The History of Colorwheel Painting, LLC

Milwaukee painting contractor Colorwheel Painting, LLC was founded in 2004 by its sole owner, Michael Madson.  While we try to have a top-tier website and market on big platforms, the company is completely unique in it’s identity.  That is to say, Colorwheel is not a part of a larger franchise system or modeled after any painting company Michael knows.

From inception, Colorwheel set out to build a business that eliminated customers fears and overcame industry stereotypes.   Michael knew that Colorwheel could be positioned and structured with a front office staff, sales team, and dedicated painters capable of bringing consistent results.   Calls can be answered, returned, appointments honored, estimates done with detail…. the opposite of so many a competitor.  He also knew that doing all of this, building all of this, would take time but be well worth it in the end.

In the Beginning

In the early years, Michael honed his own skills in painting, estimating, sales, and went through the small business ringer on payroll, taxes, HR, accounting, and countless other new realities.  He learned what he was good at, and what to delegate.  He learned people, personalities, management, and from a competition standpoint he more greatly learned about the Milwaukee Market.   In this time, the company remained very small with just 2-3 painters, and things were good yet Colorwheel had a lot of learning to do!

The Middle Years

In the middle years, Colorwheel grew to about 6 full time painters.  Efforts were made to hire a sales representative and after several failed attempts and up and down years, Michael called Andrew Wilson (a former painter) who he felt would be a great fit.   Andrew was then thoroughly trained and remains a key part of the company to this day.  In the same timeframe, in 2013, Colorwheel purchased a building at 3804 W. Vliet to turn into office and shop space.   Colorwheel is one of the unique and few painting companies in the area to have a brick and mortar location.  Establishing one was a feat, and to make a long story short, it became an exercise in urban revival, with facade grants, neighborhood meetings, and many a persuasive conservation to spur other local investment in order to turn around the area.

Present Day

Presently, Colorwheel is still owned exclusively by Michael, with key sales/project consultants being Andrew Wilson, Rylie Stalter, Chris Beitz, and Jim Simon.  Michael focuses on careful growth of this fine business, developing its dedicated team, documenting process and systems and continually fine-tuning business practices to give his clients total security and peace of mind.  More importantly, the staff of painters has never been better (see our team page please).  Colorwheel’s core expertise has grown to include expert cabinet painting and refinishing, as well as having a dedicated “interiors only staff” that prides itself on precision, service, and award winning results; while having Jim Simon lead the exteriors division.

Colorwheel is happy to work with many of the premier remodeling companies of Milwaukee, it is a proud member of Milwaukee NARI (with owner Michael Madson sitting on the board of directors and the show committee), and we greatly enjoy working with some of the finest interior designers in the area.   Our projects can be small and simple to large and complex, from a bathroom repaint to providing finishes in what becomes a national award-winning remodel.

Colorwheel is located at 12780 W Lisbon Road, Suite A, City of Brookfield, Wisconsin, 53005.

In the News:

Cabinet Painting Expertise; an Interview with our own Mike Madson in spring of 2020.

https://www.wisn.com/article/think-spring-at-nari-home-improvement-show/30929989

Niche Services Appearance; an Interview with our own Mike Madson in 2017.

Banister and Bathroom Success

I just wanted to let you know that the Str***’s were really happy with the banister / railing repair as well as the interior bathroom painting that was done on... Read more →

A Space We Love

Just wanted to send a quick note to tell you that Al from Colorwheel did an excellent job and so if you could pass along my thanks to him that... Read more →