Alexandria, VA – Spend a little time drinking in the charisma that is Patrick Coye, and you may find yourself wanting to hire him not only as a contractor—but as a motivational coach. “I didn’t start my business with a blueprint,” he says. “I started it with a shovel, a snow-covered sidewalk, and a desire to help my mom and neighbors.”
Coye, 37, is the owner of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, a firm with more than 600 five-star reviews. All work is properly licensed and comes with a five-year warranty. They specialize in interior and exterior painting, carpentry, pressure washing, drywall, deck & fence staining, bathroom remodeling, and hardwood floors.
Coye, who grew up in Alexandria and attended West Potomac High School, was only 10 when he lost his father to a heart attack. In the wake of that loss, he found purpose in doing—shoveling snow, raking leaves, and pulling weeds. “I didn’t have many skills, but what I did have was my work ethic, and that became my anchor.”
By middle school, Coye was doing “grunt work” for a local contractor—digging holes, scraping paint, hauling debris. But when he touched a paint brush, something magical happened: “I loved how quickly I could transform a room—and I was good at it!”
Coye launched his business in 2007 while studying construction management at NOVA and also boxing, eventually tallying 24 amateur bouts. After winning his first professional bout with a first-round knockout in 2013, however, he walked away from the sweet science. “I knew my brain was too important, and furthermore, I wasn’t interested in chasing titles; I was interested in creating a future.”
In 2013 Coye joined the Painting Contractors Association, and “walked into a world of possibility—professionals generously sharing their knowledge in sales, marketing, project management, processes—you name it. I suddenly realized I didn’t have to figure it all out alone.” He hired consultants, joined peer groups, and invested in professional development. In early 2019, he hit a career milestone with the Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses” scholarship program.
But his most consequential business and personal decision? That came in November 2019 when he quit drinking. “It literally rewired my life,” he says. “Sobriety became the doorway to consistency, and consistency became the engine of my growth—in business, in fitness, in faith, and in life. No more self-inflicted momentum disruption.”
As general manager, Coye is aided by two sales representatives, a project manager, office staff, and even a virtual assistant in the Philippines. On the side, he enjoys international travel and manages a handful of local investment properties.
“Patrick is a great fellow Rotarian, and the person I would call in a crisis, because he would actually show up,” says Janet Barnett, who was inducted as a Living Legend of Alexandria in 2016 for her community leadership. Barnett adds that Coye “is my go-to guy for my house, because of the quality of his work and his integrity—and that goes for his staff.”
Coye is extremely active in the Rotary Club of Alexandria, were he chairs the Interact Club, mentoring students at Edison High School, as well as the “Flags for Heroes” program, and “Taste for Giving,” which raises money for the scholarship fund.
When Covid hit in 2020, he began cycling to Georgetown. Then came group rides, athletic competitions, and eventually 12 triathlons, the Marine Corps marathon, and the Armed Forces Cycling Classic, where he was a gold-level finisher in 2023.
He’s now training to pace a friend on a 27-mile leg of the legendary MOAB 240, a 240-mile race through the Moab desert in Utah. “Fitness has become my compass,” says Coye. “When I’m disciplined in my body and health, everything else falls in line.” Coye also enjoys scuba diving, and he is a certified Advanced Open Water diver.
Despite his success, Coye never takes anything for granted. “We treat every job like a chance to earn your trust for life,” he says. “Our mission is simple: Deliver a great home improvement experience through craftsmanship and communication.”
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