About Professional Painters

Since 1984, Tony has been a leader in the field of restoration contracting. His company has helped in the restoring and preserving of thousands of historic homes throughout the Chicago area and southern Wisconsin, as well as such places as Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts and St. Croix in the Virgin Islands.

Growing up in the National Historic District in La Grange, Ill. gave Tony an appreciation of the role that old buildings can play in our world. Clients viewed themselves as caretakers of their properties and were looking for an organization that would take care of their potentially historic homes. Severino responded to his clients' needs by assembling a team of dedicated craftsmen. The craftsmen are trained in extensive preparation and meticulous product application procedures that are worthy of the majesty of the buildings they routinely preserve. Professional Painters has become an invaluable resource in the restoration process by establishing a vast network of subcontractors and suppliers that excel in residential preservation projects of all sizes.

As his business grew, Severino recognized the need to develop systematic procedures to maintain quality. He dedicated five years to developing a software program that ensures accuracy and quality to his clients.

One of the restoration projects that Severino is most proud of is the exterior paint restoration of the Charnley House in Chicago. Built in 1891-1892, it was one of the few major residential commissions of Louis Sullivan and was a benchmark in the architectural development of Frank Lloyd Wright, who was then a draftsman and designer in the office of Adler & Sullivan. The Charnley House has the esteemed honor of being one of only 2,500 places to be listed as a National Historic Landmark. Severino has also been involved in restoration projects of four other Frank Lloyd Wright-designed residences, including the renowned Avery Coonley Residence in Riverside, Ill., built in 1907.

Severino is very active in the painting industry through his involvement in the PDCA. He currently is the secretary of the Lincoln State Council in Chicago, Ill. He was one of the founding board members of the Craftsmanship Forum in 2001, and he now serves on a mission-critical committee that is developing craftsman operating procedures. These procedures will be distributed throughout America to enable all painters to transform themselves into true painting craftsmen.