Who We Represent

Chicago area FCAC Contractors employ Union tradespeople. As such, all of their employees receive the Industry’s best Apprenticeship Training through the DC14 Apprentice program. Apprentices also receive intangible on the job experience via mentoring from generations of journeymen and women, ensuring they transition to highly-qualified journeypersons themselves. This long-standing tradition of an apprenticeship learning structure is the backbone our country was founded on.

A union tradesperson’s living wage is based upon a collective bargaining agreement between the FCAC and Painters District Council #14, through which they are provided with a pension fund, welfare fund and other fringe benefits.

FCAC Staff

About Us

Miles Beatty

Executive Director

Miles Beatty

Executive Director

Miles began his career as an apprentice painter becoming a journeyman in 1976. Later he became an Estimator/Project Manager before becoming a partner of a signatory contractor in 1984. In 2013 Miles accepted the position as Executive Director of the Finishing Contractors Association of Chicago (FCAC) where he functions as the primary voice for FCAC member contractors and implements the Association’s initiatives as directed by the Board of Directors. His responsibilities include contract negotiations, labor liaison and serving as chairman on the jointly managed industry Trust Funds, e.g. Pension, Welfare, Labor & Management Cooperation, Joint Apprentice Training Committee.

Away from work, Miles enjoys fishing, golf, hunting, hiking, skiing and most other outdoor activities with his wife Pamela. They also enjoy spending time at their cabin in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with their two sons, daughters-in-law and six grandkids.

About Us

Janisse Merelos

Director of Operations

Janisse Merelos

Director of Operations

As FCAC Director of Operations, Jan supports most aspects of the Association’s functions, including

  • Bookkeeping / Financial Reports
  • Website Maintenance
  • Event Coordination
  • Member Communications

Jan is a good first point-of-contact for Contractor and Associate Member questions or issues you are having. If Jan can’t answer your question, she will find the right person to help you.

Prior to her position at FCAC, Jan worked at AT&T / Lucent Technologies for 15 years as a System Verification Engineer where she functioned as Team Leader for several successful software releases.

Outside of work, Jan’s passions include vegetable gardening, cooking, swimming, learning foreign languages, and crochet.

finishing chicago staff (view) (hide)

FinishingChicago.com is the marketing arm of the FCAC and Painters District Council #14. They are responsible for developing all forms of advertising and sales collateral to help convert non-union jobs/contractors to union as well as promoting bid opportunities within our industry, resulting in additional work hours for our contractors and union members.

About Us

Clark Johnson

Director of Marketing

Clark Johnson

Director of Marketing

Steve has spent more than 25 years in the design industry. From our advertising presence to our involvement in radio and television programs like ABC’s built to last, he brings his unique insightt into marketing and design to life in Finishing Chicao’s promotional print, digital and social media content. As the point person of the office, Steve is availbale to make sure your questions get answered.

Steve has spent more than 25 years in the design industry. From our advertising presence to our involvement in radio and television programs like ABC’s built to last, he brings his unique insightt into marketing and design to life in Finishing Chicao’s promotional print, digital and social media content. As the point person of the office, Steve is availbale to make sure your questions get answered.

About Us

Steve Fitzgerald

Creative Director

Steve Fitzgerald

Creative Director

Steve has spent more than 25 years in the design industry. From our advertising presence to our involvement in radio and television programs like ABC’s built to last, he brings his unique insightt into marketing and design to life in Finishing Chicao’s promotional print, digital and social media content. As the point person of the office, Steve is availbale to make sure your questions get answered.

Steve has spent more than 25 years in the design industry. From our advertising presence to our involvement in radio and television programs like ABC’s built to last, he brings his unique insightt into marketing and design to life in Finishing Chicao’s promotional print, digital and social media content. As the point person of the office, Steve is availbale to make sure your questions get answered.

About Us

Alyssa Gawlinski

Area Manager

Alyssa Gawlinski

Area Manager

Alyssa is a skilled expert in building relationships and executing results-driven marketing campaigns. Alyssa brings over 10 years of experience, working within both residential and commercial real estate. With her commitment to excellence and passion for cultivating lasting relationships, her background and experience will play a large role in expanding and retaining lasting relationships with our customers!

Outside Organizations:
Fighting Pretty – President of the Board of Directors
Girls on the Run – Coach & Event Committee Member
Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association – Ambassador Committee Chair

Finishing Contractors Association of Chicago
  • 5519 N. Cumberland Avenue Suite 1015 Chicago | IL | 60656
  • (773) 993-0657

our mission statement(view) (hide)

Leading Finishing Industry Signatory Contractors to excellence by Advocating, Communicating and Educating (A.C.E.)

our diversity statement(view) (hide)

Fact: a diverse and inclusive workforce is a more productive workforce where true equality is a foundational principle of our organization. Therefore, the members of the Finishing Contractors Association of Chicago (FCAC) embrace the differences in age, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and religion that each individual brings to the workplace. FCAC views these differences as an asset and as such will actively strive to recruit, retain and value individuals who reflect the diverse communities that we serve in the greater Chicago area.

