Published in the Airport Improvement Magazine Winter 2022

Dear Reader,

You might or might not have heard of me and my company MySmartPlans.

I’m a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a woman on a mission.

I’m willing to have challenging conversations. In 2006, after 40 years as the largest subcontractor in Kansas City, my husband Dominick came home to tell me of his biggest challenge. My husband is Mr. Kansas City, and everyone knows him. He painted our city red. He painted heaven(churches) and hell (casinos), and state capitols. You name it he knows the color and the skeletons in the closet.

In our first discussion, he shared why he carried 2 cell phones, and a pager, and was always on edge. The stories go on and on about the deals he had to make to support his projects, the paint he was asked to provide for executives, and the general contractors.

I was saddened, compassionate, and could not believe what I heard.

My first question was how to finish his last job and move forward? One million dollars later I declared, I am going to do something about this that will allow everyone to have fair play, transparency, and accountability. His company closed, third-generation artisans.

I started investigating, who is responsible for this? Reprographic company? General Contractors (GC)? Who?

I then purchased reprographic equipment out of a garage, started getting orders, and learned that documents were NEVER complete, missing information, chaotic, and full of confusion.

You might think who is her target? I bet the general contractor loves her keeping everything organized with her solution.

NOPE, I’ve been called names you can’t even pronounce or spell, and I’ve been the topic of many discussions in the boardroom, what to do with me? I make sure things are transparent in a project, and some GCs would rather squander profits. I get in their way.

GCs are upset about how they can’t find subs. They put them out of business, THEY have singlehandedly created their biggest challenge. No longer will it be acceptable to trick subs into doing business with them, low bid will be a fair bid, and bid-rigging will be a thing of the past.

Finally, owners will regain their peace of mind, keep their positions, and most importantly reclaim their life.

If this offends you, I have done my job, if YOU thought you would never need my solution you are one of the problems. If you for the first time want to be the one in the room that knows what is going on, call me! Yes, I am that CEO who answers the phone, I am that CEO who believes in humanity, I believe in people over profits, and I know the secrets of the trade.

I saved over 20 million dollars for just one client. Have stopped corruption on many projects, and your project is next!!

Shelley Armato CEO

816-479-0261

shelley@mysmartplans.com