Sherry Keith, owner, CertaPro Painters

By ROBERTA CODEMO
    Sherry Keith learned a strong work ethic from her parents. She grew up on a farm near Peoria. Her parents ran the farm at the same time her father worked full time in banking.
    She’s always loved finance and graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a degree in management and marketing. After working in the banking industry for 20 years, she left to have children. After her twins were older, she was ready to return to work but wanted something that offered her more flexibility.
    “I wanted to work for myself,” she said. In 2013, she and her husband purchased CertaPro Painters. They serve Madison County, Illinois, and Webster Groves and Florissant, Mo.  
    She handles the management and marketing side, while her husband handles the sales side. Even her children are involved in the family business.
    CertaPro Painters specializes in residential and commercial services including interior and exterior painting needs. No upfront deposit is required, and every job comes with a two-year warranty.
    “Our customers don’t pay until they’re satisfied with the job. We want to give our customers an extraordinary experience,” she said. “Once you’re a customer, you’re a customer for life.”
    She belongs to several local organizations and in 2015 was awarded the North Salesperson of the Year award.
    She and her husband live in St. Jacob with their twin son and daughter.