Staff Bios
Our Team

Steve Hester, President

A key manager with Hester Painting & Decorating since 1996, Steve Hester is responsible for the management, finance, legal and marketing aspects of the company.  He is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and is active in Chicagoland’s civic and philanthropic community.  Recently he joined the Board of Directors for National PDCA.

Steve received an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 2004.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1990 from the University of Miami in Florida where he graduated cum laude with a degree in real estate finance.

Steve Hester also serves as the president of Hester Franchising, LLC.

Jeff Hester, Vice President

A painter and craftsman since 1980, Jeff Hester is an expert in residential painting and decorative work.  Jeff specializes in faux finishes and color matching.  He is an officer on the board of the Chicago chapter of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America /Finishing Contractors Association and he serves as a trustee on the board of the union-run apprentice painting school.  The specialty finishes showroom and the Exterior Maintenance Program are just two of Jeff’s many marketing innovations.  He has also appeared on WGN-TV news and WRMN AM-1410 as “Professor Paint,” an expert resource for painting and faux finishing-related topics.

Like his father, Jeff studied the painting trade at Chicago’s Washburne Trade School.  He joined the company in 1978.

Jeff Hester also serves as the vice president of franchise development for Hester Franchising, LLC.

Rich Irwin, Suburban Superintendent and Estimator

Starting as a truck driver for the company in 1975, Rich Irwin is now the suburban superintendent and estimator for Hester Painting & Decorating.  He also oversees shop operations including decorative finishing of furniture and cabinets for our customers. 

Rich manages and is closely involved in all operations of the company from coordinating deliveries to the estimating and running of projects.

Scott Hamilton, City Superintendent and Estimator

A master faux finisher, Scott Hamilton is an expert in marbleizing and wood graining, two highly specialized faux finishes offered by Hester Painting & Decorating.  Scott has a background in architectural drafting and art and has been working in the painting and faux finishing industry since 1983.  He has been on the Hester Team since 1989.  In 2001, Scott was promoted to superintendent and estimator for the city. 

Scott attended Chicago’s Washburne Trade School and participated in the industry apprentice program.

John Jacob, Commercial Sales Manager

John Jacob brings a wealth of commercial painting and wall covering installation experience to Hester Painting & Decorating and its customers.  Since 2003, John has led Hester Painting & Decorating’s commercial painting division.  John also provided guidance in developing our current estimating software.

John attended Chicago’s Washburne Trade School in 1985 and is a National Wall Covering Panel Contest winner.  He is also a member of the National Guild of Professional Paper Hangers.