Today we’d like to introduce you to Max Fineman.
Hi Max, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I started Turning Tides Tradesman in 2022, I took the work I could get. Foreclosure cleanouts, minor repairs, small projects, whatever gave me an opportunity to work, build relationships and keep moving forward. I didn’t start out with a big crew, expensive projects or a long list of clients. I started by showing up, working hard and doing my best to leave every job better than I found it.
Construction has always been a part of my life. My dad was a general contractor and, before he passed away in 2019, he taught me something that has stuck with me ever since:
If you’re not going to do it right, don’t do it at all.
That philosophy is the foundation of Turning Tides Tradesman. Carrying on that legacy means a lot to me. It means taking pride in the details, being honest about what a project needs and never cutting corners just because no one might notice.
Over the last few years, the business has grown in ways I honestly never expected. Today, we’re trusted with everything from intricate roofing and structural rot repairs to beautiful custom decks, remodeling projects and work on high-end homes and businesses throughout the Southern Oregon Coast.
We’re proud of the level of projects we’re working on today, but we’re just as grateful for the small jobs that helped get us here.
Turning Tides is still a small, family-owned and operated business. My fiancé, Sara Hull, brings her MBA and experience to the company as our Director of Operations and is constantly working behind the scenes to improve our systems, organization and the way we serve our clients.
And then there’s our daughter, Austin Jane, who occasionally visits the jobsite in her bright pink safety gear to perform her own crew safety inspections. She takes her job pretty seriously and usually brings stickers for the crew.
We’ve grown, but the goal hasn’t changed. We still believe in doing things right, treating people fairly and building something we’re proud to put our name on.
I’m incredibly grateful for every client who has trusted us along the way. We’re still learning, still improving and still working hard to earn the opportunity to take on the next project.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges has been the constantly rising cost of materials, especially over the last few years, along with finding and retaining the kind of quality employees we want representing our company here on the coast.
But, we’ve stayed consistent. We’ve continued to focus on doing things the right way, refusing to take shortcuts and standing behind our work. It hasn’t always been easy, but that consistency is paying off and we’re grateful for how far we’ve come and the opportunities we have had.
As you know, we’re big fans of Turning Tides Tradesman LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Turning Tides Tradesman is a family-owned and operated general contracting company serving the Southern Oregon Coast. We take on a wide range of projects, but over the years we’ve become especially known for intricate and detail-oriented work, including roofing, custom decks, structural rot repair, remodeling and repairs where experience and problem-solving really matter.
One thing that sets us apart is how much we value educating our clients. Whether someone hires us or is simply getting a free estimate, we believe they deserve to understand what they’re looking at, what needs to be addressed and, especially, why. We also use our social media to share information about common issues, things homeowners should watch for and what quality workmanship should look like. Our goal isn’t just to sell a project. It’s to help people make informed decisions and avoid being taken advantage of.
We also believe that taking care of a client goes beyond simply completing the scope of work. Sometimes that means addressing unexpected issues, helping restore a safe and clean environment or stepping in when we see something that needs attention. We genuinely care about the people who trust us with their homes and have built a reputation for going above and beyond when the situation calls for it. In one particularly memorable, and admittedly unusual, case, that even included helping recover a client’s stolen car!
At the end of the day, we want people to know that Turning Tides Tradesman is built around doing things the right way, taking pride in the details and standing behind the work we put our name on. We believe quality workmanship, jobsite safety, honest communication and genuinely caring about the people we serve shouldn’t be something extra, they should be the standard.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think luck has definitely played a role, both good and bad. In business, unexpected things happen all the time. Projects can uncover hidden issues, plans can change and situations can come up that nobody could have predicted. What has made the difference for us is how we respond to those moments. Honest communication, staying calm and focusing on problem-solving have helped us turn a lot of potentially difficult situations into positive outcomes.
We’ve also been fortunate that our commitment to doing things the right way has protected us in situations where things could have gone differently. Keeping good communication, being transparent, documenting our work and refusing to take shortcuts has helped us build trust with the right clients and navigate the occasional challenging situation professionally.
On the good luck side, meeting my fiancé, Sara, has probably been one of the biggest blessings in both my life and my business. Her business background and expertise have brought a completely different skill set to Turning Tides. Together, we’ve been able to grow and improve the business in ways I honestly never expected to happen so quickly.
So, maybe luck opens a few doors, but I think what really matters is what you do when those opportunities or challenges show up.
Pricing:
- Pricing depends on project. As always, we do offer free estimates for homeowners!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.turningtidestradesmanconstructionandpainting.com/
- Other: https://share.google/ZmJWnFipj7oTry5hx
