Event Schedule

Networking & Recreation

On Your Own

About Hotel Zachary

Planned Discussions

2023 Event Speakers

Confirmed Contractor Attendees

Conference Hosts

Sponsorships

TPC Connect: Commercial Painting

Event Schedule

Networking & Recreation

On Your Own

About Hotel Zachary

Planned Discussions

2023 Event Speakers

Confirmed Contractor Attendees

Conference Hosts

Sponsorships

TPC Connect: Commercial Painting

Join us for the third-annual CPIA Leadership Conference at the Zachary Hotel in Chicago — just a baseball’s throw from the iconic Wrigley Field! This is a prime opportunity to network, improve your technical knowledge and share information with your peers — all in the Midwest’s most vibrant city. Whether you are already a CPIA member or eager to know more about the association and its many benefits, this is the event for you. We welcome commercial painting contractors and associated professionals, including architects, engineers, interior designers and asset owners. Here’s what a few past attendees had to say about the conference:

"I really enjoyed all the speakers and came up with different strategies for our business. It’s been a great experience." — Liz Perez-Lavin, President, Service Contracting Solutions

"Loved the networking — being able to meet companies from around the U.S., hearing about the similar issues they run into and learning from them." — Jeremy Barrett, Project Manager/Estimator, Siegner and Company

"I think the CPIA is the best paint organization out there — by far. My favorite activity was definitely the golf, and the networking was awesome!" — John Chisham, Director, gpac

We’ve got some exciting experiences planned this year!

Opening Reception at Old Crow Smokehouse, sponsored by PPG. Great food, drink and live music are on the menu. Bring your dancing shoes!


An "Evening with the Stars" at Adler Planetarium, sponsored by Sherwin-Williams. In addition to offering arguably the best view of the Chicago skyline, the location is the perfect spot to drink, dine and explore our incredible universe. PLUS, we'll be treated to a very special fulldome show celebrating 50 years of Pink Floyd’s best-selling album, "Dark Side of the Moon," with stunning visuals of the solar system and beyond. It's a North America exclusive, available only at select planetariums around the world!


The Wrigley Field Experience, sponsored by Benjamin Moore. We'll start with dinner at the 1914 Club, located behind home plate. Glowing with old-world charm, the club celebrates the ballpark’s early history. Then it's out to the ball field for an evening of fun! Get in some batting practice, play a little catch in the outfield, have your picture taken in front of the iconic ivy wall—maybe even meet a former pro ball player. For baseball fans, history buffs and guests who just want to enjoy time with new and old friends, this will be a night to remember.

If you're coming in Sunday, Sept. 10, you can watch the Chicago Cubs v. Arizona Diamondbacks game, 1:20 p.m., either at the Wrigley Field ballpark or from the Wrigley Rooftops. This is not a CPIA-organized event, so order tickets in advance and coordinate with friends.

The Chicago Architecture Center offers a highly rated Architecture Tour and River Cruise, voted one of the Top 10 Boat Tours in North America. Expertly trained docents share fascinating stories behind more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River. In just 90 minutes, you'll get the best overview of Chicago's architecture and its history. Tours start at 9:30 a.m., and the last tour is at 7:30 p.m. This is not a CPIA-organized activity, so buy your tickets and coordinate in advance.

The Hotel Zachary concierge will be happy to recommend other ways to enjoy Chicago, before or after the conference.

Dress Code: Casual for all activities and meetings

Hotel Zachary at Gallagher Way, located in Wrigleyville, Chicago, is a boutique hotel with a unique neighborhood character that sets it apart from other hotels in the city. With a modern yet classic design inspired by renowned architect Zachary Taylor Davis, Hotel Zachary seamlessly blends history and style. Guests can enjoy locally sourced dining and signature cocktails as well as thoughtful amenities and artistic touches in every guest room. Whether you're a baseball fan, curious traveler, or local, you'll have an unforgettable stay. The hotel offers a friendly and personal level of service that will exceed your expectations. Experience the charm of Wrigleyville and the energy of Chicago in one unforgettable location. Check out hotelzachary.com for more information.

Join your peers to talk about the industry’s future, key issues for commercial painting contractors and recommended solutions. This is an opportunity to tap into a wealth of business and technical knowledge.

Sample Topics:
Panel Discussion on Coatings
Advances in Equipment: Robotics & Drones
Overcoming Supply Chain Issues
Growing Your Business: Things to Do & Things to Know
Cultivating Future Leaders
Quality Control and Maximizing Efficiency in Your Workforce

Hear from experts in business, technology, marketing, sales and more.

