, going to the gym and skiing. I might also take the opportunity to go to Europe and ski the Alps.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: The San Francisco Giants.
Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: Goat cheese and crackers.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Vinyl records. I used to be a DJ when I was in my 20s, so I’ve accumulated quite a collection. I probably have 10,000 records at this point.
Q: If you could immediately master any musical instrument, what would you choose?
A: Alto saxophone.
Q: How do you like your eggs?
A: Soft-boiled.
