Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Heavy Equipment Site Experience
Technical Skills Tools
Direct Painting Experience
Core Painting Finishing Expertise
Timeline
Generic

CHRIS MCCREA

Post Falls

Summary

High-caliber Journeyman Painter (previously with IUPAT Union) and former Painting Business Owner with a career defined by technical precision and project leadership. Expert in high-end architectural finishes, Airless/HVLP spray systems, and Commercial & Residential coatings. Proven track record of managing long-term business operations, leading crews on multi-phase job sites, and delivering "zero-defect" results for residential and commercial clients.

Overview

24
24
years of professional experience

Work History

Precast Tanks Laborer / Operator

CDA Precast
10.2025 - 02.2026
  • Directs production of high-strength concrete tanks, ensuring structural accuracy and quality.
  • Operates Backhoes and Front-End Lifts for material handling and loading.

Journeyman Painter

Custom Painting (Union)
04.2019 - 09.2023
  • Executed high-spec commercial and industrial painting projects with a focus on durability and finish quality.
  • Managed end-to-end surface preparation for complex substrates to ensure maximum coating adhesion.
  • Collaborated with site foremen to meet aggressive production schedules on large-scale builds.

Owner / Master Painter

APEX Painting
01.2014 - 03.2022
  • Business Longevity: Founded and operated a premier painting firm for 8 years, maintaining a reputation for excellence in the Spokane/Post Falls region.
  • Full-Cycle Management: Handled all bidding, project estimation, and client consultations for luxury residential and commercial contracts.
  • Technical Execution: Specialized in "white-glove" finishes for custom cabinetry, millwork, and high-end interiors using HVLP and airless systems.
  • Quality Control: Supervised all job site protocols, ensuring 100% customer satisfaction and high referral rates.

Equipment Operator / Laborer

Petrie & Sons
06.2016 - 09.2017
  • Operated machinery for concrete foundations and site excavation/grading.

Owner / Operator

NW Sealcoating & Paving
05.2011 - 10.2015
  • Managed asphalt maintenance business, performing precision sealcoating and crack filling.

Paving Crew Lead / Operator

Spokane Asphalt Paving Inc.
05.2002 - 10.2010
  • Led an 8-man crew on municipal and commercial paving projects; expert operator of Pavers and Graders.

Education

Associate of Arts - Marketing And Graphic Design

Coleman College
San Diego , Ca

High School Diploma -

Central Valley High School

Skills

  • Airless Spray
  • HVLP Spray
  • Conventional Spray
  • Fine-Finish Brush
  • Fine-Finish Roll
  • Elastomeric Coatings
  • Epoxies
  • Urethanes
  • Multi-Spec Coatings
  • High-Performance Enamels
  • Substrate Repair
  • Chemical Stripping
  • Power Sanding
  • Blueprints/Plan Reading
  • Accurate Estimating
  • Material Logistics
  • Graco Sprayers
  • Titan Sprayers
  • Pressure Washers
  • Scaffolding
  • Boom Lifts
  • Scissor Lifts
  • QuickBooks
  • Digital Estimating
  • Marketing Management
  • OSHA Standards
  • PPE Protocol
  • Lead-Safe Work Practices

Heavy Equipment Site Experience

  • Petrie & Sons, Equipment Operator / Laborer, 06/01/16, 09/30/17, Operated machinery for concrete foundations and site excavation/grading.
  • NW Sealcoating & Paving, Owner / Operator, 05/01/11, 10/31/15, Managed asphalt maintenance business, performing precision sealcoating and crack filling.
  • Spokane Asphalt Paving Inc., Paving Crew Lead / Operator, 05/01/02, 10/31/10, Led an 8-man crew on municipal and commercial paving projects; expert operator of Pavers and Graders.

Technical Skills Tools

Graco/Titan Sprayers, Pressure Washers, Scaffolding, Boom/Scissor Lifts., QuickBooks, Digital Estimating, and Marketing Management., OSHA Standards, PPE Protocol, and Lead-Safe Work Practices.

Direct Painting Experience

  • CDA Precast, Precast Tanks Laborer / Operator, 10/01/25, Present, Directs production of high-strength concrete tanks, ensuring structural accuracy and quality. Operates Backhoes and Front-End Lifts for material handling and loading.
  • Custom Painting (Union), Journeyman Painter, 04/01/19, 09/30/23, Executed high-spec commercial and industrial painting projects with a focus on durability and finish quality. Managed end-to-end surface preparation for complex substrates to ensure maximum coating adhesion. Collaborated with site foremen to meet aggressive production schedules on large-scale builds.
  • APEX Painting, Owner / Master Painter, 01/01/14, 03/31/22, Business Longevity: Founded and operated a premier painting firm for 8 years, maintaining a reputation for excellence in the Spokane/Post Falls region. Full-Cycle Management: Handled all bidding, project estimation, and client consultations for luxury residential and commercial contracts. Technical Execution: Specialized in 'white-glove' finishes for custom cabinetry, millwork, and high-end interiors using HVLP and airless systems. Quality Control: Supervised all job site protocols, ensuring 100% customer satisfaction and high referral rates.

Core Painting Finishing Expertise

Airless, HVLP, & Conventional Spray; Fine-Finish Brush & Roll., Elastomeric, Epoxies, Urethanes, Multi-Spec, & High-Performance Enamels., Expert-level Substrate Repair, Chemical Stripping, & Power Sanding., Blueprints/Plan Reading, Accurate Estimating, & Material Logistics.

Timeline

Precast Tanks Laborer / Operator

CDA Precast
10.2025 - 02.2026

Journeyman Painter

Custom Painting (Union)
04.2019 - 09.2023

Equipment Operator / Laborer

Petrie & Sons
06.2016 - 09.2017

Owner / Master Painter

APEX Painting
01.2014 - 03.2022

Owner / Operator

NW Sealcoating & Paving
05.2011 - 10.2015

Paving Crew Lead / Operator

Spokane Asphalt Paving Inc.
05.2002 - 10.2010

Associate of Arts - Marketing And Graphic Design

Coleman College

High School Diploma -

Central Valley High School
CHRIS MCCREA