Our Team
Each member of the team is systematically selected and trained. Each one is a craftsperson who loves the work they do, are eager to learn and grow, and are committed to the upholding of the company's standards and practices. Everyone works as a team and pursues excellence in everything they do. Painting in Partnership makes available to its employees state-of-the-art tools, systems and methods to empower them to be brilliant at what they do. Each painter is trained to be a Master Residential Painter.

Mario Guertin, Co-Owner

Mario came into the painting industry in 1989 with a strong business background, which includes an MBA, a CPA, a BBA and many years of experience in the financial and consulting areas. However, knowing little about the painting industry, Mario set out to learn as much as possible about how to build a great painting company by joining the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) and surrounding himself with the most successful painting contractors he could find.

Mario has always believed that the best way to help himself is to help others. That inspired him to get involved in the leadership of the national association for painting contractors, (PDCA) as a volunteer. In 1996, he founded the PDCA Schaumburg Chapter and three years later founded the PDCA Lincoln State Council to better represent the needs of open-shop contractors in Illinois and at the national level. Having recognized that the lack of work standards in the painting industry was hurting the entire industry and consumers alike, Mario acted in 2000 to found the PDCA Craftsmanship Forum, a group dedicated to the advancement of craftsmanship across the industry. The group’s primary mission currently consists in the development of Craftsmanship Operating Procedures (COPs) for the US residential painting industry. As President of the Forum, Mario wrote over 15 articles on different aspects of craftsmanship, management and leadership (click here for a sampling).

Mario’s passion for the painting industry, coupled with his commitment to be of service to all participants in the industry, has enabled him to lead Painting in Partnership into becoming a company with national notoriety for its craftsmanship and corporate excellence. In 2006, Painting in Partnership became the first painting company in the United States to become nationally accredited under the new PDCA accreditation program. In 2006, the company won the National Residential Interior Award. In 2007, the company made a sweep of the national awards for mid-size companies by winning both the Interior and Exterior National Residential Awards. Lastly, in 2007, Mario was chosen as Top Honoree for Residential Small Business in the “Who’s Who in the Painting Industry”, published by the American Painting Contractor, a painting industry publication since 1923. In 2007, Painting in Partnership also won the Grand Prize for the TOP JOB Award offered by the American Painting Contractor magazine.

Rita Guertin, Co-Owner, Color and Concept Coordinator

Rita is the co-founder of the Company. She is the Concept and Color Coordinator on the team; she develops the ideas behind some of our larger painting and decorative projects. Rita is also an artist and executes mural work on some of the projects. She is also involved in the marketing of the Company. Rita is a graduate of Harper College's School of Interior Design and holds a BA degree from the University of Illinois. She is also a graduate of Adler School of Professional Psychology with a Masters in Counseling Psychology and Art Therapy. Prior to being a mother, she worked as an Interior Designer for many years for residential and commercial clients as part of Designs in Partnership, Inc. (now known as Painting in Partnership, Inc.) She is an avid reader and is adept at flamenco dancing and Tai-Chi.

Daina Harris, Office Manager

Daina has 20 years experience as an accounting/adminstrative assistant in a variety of sales/service industries, including 10 years in new construction working directly under the CFO. After which, she joined our team in February 2005. She attended Triton College for 2 years for Acct/Business Admin and recently did 3 years of Pre-Nursing as well. She is an animal lover, drag racing fan, and enjoys music (listening and playing), cooking, and antiques.

Ian Bis, Painting Associate

Ian has been painting since 1992 and joined our team in May 2004. He is married and is the proud owner of a beagle/terrier mix dog. He is an avid sports fan and collects sports cards of all types. He also enjoys drawing, sketching, and listening to music.

Renee Muccianti, Wallpaper Hanger

Renee has been a wallpaper hanger for over 20 years, doing primarily residential work. She has been with our Team since 2004. She is married and is a dog owner/lover. Her hobbies include water gardening, cooking, and travel.

Chris Olenoski, Foreman

Has been a Painter since 1988. Has extensive experience in residential interior and exterior painting. He also has experience in carpentry and electrical work. He joined our team in 2002. He enjoys fishing and hiking, driving his 1973 VW Superbeatle and the restoration of his 1926 historic Chicago bungalow. He is married and has 2 children.

James Opelka, Foreman

Jim is a third-generation painter. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and dad, he held his first paint brush when he was 8 years old and has now been painting full time for about 30 years. Jim joined our team in 2001.Jim is a family man and enjoys spending time with his 5 children and 3 grandchildren. He enjoys coin collecting and antiques.

Steve Scanlan, Decorative Finisher

Steve's career in painting started when he gutted his room in a fraternity in college. He later started a part-time business which evolved into a full-time painting company which he operated for 5 years. His passion to grow in his painting career led him to join another company as a Decorative Assistant. Steve joined our team in 2002. He holds a B.A. from University of Illinois and did 3 years of premed as well. He enjoys writing, literature, architecture, and gourmet foods.

Fran Vail, Muralist

Fran has been a valued member of our team as a Freelance Muralist since 1995. Her work has included numerous children's rooms, flora and fauna projects, skies, cityscapes of Chicago's architectural triumphs and much more. Her background includes a BFA from Syracuse University. For 7 years, she lived in France and worked/studied in ateliers. For 15 years, she worked in graphic design and illustration and for the last 20 years, she has been working as a Muralist in scores of residences and commercial spaces.