We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Mancias and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

Ok this is my story, I came to this country when I was 16 years old, my mentality was to just come and work for 3 to 4 years and then go back to my country, but when I got here, I found my difficulties because I didn’t know the language english and the work that I did in Honduras was work on electrical motors, but everything was difficult, I didn’t know anyone. Only the people I lived with were all from the neighborhood in Honduras. When I got here I remember that I didn’t have any clothes, all I wore were borrowed clothes, I would wash my under clothes at night to use it again in the morning, I slept on the floor in the carpet, no bed, just one blanket, just to cover myself from the cold, I used my cousins clothes, I remember I had to fold my shirts and pants because he was bigger than me, the clothes didn’t fit but i did what i had to do with what I had. I remember that in that time I would eat with $2.07 per week , the dozen eggs were .87 cents, and one loaf of bread was .79 cents so the total was always $2.07 with the taxes. So I ate fried egg sandwiches everyday and when my friends got home from work. One of them always asked me “tito ya comiste” meaning “tito have you eaten” I told him ” I already ate a sandwich.” He said “Vamos al Jack in the Box” He would buy me a .99 cent jumbo jack with a glass of water. This was my routine for a very long time. When I started working, the little I earned was to pay rent, food, light bill, and gasoline. Everything I owed in the month they would write it down for me in a journal. I struggled a lot because I didn’t have a car and didn’t know english. and the jobs I did get was because i would stand outside on the corner of the street where I lived and I would ask people driving by if they had jobs/work to do. there were contractor that would give me jobs for a week, sometimes two weeks, so I would work whatever came my way. Some were in restaurants washing the dishes, some in Hotels, motels doing basic maintenance work, changing light bulbs and such work. Once at a warehouse called “MATAL” packing toys. Sometimes doing landscaping, cutting peoples yards. I’ve worked in construction as a helper of the guy putting up the bricks. I’ve had many many different jobs. I was willing to do any type of job, anything to get me through.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is Painting and Remodeling. What sets me apart, is that I have always valued Honesty, with clients about pricing and the quality of work, and with my employees being open and honest about myself and our work. I am excited for what God has already done within me and my business and what he’s going to continue to do through me and my business in the future. It was not easy, there was days that I wanted to quit, but there was something in me telling me “don’t stop, keep going” and that is exactly what I kept doing, I kept moving forward and I never quit, if it meant getting loans I did that, I did what I had to do to keep going. I want the world to know that I came from a very poor country and that no matter what I went through as a child, like loosing my father at a very young age of 6 years old, It was very hard, I had to become the man of the house at a real young age, I just had my mother, my 4 sisters and I. I had that mentality that I had to take care of my family, so coming to America at 16 years old was very hard but I knew that I was coming to help not only myself to grow as a man but to help my family financially. In the long haul everything that I did and went through when I came to America has paid off. One of the things that has made me think differently was when I would see people, like real old men and woman who would work doing manual labor jobs, I was shocked because I saw them struggle but they were doing the job but it made me think “man I don’t want to get to that same age and be working for a company. So I dedicated myself to learn and do the job well. I believe in quality work because I have always liked the best work, because when I was starting I had clientele expect quality work. I know I’m not perfect or the best contractor in the DFW but I am still learning and striving to be the best. I want to continue to learn and build my business to be in the top in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I haven’t reached the top, this is just the beginning, there is still so much to do and I look forward to growing and expanding and leaving a legacy for my kids.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to eat dinner at Texas de Brazil, one of my favorite places and take them on a cruise through downtown Dallas.

Take them out to lunch at Chicken N Pickle in Grand Prairie, maybe even play some pickleball and cornhole. Then we could go and take a drive to Old fort worth, to the stock yards, it’s a place where you almost feel like you’re in the wild wild west, maybe even go shopping at one of the stores there, get some new boots and new ‘tejana’.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother “Maria de la Cruz Ordones” is one of the most important people in my life, she taught me to really believe in myself and always encouraged me to move forward in life and My inspiration to become better everyday has always been my kids.

I’d like to shout out Christopher Cory Brown , he hired me when he worked for a company called ’24/7 Service’ that did restoration jobs, this company worked directly with insurance companies and so I started working with the company because he trusted me and put in a good word for me. Through him and ’24/7 Service’ I gained many customers and clientele.

Website: jandampainting.com

Instagram: @j_ampaintingllc

Facebook: J&AM Painting and Remodeling LLC

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.