To help us achieve our workforce goals we have partnered with community organizations such as Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny), Chicago Women In the Trades (CWIT), EarthPaint.org, Helmets to Hard Hats and Job Corps.

FCAC Board of Directors(view) (hide)

FCAC Officers and Directors are elected annually at our Holiday Luncheon in December and installed at President’s Party Dinner/Dance in January.

About Us
Steve Brill, President
The Levy Company, Inc
3925 Commercial Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062
About Us

President

Steve Brill

The Levy Company, Inc
About Us
Susan Drynan, Vice President
Celtic Commercial Painting, LLC
479 Quadrangle Dr, Suite H, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
About Us

Vice President

Susan Drynan

Celtic Commercial Painting, LLC
About Us
Devin Cronin, Secretary
All-Tech Decorating Company
1227 Naperville Drive. Romeoville, IL 60446
About Us

Secretary

Devin Cronin

All-Tech Decorating Company
About Us
Ramon Arambula, Treasurer
Durango Painting, Inc.
2846 Coastal Drive, Aurora, IL 60503
About Us

Treasurer

Ramon Arambula

Durango Painting, Inc.
About Us
Mark Zamiar, Past President
Lankford Construction Company
1455 Karlens Way, Johnsburg, IL 60051
About Us

Past President

Mark Zamiar

Lankford Construction Company
About Us
Richard Ascher, Board Member
Ascher Brothers Company, Inc
3033 West Fletcher Street, Chicago, IL 60618
About Us

Board Member

Richard Ascher

Ascher Brothers Company, Inc
About Us
Nate Brown, Board Member
Vernate Construction, Inc.
1392 West 103rd, Chicago, IL 60643
About Us

Board Member

Nate Brown

Vernate Construction, Inc.
About Us
Roy Dennis, Board Member
Midwest Decorating, Inc.
44W108 U.S. Highway 20, Hampshire, IL 60140
About Us

Board Member

Roy Dennis

Midwest Decorating, Inc.
About Us
Sam Hart, Board Member
National Decorating Service
2210 Camden Court, Oak Brook, IL 60523
About Us

Board Member

Sam Hart

National Decorating Service
About Us
Jeff Hester, Board Member
Hester Painting and Decorating
7340 North Monticello Ave., Skokie, IL 60076
About Us

Board Member

Jeff Hester

Hester Painting and Decorating
About Us
Luke Oosterbaan, Board Member
Oosterbaan & Sons Company
2515 W. 147th Street Posen, IL 60469
About Us

Board Member

Luke Oosterbaan

Oosterbaan & Sons Company
About Us
Scott Stopen, Board Member
Continental Painting & Decorating, Inc
2255 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616
About Us

Board Member

Scott Stopen

Continental Painting & Decorating, Inc
About Us
Jose Valdivia, Jr, Board Member
Era Valdivia Contractors, Inc.
11909 South Ave O, Chicago, IL 60617
About Us

Board Member

Jose Valdivia, Jr

Era Valdivia Contractors, Inc.
About Us
James F. Vanek, Attorney, Chicago FCAC Legal Counsel
Laner Muchin
515 North State Street, Suite 2800, Chicago, IL 60654
About Us

Chicago FCAC Legal Counsel

James F. Vanek, Attorney

Laner Muchin

Chicago PDCA Associate Officers and Directors(view) (hide)

Associate Board of Directors

The Associate Directors and Officers generously contribute their time to the planning and execution of our two big Vendor events:

  • The Associates Night Trade Show in March
  • The FCAC Golf Classic in June.

Their involvement makes possible an enjoyable and successful event for Contractors and Associates alike!

Erik Lesher, President
Benjamin Moore & Company
320 West Fullerton Avenue, Suite 200, Carol Stream, IL 60188
About Us

President

Erik Lesher

Benjamin Moore & Company
Susan Ernest, Vice President
MDC
1200 Arthur Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
About Us

Vice President

Susan Ernest

MDC
Tom Comstock, Treasurer
Shewin Williams
1051 Perimeter Drive, Suite 702, Schaumburg, IL 60173
About Us

Treasurer

Tom Comstock

Shewin Williams
Celine Ehlers, Secretary
Koroseal Midwest
3875 Embassy Parkway, Fairlawn, OH 44333
About Us

Secretary

Celine Ehlers

Koroseal Midwest

Associate Directors

Connor Cesaretti, Board Member
MDC
1200 Arthur Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
About Us

Board Member

Connor Cesaretti

MDC
Tony Destefano, Board Member
JC Licht
901 S. Rohwling Road, Addison, IL 60101
About Us

