Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Guevara.
Hi Monique, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Our story began in 1989, when my father, Silvieno Guevara known as Sal throughout our community, started our family painting business. Based in El Cajon, we began by painting residential homes and gradually expanded our services to include commercial properties and multi-unit communities throughout San Diego County.
Through years of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to treating every property with care, my father built an outstanding reputation throughout San Diego. For nearly 37 years, our company grew primarily through word-of-mouth referrals and personal relationships.
One of the most memorable milestones in our journey was in 2013 when got selected to be featured in seven episodes of A&E’s Flipping San Diego. We were selected from approximately 1,000 painters because of our reputation for being fast, clean, reliable, and committed to delivering high-quality work. That opportunity was an incredible recognition of everything my father had worked so hard to build.
In January 2026, I officially took over the business as my father’s youngest daughter, Monique Guevara, bringing our company into its second generation. Taking over the family business means more to me than simply running a company—it means protecting the reputation and legacy my father spent decades building while preparing the business for its next chapter.
After relying primarily on word-of-mouth for nearly 37 years, we are now focused on expanding our reach, strengthening our presence in the community, and introducing our work to a new generation of residential and commercial clients throughout San Diego County. As we grow, our values remain the same: quality workmanship, reliability, cleanliness, honesty, and treating every customer like part of the family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges has been adapting to how much the business world has changed since my father, Sal, started the company. He built the business in a time when a person’s word and a handshake carried significant weight, and a strong reputation naturally spread throughout the community.
Today, word-of-mouth still matters, but much of it now happens online through reviews, social media, websites, and digital communication. Keeping up with technology and learning how to market our company in new ways has been an adjustment for a business that operated successfully through personal relationships and referrals for so many years.
Our challenge has been finding the right balance—embracing modern ways of doing business while preserving the honesty, personal service, and quality workmanship on which my father built the company. As we enter our second generation, I am focused on helping the business evolve so that our reputation remains strong and our company continues to be recognized and trusted throughout the San Diego community.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At the heart of our company is family. We are a close-knit family business, and every member plays an important role. My father, Sal, is our founder; my mother, Brenda, serves as our operations manager; my sister Kandace is our color coordinator and detail specialist; and my brother Daniel is our superintendent. As the new owner, I work in every area of the company, including administration, estimating, project coordination, and physical labor in the field.
Being involved in every aspect of the business gives me firsthand knowledge of what it takes to complete a project properly—from the initial estimate to the final walkthrough. It also allows me to continue the standards of hard work, quality, and reliability that my father established nearly 37 years ago.
We provide residential, commercial, and multi-unit painting services throughout San Diego County. Our services include interior and exterior painting, cabinet painting and refinishing, epoxy flooring, staining, restoration work, specialty coatings, and much more. We encourage customers to contact us even if they are unsure whether their project falls within our usual services—we are always happy to discuss their needs and determine how we can help.
What sets us apart is the combination of our experience, family involvement, and personal investment in every project. We are also proud to enter this next chapter as a minority- and woman-owned specialty contracting business. However, what makes me proudest is the reputation my father built and the trust our family has earned within the San Diego community. My goal is to honor his legacy while continuing to grow, modernize, and create something that future generations of our family can continue to be proud of.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I appreciate most about San Diego is its diversity. We are a truly multicultural community, and every neighborhood has its own character, people, and way of life. From East County to the coast, every area offers a different experience. As a contractor, that variety keeps our work interesting because every property, customer, and project brings a new set of needs and challenges. No two days are ever the same, and that is something I genuinely enjoy.
One thing I would like to see improve is greater support for locally based contractors. We sometimes see projects awarded to companies coming from areas such as Los Angeles or the Inland Empire, even though San Diego has many experienced and highly qualified professionals who are ready to serve their own community. I would love to see more opportunities remain local so that the work supports San Diego families, employees, and businesses while strengthening our local economy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salspaintingplus?stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salspaintingplus?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/sals-painting-plus-el-cajon-2
- Other: https://share.google/S7LymBhHqhKFXcztO
