Rigged for Greatness

Spray Foam Magazine – Summer 2025 – SprayWorks Equipment Group is based in Ohio and run by the Davidson family, who all seemingly have spray foam coursing through their DNA. Prior to launching SprayWorks in 2008, founder and father Jim Davidson had a lengthy spray foam career—he’s done it all, from installing foam, inventing equipment, and instructing other industry professionals. As a youngster in the sixties, he began spraying commercial roofs with his father, Wayland “Dave” Davidson, and over the next 55 years constructed a spray foam, coatings, and equipment empire.

SprayWorks, a B2B foam and equipment sales company, is the culmination of Jim’s success and hard work. Jim’s three adult children, Jennifer, John, and Jeremy became SprayWorks partners in 2020 so that Jim and his wife Debbie can start thinking about retirement. While Jim and Debbie are in no rush to step back from the business they’ve built, when the time comes, it’ll be left in good hands. Of the nearly 40 SprayWorks employees, 12 are blood relatives, including the five immediate members of the Davidson family: Jim and Debbie, and their three grown kids Jennifer, John, and Jeremy.

Keep it in the Family

Before joining SprayWorks, each of the Davidson siblings already had their own careers. John ran a successful spray foam business, Jeremy was in the Air Force, and Jennifer worked in marketing and investment planning. When their parents broached the idea of everyone going into business together, the three realized how well each of their natural proclivities complemented the other’s. Stepping up to run the family business made sense to the Davidson siblings.

It was a natural fit. We grew up around spray foam,” said Jennifer Hristovski, SprayWorks partner and marketing director. In 2023, Jennifer commemorated her foam-filled childhood by authoring a picture book called My Dad is a Foamer. Now a mother of two herself, she recalls the special feeling of being a part of a generational effort. “I remember my dad showing me all the spray foam equipment and explaining what it does.”

Jennifer joined SprayWorks in 2015, followed by Jeremy in 2020– John had already been on board since the business's early days, along with their cousin and head of the rig team, David Penta. Since becoming partners in 2020, Jennifer, John, and Jeremy have continued to build upon the foundation their father and grandfather laid decades ago.

“We’ve grown maybe 400% since then, have acquired three new businesses, and are putting a lot of effort into longevity for our families in the future,” explained Jennifer.

 Being a B2B business, industry innovation is the heart and soul of SprayWorks mission. Jim is a natural inventor whose catchphrase is, “I’ve got an idea I want to talk to you about.” Looking at the other Davidson family members, it’s clear that Jim’s tireless mover-shaker attitude must be genetic.

The Davidson’s work hard to refine their business offerings– between updating proprietary equipment to developing new training curriculums, there’s rarely a dull moment at the shop. The most memorable projects they’ve worked on are the ones that give everyone a chance to collaborate and bring out each other's strengths. For example, in 2018, after much hard work, they celebrated becoming Graco suppliers after having been PMC’s number-one distributor a few years prior. It was an exciting change for the company, and a sign they were making the right moves.

Home in the Foam: Working at SprayWorks

Nowadays, the SprayWorks’ headquarters is a sizable two-story building with plenty of room for the 40+ employees to spread out or come together. Projects are always underway and people are frequently coming and going. Despite the daily hustle and bustle, someone is usually available to bounce ideas around or for a chat on a quick coffee break. The second floor is all offices, while most of the first floor is shop and warehouse space. On any given day, Jim is probably somewhere in the warehouse, tinkering with a piece of equipment. John could be anywhere, maybe delivering a rig in the next town over, or standing on a roof down the street, or perhaps just downstairs checking in with the guys. 

Here, food is a love language, so if the smell of breakfast wafts through the halls, you can bet it’s Jeremy cooking for the team in the breakroom’s kitchen. Grab a plate, maybe two– Debbie will insist on someone taking the leftovers home.

As the day draws to a close, you might overhear John say, “see you later alligator” to anyone and everyone he passes by.” This oft-repeated phrase touches on one of Jennifer’s favorite perks to their arrangement:

“The thing I love most about owning a business with my family is that I get to see them more often.”

For all the perks, running a family business also has pitfalls to avoid. At SprayWorks, navigating the hard moments is as easy as establishing boundaries and maintaining respect for each other.

“There are times when tough conversations just have to end with an ‘agree to disagree,’ or ‘that’s not my area of expertise, but I trust your judgement,’” said Jennifer. “We don’t let frustrating workdays impact our personal relationships with each other.”

Family bonds are deep-rooted, but respect is given freely to everyone. The Davidsons treat all employees equitably, regardless of whether they share the same genetics. They keep a healthy separation by making sure direct family members don’t manage or report directly to each other. This works well for John and Jeremy, who both have sons on the payroll. The long-time employees are also key to setting the tone and pace for less-seasoned employees; when others see the pride and integrity the veteran employees bring to their job, it inspires a sense of confidence and trust in the SprayWorks name. 

What’s more, SprayWorks employs folks from both Jim and Debbie’s sides of the family, and family gatherings aren’t even separated by each parent’s side. Debbie’s brother Dean and his wife Wendy both enjoy working for SprayWorks.

“I feel like having members from both parent’s sides around at the same time is a bit more uncommon, but it’s a testament to how we were raised to prioritize family relationships,” said Jennifer.

In the same vein, Davidson family gatherings are usually an open-invitation, with non-family employees occasionally showing up for the festivities. Inevitably someone, usually Jeremy, will bring up a work-related topic that might solicit a groan, but overall, everyone gets along, both on the clock and off.

Running a successful family business is a lot like maintaining the equipment on a spray rig—every component has a specific purpose that is critical for getting the job done. There’s Jennifer, the human equivalent of a respirator—responsible, safety-minded, and even-keeled. Next there’s Jeremy, the foam hose—thick skinned and won’t burst under pressure. John’s the proportioner, keeping everything in balance, while Jim’s a trusty Gusmer 20/35, built for power and reliability. And then there’s Debbie, the spray gun, pulling it all together and making things happen. And just like an expertly curated and impeccably maintained spray rig, the Davidson family of SprayWorks is in this business for the long haul.  

Published by Spray Foam Magazine

SprayFoam / Spray Foam Insulation