Board Member

Tony Destefano

JC Licht
Jim Gasparro, Board Member, Past President
Benjamin Moore & Company
320 West Fullerton Avenue, Suite 200 Carol Stream, IL 60188
About Us

Board Member, Past President

Jim Gasparro

Benjamin Moore & Company
Amy Gibbons, Board Member
Momentum Textiles
499 E. County Road 300 S., New Castle, IN 47362
About Us

Board Member

Amy Gibbons

Momentum Textiles
Vicki Krekorian, Board Member, Past President
Koroseal Midwest
3875 Embassy Parkway, Fairlawn, OH 44333
About Us

Board Member, Past President

Vicki Krekorian

Koroseal Midwest
Jeff Lopez, Board Member
Benjamin Moore & Company
320 West Fullerton Avenue, Suite 200, Carol Stream, IL 60188
About Us

Board Member

Jeff Lopez

Benjamin Moore & Company
Tom O'Connell, Board Member, Past President
About Us

Board Member, Past President

Tom O'Connell

Bob Patinella, Board Member, Past President
Benjamin Moore & Company
320 West Fullerton Avenue, Suite 200, Carol Stream, IL 60188
About Us

Board Member, Past President

Bob Patinella

Benjamin Moore & Company
John Stanislawski, Board Member
Benjamin Moore
320 West Fullerton Avenue, Suite 200, Carol Stream, IL 60188
About Us

Board Member

John Stanislawski

Benjamin Moore

associate member companies(view) (hide)

These companies sell goods and services used by our Finishing Industry Contractors and they support our FCAC Associates Night Trade Show and FCAC Golf Classic events.

Please patronize these Associate Member Companies!

About Us
Action Screen Print, inc

Julie Martinelli, 30W260 Butterfield Road, Suite 203, Warrenville, IL 60555

About Us
arroworthy (local rep)

Tom Pharris, William A, Pharris company Wauconda, IL 60084

About Us
BEHR PAINT COMPANY

Dominic Cosentino, 1801 E. St. Andrew Place, Santa Ana, CA 92705

About Us
BENJAMIN MOORE & COMPANY

Jim Gasparro, 320 West Fullerton Avenue, Suite 200, Carol Stream, IL 60188

About Us
CARBOLINE COMPANY

Tim Aldrich, 1385 101st Street, Unit E, Lemont, IL 60439

About Us
CORONA BRUSHES, INC.

Benjamin Waksman, Albert Waksman, 5065 Savarese Circle, Tampa, FL 33634

About Us
EARTHPAINT.ORG

Chris McCarthy, 365 E. Irving Park Road, Wooddale, IL 60191

About Us
FLEX POWER TOOLS

Charlie Vasis, 1203 E. Warrenville Road, Naperville, IL 60563

About Us
J. C. LICHT

Elliot Greenberg, 901 S. Rohwling Road, Addison, IL 60101

About Us
KOROSEAL MID-WEST

Vicki Krekorian, Celine Ehlers, 3875 Embassy Parkway, Fairlawn, OH 44333

About Us
MDC

Susan Ernest, Patti Engstrom, 1200 Arthur Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

About Us
Momentum Textiles and Wallcovering

Amy Gibbons, Mollie Berdette, Jacquie Guerrieri, 499 E. County Road 300 S., New Castle, IN 47362

About Us
MVP Insurance Agency, Inc.

Jerry Thompson, 10703 W. 159th Street, Orland Park, IL 60467

About Us
PPG ARCHITECTURAL COATINGS

Steve Pathmann, 5151 W. 122nd Street, Alsip, IL 60803

About Us
RUST-OLEUM

Abraham Guzman, 11 E. Hawthorn Pkwy, Vernon Hills, IL

About Us
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY

Diego Ascencio, 1051 Perimeter Drive, Suite 702, Schaumburg, IL 60173

About Us
TENN DESIGNS

Tabitha Wakefield, 4346 206th Street, Matteson, IL 60443

About Us
THE WOOSTER BRUSH COMPANY

Peter Fahndrich, 604 Madison Avenue, P.O. Box 6010 Wooster, OH 44691-6010

About Us
3M CONSTRUCTION DIVISION

Rai Manrique, 1015 N. Halsted Street, Unit 1503, Chicago, IL 60642

iaf(view) (hide)

The Chicago Painters & Decorators Industry Advancement Fund (IAF) was established in the late 1980’s to promote and improve the Signatory Painting Industry in the Chicago area. The IAF Trust Fund provides the finances that allow FCAC to carry out the mandates of the Trust by:

  • Promoting the Industry through Education and Public Relations
  • Market Development and Market Share Initiatives
  • Contractor Education
  • Distribution of Technical and Industry Information
  • Mutually Beneficial Collective Bargaining
  • Supporting the Enactment of Legislation that Improves Business Cconditions for Signatory Contractors
  • Enforcement of Industry Standards through the Joint Trade Board