04/24/2024
Hey! Want to get to know me better?
I grew up on a farm in Illinois and I was influenced by the values of hard work, dedication, and community. We raised corn, soybeans, and cattle.
You see, my Dad was a farmer and a labor leader, so I spent a lot of time working on the farm with him each day while listening to his stories about work.
My Dad was president of the Independent Lift Truck Builders Union for most of my life in Danville, IL and he taught me about leadership and negotiations.
I had a passion for football and wrestling while in school and that is the only reason I got decent grades in High School. I didn’t want to let my team down.
I chose to go to Western Illinois University (because it was a long way from home) and I joined Alpha Gamma Rho and was the president of my pledge class where I learned many things about people and life as it was my first time away from home and I had no idea what I wanted to do in life.
I always thought I would be a teacher and football coach but my dad pushed me to get a degree in Agriculture. I did not want to go back to a farm but I discovered there are many other jobs in the industry other than farming.
I remember when I got my first internship with a chemical company. I was 18 and they gave me a company car, expense account and I could not believe that I got paid that much! I was on to something and I really became interested in my classes for the first time in my life.
I had to work in many different jobs after college but they were all in the same industry. I traveled all over the US and met a lot of great people. But I never got that chemical rep job I wanted. That’s when I found my place in the fertilizer industry.
I moved to Pensacola, Florida in 2013 after spending my whole life in Illinois and I realized right away I never wanted to move out of Florida. This place was unbelievable with the beaches and laid back attitudes.
I was finally where I belonged. I even joined a Mardi Gras crew and met my wife at the Sandshaker. I got married for the third time in 2016 and I thank god every day that I met her. She is always my voice of reason and my best friend.
I still had to work and travel was not as fun as it used to be but I loved buying and selling fertilizer and I became a very good negotiator in the process.
I joined the senior management team of a regional agriculture company where I led the fertilizer department.
We moved to Venice, Florida in 2018 and I started living the dream in Southwest Florida. It is very different from the Gulf Coast of Pensacola and it feels like summer almost every day.
My wife, Jennifer, went from bar tending to becoming a realtor when we moved here and I became fascinated with the housing market. You see, real estate is all about connecting with people and negotiating deals. That is what I have done most of my life.
So in 2020 when we were not allowed to travel I decided to get my real estate license so that we could work together. As I had traveled for work my entire career, this was an opportunity to do something new - it was a great decision and our business started growing.
Real estate and fitness became an obsession for me very quickly. The Florida market exploded and I was in the right place to learn the business very fast.
Serving people locally also allows me to spend time with our daughter Jillian who is now in High School. You really can’t put a value on family time. This brings a family-oriented perspective to real estate.
Today, I’m grateful to be streamlining the home buying and selling process in Sarasota County with integrity, helping you find the perfect home.
