Meet John Lara.

Details run
in the family.

John Lara founded Shady Business in 2023 with a simple standard: plan carefully, communicate clearly, and take pride in the finished work. His career spans more than a decade, progressing to lead installer and project manager before building a business of his own.

John’s father is a machinist who measures to the thousandth of an inch. His paternal grandfather was a Navy Seabee. His maternal grandfather, Henry Schick—known to John as Pop—was a draftsman and engineer named on multiple U.S. patents for Gilbert Manufacturing. Pop helped shape John’s work ethic and taught him to see the bigger picture without overlooking the details. That balance still guides John’s work: understand how the whole project comes together, then give each detail the attention it deserves.

For John, a successful project starts before the tools come out. He works through the measurements, mounting requirements, and trade coordination so the installation is thoughtfully planned from the start. As a husband, father, and business owner, he also knows the value of answering the phone, keeping people informed, and showing up as promised.

When you work with Shady Business, you work directly with an owner who understands the products, the installation, and the responsibility of putting his name on the result.