PDCA Contractor College Instructors

PDCA is very proud of the talented people who share their insight and knowledge. Their efforts have made the Contractor College learning experience the best available in the industry. We are pleased to present this abbreviated list of instructors.

Jonathan R. Abbett, CLU, ChFC

Jon founded FAA in 1997 to better service the benefits and investment needs of not-for-profit organizations and the business community at large. He has been a financial planning professional for 18 years, 12 of which have been specialized in the association marketplace and their business owner members. Jon built his insurance and investment practice from a solo operation, managing individual clients, to a firm of over 15 financial professionals serving over 100 not-for-profit organizations and over 500 individual clients. FAA currently manages nearly $100 million in organization and individual assets and over $375 million in insurance programs, supporting an array of tax-efficient executive deferred compensation, estate and individual accumulation plans.

Jon and his team have worked with PDCA members through education programs and individual consultation. Their focus is on helping members in a variety of financial areas to become more efficient and cost effective with their employee benefits, as well as, assisting PDCA members on their personal needs for tax efficient retirement, transition, benefit and compensation planning. 

Linnea J. Blair

The president of Advisors On Target, Linnea Blair provides business consulting and coaching to business owners and executives who are ready to take action to become effective leaders, achieve business or career goals and enhance the quality of their lives. She developed the On Target Program for Painting Contractors in 2002 and over the last five years has worked with over 60 residential and commercial painting contractors (all PDCA members) to help them develop more successful painting businesses. In addition to individual business coaching and consulting, Linnea provides monthly tele-classes or webinars on a variety of business topics to the public as well as her own clients.

Richard Bright

Richard Bright is Director of Sales & Marketing for PDCA as well as founder & president of Bright Concepts, Inc., an association consulting organization founded 1997. Bright Concepts main focus is on developing and growing valued relationships between businesses and associations, Bright Concepts handles several major association accounts including the Painting & Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA), the American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL), and the American Subcontractors Association (ASA).

Along with his success as an entrepreneur, Richard is also an international speaker who addresses topics on CEO Peer groups, entrepreneurship, sales and marketing and motivation based on a solid foundation of knowledge and experience with a blend of humor and enthusiasm. He has presented for audiences from 15 to 150, for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE); the Council of Growing Companies, and many other organizations and events. Richard Bright currently serves on the board of The Entrepreneurship Institute and The Remember the True Victims Foundation.

Peter A. Brown 

Pete Brown brings more than 20 years of sales and general management experience to his position as founder and president of Gateway Sales Development, Inc. (GSD), a sales training and business development firm based in Missouri, and an authorized franchisee of the Sandler Sales Institute.Gateway Sales Development is committed to helping our clients reach their financial goals. By introducing a systematic process approach to the selling environment, and then reinforcing these new behaviors through on-going training, GSD delivers value beyond traditional, technique-based seminars. Pete is a Magna cum Laude graduate of DePaul University with a Master of Business Administration degree, and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of New Hampshire.

Robert Cusumano

Mr. Cusumano has long been active in organizations serving the paint and painting contractor industries. With over 30 years of experience, as a contractor and consultant, he has become a recognized expert in his field. He often provides expert witness testimony in many cases dealing with pricing, failure analysis and even personal injury.

In addition to being a Chairman of the PDCA Cost and Estimating Committee and a Board member of the Master Painters Institute International Advisory Board, Mr. Cusumano has served as National President of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America.

He has a Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Engineering, (specializing in corrosion research) both from the University of Florida.

Brandt Domas

Brandt Domas is Director of PDCA Online for PDCA and has provided communications services to PDCA for many years.  He is founder of Work-Systems.com, a Marketing and PR Small Business Consulting and Media company started in 1994.  He is also President of Domas Fine Painting, a painting and decorating contracting business started in 1979.  Both businesses are located in Denver, Colorado. 

Brandt served as a National President of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America during 2000-2001.  He has served on several PDCA committees and other construction-related association's committees. Brandt is a national speaker and the author of numerous articles and web sites on business communications and management as well as painting and decorating. He brings relevant, practical and technical expertise to his presentations, combined with an engaging delivery.

Brian Drucks

Brian is the fourth generation of his family to be in the paint business.
He started his own residential wallpaper company and 10 years ago decided to start a commercial paint and wallcovering firm. Last year his company went union. Drucks Inc. currently employees 20 painters and it's clientele includes Giant Stadium, Retail stores and Office buildings throughout New Jersey and New York.

In addition, Brian started Yourcostcenter.com a software company that helps Service Companies, understand and develop their company's pricing. His software company is a PDCA Passport provider.

Doug Duncan

Doug Duncan of Your HR Solutions, Inc. has 30 years of experience in business planning and human resources working for small, medium and large companies and organizations. Doug has also consulted for large best-in-class companies such as a $6 billion dollar supermarket organization as well as a large mid-west insurance company in helping to build their strategic and human resource systems.

Over the last 5 years he has worked specifically with a number of commercial and residential painting companies in creating an operational and human resource process tailored to the needs and requirements of the painting industry. He brings the learning's from these wide varieties of companies in the painting industry in a straightforward and easy to understand manner.

Michael Jeffries

Mike Jeffries is founder and managing partner of Rivers of Revenue LLC, founded in November 2002. They create strategic and tactical marketing programs that clearly distinguish their clients from the competition. Mike has consulted with hundreds of companies and his programs are responsible for millions of dollars in increased sales for his clients. He has presented before numerous groups and professional associations in the contracting and service industries. Mike Jeffries is an entrepreneur and business owner. As a CPA he founded, merged, grew and sold a successful business consulting and accounting practice that he operated for 12 years. Mike holds a BS in Finance and an MBA in Accounting from the University of Connecticut.

Daniel Kim

Daniel Kim attended Boston University & Rutgers University with a Major in Business Management. He has worked extensively in the online arena including internet marketing, advertising and lead generation. Currently Daniel is the CEO of the MyCS Network, an educational marketing firm, and the principal consultant at Organic Growth SEO. He uses his extensive knowledge of the internet to help his clients gain a substantial presence online.

Ronald A. McKenzie

Ronald A. McKenzie is president of McKenzie Marketing Group, Inc., a national strategic planning/marketing consulting company that helps contractors and subcontractors develop a positioning advantage, and CEO of Construction Peer Group Corporation (CPGC), a construction peer group management company that puts non-competing contractors together and facilitates their meetings with a focus on company growth. CPGC is the approved management company for PDCA peer groups.