PDCA's Contractor College Announces the First PDCA Accredited Company

(ST. LOUIS - May 9, 2006) - PDCA's (Painting and Decorating Contractors of America) Contractor College announced today that Painting In Partnership, Inc. of Palatine, IL has successfully earned PDCA Accreditation by completing all the necessary courses and submitting the appropriate business documents. Contractor College would like to congratulate Painting In Partnership, Inc. on this outstanding achievement.

Painting In Partnership, Inc. is the lst company within PDCA to earn the prestigious designation of becoming an Accredited Company. Mario Guertin is the President and co-founder of Painting In Partnership, Inc. Mario was born in Canada and first came to the United States to attend the New York University's MBA program. Mario later received his CPA designation as well. He spent 12 years in Chicago's corporate and consulting world before one day stumbling onto the painting profession by accident as a favor to a friend. After the first brush stroke Mario was hooked and began learning all he could about painting and the industry so he could become one of the best in the industry.

Mario decided to create a unique painting company. He believed a highly motivated "team" that actually participated in the management of the company was the way to assure success. The results have been dramatic. Not only is Painting in Partnership, Inc. highly successful, but the company is one marked with creativity, ingenuity and customer orientation. Hils vision for a successful company has been accomplished by his "team," and they have together built a reputation of'quality and dedication to customer interests, the mark of a true "professional."

Mario has been a member of PDCA since 1990. In 1996, he became the founding President of the Schaumburg Chapter. In 1998, Mario spearheaded the creation of a new Council in Illinois, the Lincoln State Council and served as President until 2000. He has served on the PDCA's National Board since 1998 and was appointed to the Residential Committee in 2000. From 2000 to 2004, as a member of PDCA International Affairs Committee, Mario represented the United States at the annual meeting of the International Association of Painting Contractors in Europe. Additionally, Mario led the creation of the PDCA Craftsmanship Forum and became its founding President in 2000. Mario stated, "When I joined the Painting Industry in 1989, I knew nothing about painting or the painting industry. PDCA has been a vital link in our education process to become a premier Residential Painting Company, built around the concept of Craftsmanship. Education is the cornerstone of our continued success, as a Team, in the marketplace."

In congratulations to Painting In Partnership, Inc and Mario Guertin, Dr. Ian R. Horen, CAL, PDCA CEO stated, "We are extremely pleased a high quality marketplace leader like Painting In Partnership, Inc is PDCA's first Accredited company. PDCA Accreditation will afford Painting In Partnership, Inc a distinct marketplace advantage, which is among the primary reasons this designation was created by PDCA."

In response, Mlario Guertin, stated, "The Accreditation will help reinforce our message to prospective customers that we are a most trustworthy, knowledgeable group of professionals." Mario also said, "We are planning to use several of the courses of the Accreditation Program as training modules for our own employees, like in the safety area, paint knowledge, color, etc. As a Company, we are also planning to use the "Managing for High Performance" module as inspiration for the development of a Performance Appraisal and Reward System in our own company."

PDCA's Contractor College hopes that others in this profession will take Painting In Partnership Inc's lead and become an Accredited member of PDCA's Contractor College.