Roscoe Village, Chicago

What was your first job in the realty industry?
Working for Sussex & Reilly

Who inspires you?
My wife

What is your favorite free-time activity?
Beer on the back deck

How did you learn the business?
Trial and a lot of errors

What was your most difficult sale, and how did you succeed?
For some odd reason, in this business they all seem difficult. With that said, I had a two-bedroom in Bucktown with no closet in the master bedroom. After beating my head for about 90 days, I thought to myself that there is a solution for every problem. My client and I sourced a drywaller to build out a closet into the bedroom, and low and behold, we got a contract about three days after it was completed.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
Whether I like to admit it or not, I fall in the personality category of wanting to be liked and always trying to please everyone. I carry a lot of the weight of my clients’ stress in coordinating purchases and sales of their homes. It is very difficult to look at it simply as a business and not share the pain with the client. I am working on trying not to bring this pain home with me.

What was your worst job, and what did you learn from it?
My worst job was working in a Sweet Tart factory one summer in college. That summer I learned the value of an education and appreciated the hard work of both my parents to help me get a huge head start in life.

Where do you go to network and meet new clients?
Other than some of the local watering holes in Bucktown where I live, and by Wrigley Field, I am a part of the Big Brothers program here in Chicago and I am able to network with other folks in the program.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Tough question…I am very proud of the relationship that I am building with my “little brother.” I feel like most of us in this business are extremely fortunate and blessed, and I was long overdue to give a little something back. It has been an extremely gratifying experience for me.

Where would you like to be in five years, professionally?
I would like to have a team built that includes a buyers’ specialist, a listing agent, and a marketing/admin person all working together to allow me to spend more time on finding new business (and working on my lousy golf game).

What was the last good movie you saw or book you read?
“Angels & Demons” by Dan Brown

What is your favorite restaurant?
Bacchanalia in Little Italy

Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Chicago?
The Wrigley building

What kind of car do you drive?
No comment! If anyone is interested in paying respects to my 2000 Nissan XTerra, it is going to its final resting place this week.

BlackBerry, Palm or paper?
Blackberry

What is your favorite city after Chicago?
NYC

What is your personal motto?
PMA – Positive Mental Attitude

In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry?
Work hard and often and the biz will come.