Member Q&A: Devon Castillo Went from Painter to Polyurea Specialist in 18 Months
Devon Castillo wasn’t looking for a career change when he attended his first PolyOrgs regional meetup in fall 2024. He was there as a guest, notebook in hand, mildly skeptical. Eighteen months later, he runs a five-person polyurea crew in Albuquerque, holds three specialty endorsements, and serves on his chapter’s education committee.
“I Had No Idea This Industry Existed”
We sat down with Devon to talk about the transition, the training, and what he wishes he’d known going in.
PolyOrgs: Take us back to that first meetup.
Devon: I was doing commercial painting — good work, steady income, but no ceiling. A buddy dragged me to a chapter night in Santa Fe. They were doing a demo on containment mats. I watched one guy spray a liner on a steel drum in eight minutes and thought: that’s the future. I wanted in immediately.
PolyOrgs: What was the path to where you are now?
Devon: I enrolled in Level 1 certification within a month. There’s real chemistry behind polyurea — you can’t fake understanding it. I failed my first practice exam, retook it, passed. That humility early on probably saved me major problems in the field later.
How the Network Made the Difference
Devon credits the PolyOrgs chapter system heavily. “The monthly meetings are genuinely invaluable. Experienced applicators share mistakes so you don’t have to make them yourself. I’ve learned more in chapter Q&A sessions than from any manual.” The Find an Applicator directory generated his first three commercial referrals.
His Advice for New Members
- Attend at least two chapter meetings before deciding on a specialty track
- Don’t skip surface-prep fundamentals even if you think you know coatings
- Get specialty endorsements early — clients increasingly require them
- Use the member directory to find a mentor in your region
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