Tony X Spencer studied cabinet making and was also enrolled in a offsite program framing houses while at Wheeling HS before graduating in 1991.
After graduation, he took employment at a local cabinet shop learning to both repair and refinishing. A year later joined the Sherwin Williams paint company and learned about customer relations and product specifications. At 21, he took a position at a local paint company and learned maintenance painting and carpentry. At 23, he was hired by a large industrial and maintenance company and learned commercial and industrial coatings.
At 26, he started his first painting company and operated for 5 years, then decided to take a position at a large company as a superintendent/ foreman. It was there that he was tasked to do all kinds of projects he might not have ever had the opportunity to work on.
Finally at the age of 34 decided to go back into business for himself as Tony Spencer Painting and recently changed the name of his family owned company to Paintsmith Inc. Through all these years, he has never stopped his apprenticeships or classes learning finish carpentry, drywall/ plaster finishing, paint coatings/ finishes, epoxy floor coatings, and restoration (fire/ smoke) (water/ mold)).
Some of the projects have worked on over the years include :
- Mission Hills country club
- Portillos/ Barnellies
- Emmits Ale House
- Charlies Ale House
- Big Bowl
- Texas De Brazil
- Wheeling Post Office
- Chicago Post Office
- Holiday Inn Hotel,
- Franklin Park V.F.W. Hall
- Pinnacle Building
- Wa-pa-Ghettis Pizza
- Grainger
- Original Rockton Fire/ Police Building
- Joseph A. Banks
- Living Christ Lutheran Church
- Lutheran Church Addison
- Church Rolling Meadows
- Babys R Us
- Car Quest Auto
- Filine’s Basement
- Uno’s Pizzeria
- Beach Park Fire Dept.
- Main St. Antiques
- Sherwin Williams Paints,
- and many more.