Meet Our Leadership Team

My name is Sean Novak and I am the CEO/owner of Specialty Finishes.  I completed my BS in Chemical Engineering at Syracuse University.  I started my career 15 years ago at a metal finishing job-shop in central New York which was very similar to Specialty Finishes.  While there, my passion for surface finishing grew, and it also kindled a desire to one day own my own company.  With this goal in focus, and working full-time, I attended the Rochester Institute of Technology and completed their Executive MBA program, becoming the youngest student to do so.

I have also had the privilege to work for Apple Computer in Cupertino, CA.  During my tenure, I developed many novel coatings, was awarded several patents, and was charged with growing and leading an engineering team focused on developing and ramping anodize and metal finishes for Apple’s diversified and ever-changing product lines.

I pride myself on honesty, adherence to high quality, and desire to solve very challenging problems.

Outside of work you’ll find me with my wife and two kids camping, hiking, mountain biking, doing yard/housework, or traveling.

My name is Ashley Novak and I am the VP of Business Administration & Financial Services at Specialty Finishes.  I am originally from Rochester, NY but also lived in San Jose, CA for 7 years prior to moving to the Richmond area.  I hold a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Syracuse University (Go Orange!).  My previous work experience includes working for the Department of Veterans Affairs - for both the benefits and hospital side (VBA & VHA).  Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, listening/playing music, camping, and gardening.  I am excited to be working for Specialty Finishes and look forward to connecting with you.

Hi, my name is Jason Boone and I am the Production Manager at Specialty Finishes.  My career in metal finishing began 12 years ago right here at Specialty Finishes.  I came on board as an assistant in the coating department and quickly developed a passion for the finishing process which propelled me to leading multiple departments here at our company before taking on the role of production manager. Throughout my time on the production floor my focus has always been on providing quality finishes in an efficient manner, and this focus has carried over to leading our production team to strive for both high quality in the finishes we provide and an efficient turn around to keep up with the production demands of the industries we serve.

Outside of work I enjoy many outdoor hobbies including camping and backpacking with my wife and our dog, whitewater kayaking/rafting, snow sports, and skateboarding.

Hi! My name is Brandon Gray and I work the front of Speciality Finishes, whether that be packing out orders, writing them in, taking calls or inspecting finished products; I’m your guy for all that. I went to college for 2 ½ years at Virginia State University before deciding it wasn’t for me and jumped into the workforce at 20. I decided trades and skills, accompanied by practical experience, would be the better route for me. During that time, I learned all the things I needed to know about warehousing, freight, forklifting, customer service, and people/organization management. Folks from bosses and coworkers to friends and family admire my willingness to try new things, my timeliness in getting tasks done, and how I’m truthful to everyone I interact with. So, I take a good bit of pride in all of that. 

But when I’m off the clock, you’ll find me spending time with my dog at parks, downtown and anywhere else she’s allowed. Other than that, my favorite hobbies are basketball, reading manga, video games and I like to enjoy a nice whiskey sour on the weekends.