LOCAL PROFILES

A true Renaissance man is one who is knowledgeable and accomplished in many areas, and Wayne Fabiano certainly qualifies for that title. REALTORS^®, homeowners and landlords may know him best as a talented and dependable contractor, but Wayne is equally gifted in the arts as well.

Growing up in West Orange, NJ, Wayne worked with his father in the roofing, guttering and carpentry business. “I didn’t get Saturdays off like other kids,” he remembers. “I learned the work ethic early on.” With that work ethic came the knowledge of mathematics, angles, numbers and precise measurements. But Wayne’s fascination for the flat carpenter’s pencil that his father used on the job also began to entice him to sketching. He soon discovered that he had real talent and began to develop it along with his contracting skills.

After graduation from Rutgers University, Wayne considered utilizing his Fine Arts degree at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, MO, but he never finalized the move westward. Instead, he began a successful contracting business in Long Island, NY. But thoughts of moving west still intrigued him and after several years he finally chose Las Vegas, partly because of the number of potential clients. But he also explains, “I love the climate and the palm trees. Even if you’re having a bad day, you still feel like you’re on vacation.” He seems to tolerate the temperatures well, too. “I grew up roofing so I like the heat,” he adds.

When he and his wife and daughter moved to Las Vegas five years ago, Wayne developed a unique way of networking to find potential clients for his company, Fabiano Painting and More. “I went to places like Starbucks,” he says, “and drew pictures and handed them out. Sometimes I’d do the same thing in casinos, too.” Many of his sketches are of Biblical subjects, and when people recognized a cross or a dove, they would start up a conversation. And it doesn’t take long to discover that Wayne is a sincere, creative and dependable person who can be trusted around one’s home and family. That gave the business its start and the personal recommendations of Wayne’s satisfied clients now keep him in demand.

Wayne is adamant about working around the family needs of his clients. “If I’m working in a room that they need to use, I’ll go do another interior or exterior project around the house until that room is free again,” he explains. “Remodeling doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience.” He enjoys learning about the homeowner’s personal style and installing the flooring, crown molding, tile work and painting that makes it all come together. He also does faux finishing and murals, and likes to refurbish items that he occasionally finds on the curb.

Wayne really values his repeat clients. “I like it that we know what to expect from each other and they trust my work,” he says. “I have a lot of rental owners who call me whenever a place is vacated because they know I’m well-equipped to do the things I do. It’s good to be of service to people.”

Wayne is fascinated by people and their personal stories and enjoys talking with his contracting clients about their lives and individual histories. “My only regret is that I haven’t written down all the great stories and events people have shared with me,” he says. But he has a myriad of short stories and poems he hopes to publish eventually:

Always an artist, Wayne finds opportunities to draw everywhere. “If I go out to breakfast, I’ll draw while I’m waiting for my food,” he laughs. His drawings were recently featured in The Gallery at Liberty Pointe at the Henderson Multigenerational Center. “I had a fantastic time and got to witness to people,” he says. “I really enjoyed it.” He has also created a three-dimensional Biblical board game, is an avid reader, and knows a lot about nutrition. No wonder the name of his business contains the words “and More.”

As a contractor, Wayne is confident that Fabiano Painting and More is providing a much needed service to the Las Vegas area. “I don’t need 50 guys and several trucks,” he says. “I just like having my own schedule and coming home to my wife and daughter.” And that leaves time for Wayne the artist and writer, too.

Wayne can be reached at (702) 566-1565 or wayne121766@aol.com.

Selected poetry by Wayne Fabiano:

Time of the Pendulum
by Wayne Fabiano

Who would shoot a grandfather clock?
Unafraid, old, unarmed…or does it
Hold the weapon men fear most - the
Hour of last breath, written between
Numbers, ordered in strokes,
Twelve silver rounds did the clock
Maker load in the chamber.

Pond Frog
by Wayne Fabiano

Smile didst the two pond frogs gleam, not for
Maturing spots of hues of loving skin ornamented green –
Not for lily pad jumping or a song called croaking.
And not for disjointed rotating eyes, but for the birthday
Party they attended for the surprised fly.

Photography: Elisabeth Libby