As a broker with a keen eye for interior design, Stacie Janak finds success in coming up with creative solutions for her clients. A recipient of the d’aprile Key Award for both 2020 and 2021, Janak thrives in Chicago’s often-overcrowded real estate environment through hard work and embracing innovation.

Prior to entering real estate, Janak spent 15 years in various sales leadership roles within corporate America, and at one point managed a team of 80 people. She credits this experience with being formative in terms of enhancing her negotiation skills and prides herself on her strong work ethic. In terms of today’s market, she says, “The lack of inventory has driven me to find creative ways to find homes for my buyers. This included conducting many off-market deals by door-knocking and handwriting notes to potential sellers, networking amongst neighbors and co-workers and serving as a dual agent on my own listings.”

Additionally, having lived in Lakeview and North Center for several years before moving to Park Ridge, and through working in outside sales, Janak gained an intricate knowledge of Chicagoland’s many neighborhoods. This knowledge, coupled with her talent for interior design, has made her a standout to clients. “I love the various neighborhoods in Chicago and their own unique culture, and the architecture and design elements of specific homes intrigue me,” she says. “Each home has a story because of the people that live in it, and it’s fascinating to watch how people make it their own.”

In her free time, Janak loves the outdoors, whether through running, biking and kayaking in the summer or skiing, snowshoeing and sledding with her children in the winter.