Our People

PJ Davey – Founder

For PJ Davey, Paint It Forward’s founder, southern     New Hampshire, specifically the city of Nashua,will always be home.

The 29-year-old has spent the majority of his life in and around the city, aside from the first two years of his college career, where he studied theater at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y. But by the end of his sophomore year, Davey felt a calling to return home and finished up his undergraduate degree at Southern New Hampshire University where he could be closer to his family and friends.

That same passion for the close relationships in his life is the cornerstone behind Paint It Forward. After six years in high-tech software sales, Davey realized he wanted to pursue a career doing the kind of handiwork as a painter that he did throughout high school and college.  But there was more to it than that. “I wanted to be more than just a painter,” he says. “I wanted to figure out a way to have my paint brush help others.”

With that inspiration, and the motivation from his 5-year-old son, whom Davey says is the person who keeps him going and striving to be a better person each and every day, Davey hopes this business venture will lead to even greater community service in and around Nashua. “I’m hoping Paint It Forward will allow me to explore other avenues of giving back to the community,” he says. “I hope it will encourage others to give back and create awareness on various issues that are very close to home.”

Jessica Richards – Executive Director

Jessica Richards is also a New Hampshire native.  After graduating from Bishop Guertin High School, she went onto attend The University of New Hampshire where she obtained her Bachelor Degree in 2007.

Since the beginning, Jessica has played a crucial role in Paint It Forward’s success.  After several “creative sessions” during Paint It Forward’s first 2 makeovers; both Jessica and PJ committed to one another that they would continue to push the envelope when it came to Paint It Forward’s potential.

Today, Jessica is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing Paint It Forward’s makeovers.  She’s also responsible for the day to day operations and ensuring that we’re constantly reaching the right customers and candidates.   

Tara Quigley – Chief Strategy Officer

Tara joined the Paint It Forward Team back in 2010, while working on Alex’s bedroom transformation.

Tara comes from the University of New Hampshire, with degrees in Economics and Psychology and is currently attending Southern New Hampshire University in pursuit of her International MBA with a focus on Marketing.  Tara’s focus areas at Paint It Forward are to drive the marketing and strategy efforts throughout New England. She’s not only looking for ways to expand the outreach of the company, but she’s also seeking opportunities to enrich the experience for both students and teachers alike.

Allison Oropallo – Creative Director

Allison Oropallo, a former Division I ice hockey player, started her career in the San Francisco Bay area teaching architecture, engineering, woodshop and construction to children of all ages. After earning a bachelor’s degree in applied technology from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y., Allison received a master’s degree in education from S.U.N.Y. Plattsburgh in order to pursue a career as an educator. Currently, she is the technology engineering teacher at a middle school in Arlington, Mass., and a Legos Robotic Coach who leads middle school students in robot-building competitions. Known as “Score” to her friends, Allison has a reputation for taking aim at the sweet spot and accomplishing her goals.

Allison’s role with Paint It Forward is a crucial one.  As the “handywoman” she is responsible for ensuring that every makeover we conduct fulfills the needs of not only the teachers, but the students as well.  Allison is passionate about enriching the learning experience for every student we come in contact with.

Ryan Davey – Chief Blogging Officer

Throughout his life, Ryan Davey has always been close with his brother in terms of both their relationship as well as their age (they are less than a year apart).  With such a role model, it was difficult for Ryan to not become involved with Paint It Forward in some way.

Like his brother, Ryan was raised in Nashua, NH and has always considered the Granite State his home.  Ryan attended high school at Saint Paul’s School in Concord, NH where he then moved on to Saint Anselm College where he received a degree in Classics.  And while his vocation has taken him from rural Connecticut, and then to the heart of Boston Ryan could not help but move back home and assist his brother in any way he could when PJ approached him with the Paint It Forward idea.

From its inception, Ryan has felt strongly about the vision of Paint It Forward.  And taking a cue from his older brother, has decided to give back whatever he could to a community that has given him so much.  A former Latin, Greek, and Philosophy teacher, Ryan has decided to use his skill set to assist in the web content and outreach of PJ’s program.  And while he has yet to touch a paintbrush to a wall, he plans on adding that to his resume in the near future.

“For me, being able to work closely with my family and being able to help those in need has always been a dream of mine.  I am so proud of my brother for taking these steps, and will do anything in my power to carry out the vision of Paint It Forward.”