Hone: to refine or perfect over a period of time. Each of these craftsmen and artisans have worked decades at perfecting their skills. In a world where it's hard to find qualified craftsmen, they put their expertise and love of their craft into each job. They find that each day and project holds something new, keeping them excited about their profession. The joy on the homeowner's face after a job well done is their biggest reward.
George Gallardo, Commercial and Residential Painter
Where were you born? I was born in Tecamac Edo, Mexico.
How long have you lived in Huntsville? I have lived in Huntsville almost 25 years.
How did you get into your profession? When I got to Alabama, I started painting with a friend of mine and I loved it. Then I started getting my own business going.
What do you love about your job? When I’m working, I love that I can make my customers excited and satisfied when my job is complete.
What do you love about working on people’s homes? When working on someone’s home, I love that I’m challenged to complete the homeowner’s ideas and see the before and after. I love to know that I can make people happy and feel comfortable in their home.
What is your favorite part of your craft? My favorite part is redoing and painting the cabinets!
What do you love about Huntsville? I love that there is always good work, good people, and I also love that there is good education for our family.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In the next five years, I see my business continuing to grow with more residential and business painting jobs. As Huntsville grows, I want my business to grow too. To have a successful business in this community is my goal.
George Gallardo 256.468.9449
Keith Womack, Wallcovering Installer
Where were you born? I was born in Chattanooga because my mother's doctor was at that hospital. A brother who was born before passed away shortly after birth, and I'm sure they were very worried. We lived in Scottsboro.
How long have you lived in Huntsville? We moved to Huntsville in 1969. I was in third grade. My dad was tired of commuting to Redstone Arsenal.
How did you get into your profession? In high school I worked with my girlfriend’s father who did wallcovering installation for hotels and banks. On one job we met Iron Maiden.
What do you love about your job? The best part of my job is being new places all the time and the people I get to know.
What do you love about homes? I get to create - it could be carpentry, painting, wallcoverings.
What is your most unique job? I worked on a professional baseball player’s home in middle Tennessee at a refurbished hunting lodge on 1,000 acres. At that time, he was with the Boston Red Sox and I cheered him on as they won the World Series that year. He stopped by one day during the all-star break and we got to throw ball with a Major League Baseball pitcher for a few minutes.
I also worked on a cabin outside Telluride, Colorado for a Houston financial broker; my part took a month. We were 20 minutes from a paved road on what's called Wilson's Mesa. This young elk would walk right up to us every morning while we were having coffee on the deck. We named her Ellie.
What do you love about Huntsville? We are hours away from all southern hotspots.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I will be part-time employed and happy about it.
Keith Womack 256.603.3870
Berry Allen, Baugh Art Metal Artist
How long have you lived in Huntsville? I was born and raised in Huntsville. I always enjoyed art as a child and my parents encouraged my talents. I moved to Oxford, MS while attending Ole Miss on a scholarship in ceramics for five years. I had an adjunct professor from Sloss Furnace introduce me to iron and iron pouring. I became hooked on metal art. Upon graduating, I moved to Birmingham and worked under a blacksmith for five years. A little nudge from God sent me back to Huntsville around 2006, where I started my business. My wife and I moved to New Market in 2019, but I still have my shop downtown.
What do you love most about your job? I have the opportunity to create something new every day. Every project is unique and many bring challenges for me to solve. There is never a dull moment at Baugh Art.
Why do you love working on homes? I get to know the homeowner and their style so that I may add their own flair to the project.
What is your favorite job you have done? A ten-foot tall vertical pot rack that was commissioned to display a client’s copper cookware. The inspiration for the design was from the railing of the widow’s walk outside her home. Being able to collaborate with the homeowner is one of the main reasons I enjoy my craft.
What do you love about Huntsville? I have enjoyed watching my downtown grow from a shell of a city with closed or abandoned buildings to the thriving heartbeat it is today. It makes Huntsville one of the greatest places to live.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I hope to see Baugh Art maintain its presence in downtown Huntsville as well as hosting a separate, unique destination in New Market.
Berry Allen Baugh Art 205.527.8502
In high school, I worked with my girlfriend’s father who did wallcoverings for hotels and banks. On one job we met Iron Maiden.
