When brothers Matt and Chad Cordova were students at University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, they found themselves looking for a side hustle. It started, as many good ideas do, with a problem to solve.
"When we first got started, I researched other painting businesses,” Matt says. “Some people weren't holding themselves to any type of standard. Paint jobs aren't cheap, so making people feel comfortable spending that kind of money was a big priority from the start."
The Cordova brothers are currently celebrating 20 years with the company they founded, AMC Painting. In those earlier days, they did everything from sales to estimates to painting. While competitors showed up in paint-splattered whites, the brothers arrived in branded polos. It might seem like a small thing, but that kind of attention to detail and professionalism set them apart.
Alongside general contractor Elder Construction, their first commercial job—a dental office in Falcon—was a turning point. "That was when things changed for us," Matt says. "You don't learn about getting the bids and doing takeoffs in school. But we gained their trust, and we became their main painter after that."
That trust, Matt adds, has always been the whole game. "We'd heard so many horror stories: someone signs a contract, the guy says he'll be out Monday, and he doesn't show up until Thursday. You're paying $6,000 to get your house repainted. You want to trust that people are going to do it the right way."
Now operating with teams in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and South Denver, that same culture of reliability runs through every level of the company, including how they hire and empower their employees. AMC incentivizes painters who outperform job bids, which Matt says teaches them to think like owners. Work-life balance is also a priority, including flexibility for school pickups and kids' games. "Our employees perform better when they're at work if they have that freedom," Matt says.
The brothers also give back to local youth sports, including swim teams, hockey and baseball—a reflection of their own athletic backgrounds and the competitive mindset that shaped how they built their business. In an industry known for turnover, AMC is known for unusual longevity and loyalty. "It's been awesome to build something here in our home city that people know now," Matt says. "They know our name, know our brand, and that's been fun to do."
AMC Painting
3923 Maizeland Road
719.574.3018
amcpainting.com