Stacey Painter
CFO/COO
North American Filtration, Inc
Who is someone you admire and why?
Posthumously (sadly) my father. Growing up you could ask me what my father did for a living and I would not be able to tell you. After graduating college, I pursued my own career in professional services for 26 years. I would have conversations with my father about the business but never really understood what he had built. After his death in 2016 I realized someone had to get involved from the family. Having the skills (accounting/finance) I stepped in as the CFO/COO. What I have learned since joining is that my father was a genius! I am often asking “how did he know to do that?”, “what made him think of that”? He built an amazing business but he was such a humble man no one from the outside knew – even me. But probably the thing I admire most that I have also learned is, that regardless of how long or short someone worked with my father, they all thought so highly of him and miss him to this day.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A rock star. Still do. I would spend hours and hours as a child listening and mimicking the music of Annie (the musical), Cher, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, Heart and every other female artist of the 70 & 80’. Sadly, the dream was never realized so I became a Karaoke queen instead!
What would be your personal motto?
If it is meant to be, it will be!
Stacey is a Certified Public Accountant and received a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Pace University.