Jack Becker is a leadership, teamwork, human performance, safety, and process improvement professional whose years of expertise inspired him to found Flight Level Solutions, Inc. He adapted the skills that made him successful flying combat missions and serving as one of the Navy's top CRM instructors to help companies perform at Top Gun levels. He holds a B.S. in political science with an emphasis on organizational leadership from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Tom Walter is a serial entrepreneur, best known as the Chief Culture Officer of the award-winning Chicago Caterer, Tasty Catering. Tom started his first business, Tasty Pup, in 1971. From that humble beginning to today, Tom has participated in the startup of 32 additional companies and the acquisition of three others.
Tom Ricketts is Executive Chairman of the Chicago Cubs and the co-founder and Chairman of InspereX, the tech-driven fixed-income and market-linked product distribution and trading firm. He has been named five times to Institutional Investor’s “40 Most Influential in E-Finance” and was the 2010 EY Midwest Entrepreneur of the Year in Financial Services. He led his family’s $1 billion private financing of the restoration of Wrigley Field and development of the adjacent Gallagher Way and Hotel Zachary, receiving the Urban Land Institute Lifetime Achievement Award for the project. He is also Chairman of Marquee Development, working on similar sports facility projects.
Tom Reber, entrepreneur, coach, HGTV host, and founder of The Contractor Fight, has helped hundreds of thousands of contractors improve their lives and businesses. Tom coaches and advises business owners and CEOs on how to lead better, build stronger teams and scale their businesses profitably. He is also the host of The Contractor Fight Podcast, the world’s top show for contractors, and the author of the book, “Winning the Contractor Fight.” A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Tom is originally from Wheaton, IL, and now resides in Colorado Springs, CO.

89-Paint

A David Creation

A&K Painting Co., Inc.

Accent Painting

All-Tech Decorating

AW Paint & Decorating, LLC

Bazan Painting Company

Benise-Dowling

Bob Kunst Painting, Inc.

Bundren Painting

Caligari Gerloff Painting, Inc

Cherry Coatings

Crown Painting Inc.

Diverse Works

ELCO Painting

Finishing Trades Institute of DC 14 Chicago

FORJAK Industrial

Graydaze

Harrison Contracting Company

HD Painting

Heinrich Schmid GmbH & Co. KG

Hester Painting & Decorating

Higgins Coatings

Hursh Painting Co. Inc.

Kelley Painting Services of Florida, LLC.

Magnum

Moorhouse Coating

Naylor Commercial Interiors

Paint Blue

Paint Boss

PaintCare

Painters Inc

PPD Painting

PR COMMERCIAL PAINTING

Pro Paint Solutions

Roe Paint

Sabelhaus West

Service Contracting

Shahan & Son, Ltd.

SPI

Steinbrecher Painting Company

Stephens Commercial Painting

Sullivan Painting Service, Inc.

TJ's Professional Painting and Construction, LLC

Vork Bros.

W T Kennney CO

W W Nash

Williams Professional Painting

Wilson & Hampton Painting Contractors Inc.

Steve Hester, CPIA Co-Founder and President of Hester Painting & Decorating, is also a member of the Young President’s Organization and active in Chicagoland’s civic and philanthropic community. In addition to finance, legal and marketing know-how, Hester brings to The CPIA a vision for the future, based on the association’s goals for advancing the industry and its core values.
Aaron Moore, CPIA Co-Founder and Owner of Precision Painting & Decorating (PPD), Bellwood, Illinois, is passionate about entrepreneurship, values-driven leadership, family, community, the outdoors and golf ... not necessarily in that order. His company has been a recipient of the Inc. 5000 Award for the Fastest Growing Private Companies in the U.S. Moore also sits on numerous boards and is dedicated to supporting the commercial painting industry through his work with members of the CPIA.
Mike Stanley, CPIA Executive Director, comes to the association with a significant career in media, trade shows, events, research, and association management. Mike was the Publisher and Chief Executive of a number of magazines and brands that focused on commercial interior design and architecture and also was named Publishing Director of the American Society of Interior Designers magazine.
Brion D. Palmer is CEO of Technology Publishing Company, the business-to-business media organization that has served paint and coatings industry professionals since 1984. In addition to overseeing the company’s publishing and lead-generation businesses, he introduced the annual hosted buyer event, Contractor Connect, now four years strong. Last October, he welcomed invitees to the first commercial-only Contractor Connect, held in tandem with the CPIA Leadership Conference.

SPONSORSHIPS

Sponsorships are still available. See updated opportunities here.

2023 EVENT SPONSORS

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Supporting Sponsor

In addition to attending the conference’s recreational and educational events, a selection of senior decision-makers from commercial contracting companies and C-suite executives from industry suppliers will be invited to attend TPC Connect: Commercial Painting (formerly Commercial Contractor Connect), an exclusive hosted buyer event. Co-located with the CPIA conference at Hotel Zachary & Wrigley Field, the Connect event’s pre-scheduled, private one-on-one meetings and related activities will take place September 14.