Meet
Our Team
We believe that we are here to discover and unveil the inner beauty of all life, allowing that light to shine. We do this one person and one project at a time.
Guided by the Ragsdale family’s long lineage of creativity, commitment to honesty, and dedication to excellence, our people have always been the backbone of our success. Whether it’s as simple as selecting a paint color or as involved as developing the design scheme for an entire home, Grace and her team of designers, project managers and craftsmen thrive on guiding you through the process, from conception to completion.
Grace
CEO and Lead Designer
Grace assumed leadership of the Ragsdale Company in 2015, guiding the family legacy into a new era of elevated design and modern craftsmanship. As CEO and Lead Designer, she blends strategic vision with an intuitive design sensibility, shaping a brand known for its refined aesthetics, enduring quality, and deep commitment to intentional hospitality.
A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Lake Forest College, Grace studied Philosophy and Classical Studies — disciplines that continue to inform her thoughtful approach to form, function, and beauty. Her academic foundation in both ancient ideas and contemporary aesthetic theory enriches the brand’s distinctive point of view.
Grace draws creative inspiration from the natural world, global travel, and a lifelong commitment to wellness and mindful living. She resides in Lake Bluff with her husband, Rob, and their children, Gemma and Theo, cat Ted, and dogs Mildred and Maude. She deeply cherishes her connection with her (now) grown stepchildren, Ava and Anthony.
Rob
Superintendent
Rob’s superior work ethic has allowed him to excel in various aspects of the painting industry for nearly three decades. With an early career in commercial and residential painting, he quickly rose to a supervisory role; running crews and managing large scale projects. He developed an outstanding methodology for efficiency and quality in the execution of his work. Soon after meeting Grace, Rob decided to venture into the high-end residential world and join forces with the Ragsdale team. Rob’s detailed eye, creative thinking and enthusiasm for the trade make him the perfect fit for training and overseeing the crews. Rob has four children, Anthony, Ava, Gemma, and Theo. His hobbies include gardening, snowboarding, rock climbing, playing pool, and riding his motorcycle.
Julia
Chief Operating Officer
Julia grew up in Lake Bluff and is a devoted mother to Mia and Rocco, as well as a proud wife. She holds a degree in Fashion Marketing and Management and has built a successful 20+ year career in retail leadership with modern brands such as Neiman Marcus, Target, and Crate & Barrel. With a background in sales, human resources, and operations, Julia brings a well-rounded perspective to every role she takes on. Both creative and operationally driven, she appreciates the arts, nature, and music — and loves a good camping trip. She thrives in environments that value organization and operational excellence. As a people-focused leader, she excels at developing programs that support growth and empower individuals to thrive in their roles.
Jeff
Senior Project Manager
Jeff’s disciplined work ethic and strategic leadership have shaped a career in construction and project management spanning more than three decades. He began in hands-on construction and quickly advanced into leadership roles overseeing complex commercial and residential projects across multiple markets, developing a proven operating approach centered on efficiency, accountability, and consistent execution.
Jeff has led multi-state construction, remodeling, and design-build operations, driving revenue growth, optimizing performance, and building high-performing teams. His data-driven, customer-first leadership style has produced measurable improvements in operational outcomes and customer satisfaction.
In addition to his professional career, Jeff has served since 2004 as Head Coach of the Glenbrook North High School Junior Varsity and Varsity Hockey programs, leading the team to back-to-back state championships in 2020 and 2021.
A native of Northbrook, Illinois, Jeff lives there with his wife and 4 children (Taylor, Michael, Abagail & Jordyn)—and remains actively engaged in coaching and community leadership.
Brett
Sales Manager
Musician, writer, and lifelong live-music junkie, Brett thrives at the intersection of creativity and craft. With deep experience in audiovisual engineering, a parallel career in the culinary world as a product formulation specialist and outside sales rep, he brings both technical smarts and artistic instinct to the sales role. Known for a strong work ethic and a determined, thoughtful sales approach, Brett is fueled by a competitive growth, great food, and the people who keep him inspired.
Sue
Human Resource and Finance Coordinator
Sue Mazzarella is a proud Illinois State University graduate with a degree in Sociology. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience in Human Resources blending her expertise with a strong understanding of finance. Having worked in both service and manufacturing industries – across family-owned businesses and corporate environments – Sue brings a unique perspective to HR. Her goal is simple: create workplaces where people thrive, because she believes employees are the heart of every organization.
A long-time Lake County resident, Sue enjoys life with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. Outside of work, she’s passionate about sports on all levels, walking and yoga, baking, travel, and floral design. She’s also a trivia enthusiast and a fan of cozy mysteries. Her creative side shines through her budding voice-over work, with a dream of narrating a murder mystery audiobook.
Ragsdale
Craftsmen
Painters who are true craftsmen are harder and harder to find these days. This is why we have also made a commitment to creating an environment in which promising youth can cultivate the “old-school” skills. Our skilled workers have been hand picked and personally trained by Steve Ragsdale and Robert Janda. Each artisan flourishes in a vast array of skilled finishes. With strong work ethics and a clear understanding of preparation, these craftsmen finish your job on time and on budget.
In addition to our apprenticeship program, we conduct company wide training on a regular basis for all of our employees. Not only does this provide an opportunity for our apprentices to learn new skills from our more seasoned painters, it gives everyone the chance to continue their education in areas such as color mixing and matching, product knowledge and specialty finishes. Further, this is a formalized venue through which our employees help each other to become more efficient and productive by sharing the methods they have each developed through their experiences on the job.
