Press Democrat readers voted Mike Chavez Painting the Best Painter in Sonoma County for the 10th straight year. Owner Mike Chavez credits his crew.

SANTA ROSA, CA, UNITED STATES, September 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Mike Chavez Painting, Inc. has been voted "Best Painter in Sonoma County" in The Press Democrat's Best of Sonoma County readers' choice awards for the 10th consecutive year. The award is decided entirely by public vote, which makes the streak a 10-year record of how Sonoma County residents rate the company that paints their homes and businesses.

Award Recognition

Best of Sonoma County is The Press Democrat's annual readers' choice program. Residents nominate local businesses they rely on; voting runs for several weeks in the spring, and winners are recognized at a celebration in Santa Rosa. Nothing about it is bought or applied for, and no panel of judges decides it. Winners are decided by the community voting for the businesses they trust.

For owner Mike Chavez, a Santa Rosa native who started the company in 2008, the 10th win lands differently than the first.

Chavez stated: "I'll never forget the first year we won it or the first year we were nominated."

"Ten years is a big deal... It's proving that we're consistent, we're the best at what we do." — Mike Chavez, Owner, Mike Chavez Painting

A Decade of Votes from The Community

Mike Chavez Painting opened with a specific goal: change what people expect from a painting contractor. Bad experiences with contractors were common enough, Chavez said, that he built the company around correcting them.

Chavez described the original intent: "I really started this business trying to change that and do things right, take care of my people and take care of my clients. [This award] just proves that we've done it, so it's validating."

He was also direct about what the recognition means in the county where he grew up. "What an honor is it to be voted the best in Sonoma County," Chavez said. "It's extremely rewarding."

The Crew Behind the Achievement

The first years of the business looked different than they do now. Chavez was on the ladder himself, running estimates in the evening and painting during the day.

"When I first started my business, I was out there painting houses, doing everything," he said. "I'm not out there painting houses anymore myself."

That change is why he credits the 10-year run to the team rather than to himself.

Chavez emphasized the point: "The biggest reason we've kept up this success is the people, man. It's the people that I brought into my business to continue carrying on my message, my vision."

Asked what he looks for in the crew members who carry that onto job sites in Windsor, Petaluma, Healdsburg, and Rohnert Park, his answer stayed on the same point.

"To me, it's having the right people to be able to treat your customers the right way, operate as a team, and really care about the work they do," Chavez said.

Standards start at the top, he added. "It starts with the standards that I set for myself."

Preparation and Communication on Every Project

Mike Chavez Painting works under the tagline "Painting Done with Integrity and Communication," and both halves show up in the company's process.

Surface preparation comes before any coating is applied, on every project, residential or commercial. Estimators interview clients about their goals before recommending products, finishes, or colors. Crews check in with clients daily while a job is active, and the company reviews finished work with the client before calling a project complete.

The company is a member of the Painting Contractors Association (PCA) and is licensed and insured in California.

Services include:
- Residential interior and exterior painting
- Commercial interior, exterior, and industrial painting
- Cabinet painting, with color consultation included
- Limewash finishes for interior and exterior surfaces
- Wood staining for decks, fences, and exterior wood features

Commercial work across the county includes the Fox Theater, Boudin's at Montgomery Village, Orsi Winery, the Costco gas station in Rohnert Park, school campuses, and the Catholic Cemetery Chapel.

Community Work Across Sonoma County

Mike Chavez Painting runs a volunteer program called "Doing Good For Those Who Do Good." Crew members take part in community volunteer projects each month, and the company completes one free painting project per quarter for a local nonprofit or an individual in need.

Chavez was named Business Person of the Year by the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce in 2016.

Asked what he would say to the residents who have voted for his company 10 years running, Chavez kept it short: "Thank you for trusting me for all these years. Thank you for allowing my business to grow and thrive, and supporting me through every moment of it."

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About Mike Chavez Painting

Mike Chavez Painting is a professional painting contractor based in Sonoma County, serving residential and light commercial clients across Northern California. With over two decades of industry experience, the company is known for its commitment to craftsmanship, clear communication, and high-quality finishes. Mike Chavez Painting specializes in sustainable materials, fire-resistant coatings, and custom surface solutions, working closely with homeowners, builders, and architects to deliver results that align with modern design and safety standards. CA Contracting License #939252

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