For 25 years, Jarrod and Jodi Esser have built more than a painting business in Omaha. Through CertaPro®, they have created a people-first business known for reliability, craftsmanship and a team culture that feels more like family than workforce. What began as a leap of faith has grown into a full-service operation serving residential and commercial clients across the metro, from single-family homes to HOAs, schools, retail spaces and large industrial buildings.
Interior painting is available year-round, exterior projects typically running March through October, with estimates provided in every season to help homeowners plan ahead. That steady, structured approach reflects the Essers’ larger philosophy, to run a disciplined business, invest in the right people and never lose sight of the customer experience.
Yet behind the growth and longevity is a story rooted in family.
Jarrod studied finance while Jodi studied interior design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Their early plan was simple: graduate and head to a bigger city. That changed when Jodi’s father was diagnosed with leukemia during college.
“Her father was diagnosed with a type of leukemia,” Jarrod says. “And with that, it really drove home the importance of family and being nearby.”
Nebraska, once a temporary stop, became home. What they initially saw as a quiet alternative slowly revealed itself as the ideal place to build a family and a business. They discovered an opportunity in a painting franchise and decided to go for it. Jarrod had run a College Pro® franchise while at UNL, giving them practical experience, combined with Jodi’s design background, the partnership flourished.
Still, Jodi is quick to point out paint is only part of what they do.
“We’re in the painting business, but it’s really the service business. We serve people and help them create a space they love to be in,” Jodi says. “The world can be a crazy place, but at the end of the day, you go to your home and you want it to be a place you feel safe and where you want to spend time.”
That mindset shapes how they structure their teams. Crews are specialized, some focusing solely on interiors, while others handle exterior work. They are certified for lead abatement in homes built before 1978 and have restored historic properties, including a large Victorian built in the early 1900s.
“Doing a project like that is extremely labor intensive, but we are blessed with a crew that is always willing and ready to tackle complex projects,” Jodi says.
As the company has grown, so has their understanding of leadership.
“Just having our staff and watching our people grow, to gain new skill sets and work together as a team, is just mind-blowing. We used to think we had to do everything ourselves, but it’s amazing how things really take off with the right people in the right positions,” Jarrod says.
Many painters have been with them for more than 15 years. The culture is intentionally tight-knit, where clients see familiar faces and employees build careers.
The emotional heartbeat of the business is perhaps most visible each October through the Paint it Pink® campaign, which donates $15 per job to breast cancer research. Last year, they created a lasting memory that serves as a daily reminder of what their work means to others.
“This past year, we were connected to a woman who was fighting stage four breast cancer, and one of her bucket list items was to get her house painted, because it had been ten years since the house was built,” Jodi explains.
Jodi shares that in that moment she felt connected to the woman, who was also a mom, close in age, with a son in high school. She shared that in the time she spent with her, the more she realized how much life is taken for granted, how much she admired her resilience.
“She’s going through such a difficult thing. She can’t work and her brain’s not functioning the same because of her treatments. All the things we take for granted, she’s struggling with, but here she is just really happy,” Jodi shares. “There was this one flowering bush, and that’s what she talked about, because she could see the light in a lot of darkness.”
Ever since that connection was made, Jodi and Jarrod have felt their mission was clear, to help others and create a space that feels like home. The impact was long lasting and extended to her entire team, who now participate in Paint it Pink® every year.
Today, CertaPro® stands on 25 years of steady growth, strong systems and an unwavering belief that business is ultimately about people. Spring often brings a surge of requests as homeowners look to refresh their spaces.
“We always have a lot of requests for estimates in the spring, because as the weather changes, most feel that it’s time to spruce up the house,” Jodi says. “If you want to get ahead of the curve, call us early so we can get you an estimate and get your project scheduled.”
For the Essers, success is not defined by square footage painted or projects completed. It is measured in relationships built, teams developed and homes made more welcoming, one brushstroke at a time.
If you’re ready to bring new life to your home or business, the team at CertaPro® Painters of Omaha is just a call or click away. With a proven process, attentive communication and a passion for service, Jarrod and Jodi Esser and their crew make planning and completing a painting project easy and rewarding.
To schedule a free estimate or learn more about how CertaPro® can help refresh your space, call 402-493-5358 or visit omaha.certapro.com today. Their office at 8001 Chicago Street in Omaha welcomes conversations about interior and exterior work and creative ways to help your space look its best.
“The world can be a crazy place, but at the end of the day, you go to your home and you want it to be a place you feel safe and where you want to spend time.”