The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Wonderly Painting in Sisters is changing hands at the start of the year. Tim Wonderly started his own painting business in November of 2005 and has been working in and around the community of Sisters since then.

Wonderly started out in the restaurant and food-management industry. That is how he ended up in Central Oregon. He was working at the Marriott Hotel in Portland back in the 1990s, but it wasn't his cup of tea. He started putting his resumé out and saw a job opening as food and beverages manager at Black Butte Ranch.

"I had never been to Central Oregon so I had no idea what to expect what this ranch was. But once I went over I loved it and knew I had to have the job," Wonderly said.

He worked at Black Butte Ranch for 15 years and enjoyed the environment there, but realized he was done in the industry. He had worked for a painting company of his friends on the side and realized he would like to start up his own business. He started painting homes in Black Butte Ranch, where the company still gets a lot of its work, and the business grew from there. The company focuses on interior and exterior painting as well as cabinet work and redo. They cover Sisters, Black Butte Ranch and occasionally Bend as well as a recent project out at Brasada Ranch east of Bend.

"It is one of the neatest things seeing the transformation of a home and being proud of how much someone enjoys it," he said.

Wonderly mostly focuses on the bid work for a job. He has six employees and teams in the winter and summer. He oversees the job site every day and checks in with employees; he doesn't paint as much as he used to.

"We have great employees that know what I expect and they all like to work," he said.

Now, he's ready for another change. Starting January 1, he is handing off his business to his son, Timmy Wonderly.

"It is time for me; I wouldn't mind keeping it, but I know it will be in good hands and it will be fun to watch him grow," said Wonderly.

Wonderly plans to still help out with the books and business aspect of the enterprise. He plans to pick up fly-fishing again, playing his guitar, and continuing on with home projects.

Timmy has been working for his dad in the summers painting since he was 15. Now, 25 with a business associates degree, he is ready to take over.

"I never initially saw myself in a manual-labor job, but I did see myself owning something such as a business," Wonderly said.

He attended COCC and finished his two-year degree, and had a passion for graphic design. Wonderly has implemented his passion for graphic design by doing the advertising and logos for the business as well as the painting.

"As I went to college and my skills in painting developed, it became more fulfilling for me and it was an opportunity for me to own a company," he said. "I am not nervous; I am excited and have a great mentor to help me out at the start," he said.

For information on Tim Wonderly Painting call 541-480-1410.