I have always been under the impression that to be an interesting person you need a good/interesting story.I think that you’ll find in my “story” that I am someone you can work with, look to for guidance, and trust with the details of your important transactions.

In my story, families are what make a house a home…

Mine was a mom, dad, two older sisters, and the usual plethora of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.I was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, but my family originated from the Chicagoland area.Before settling in Syracuse, Indiana in 1991, my family had moved a half dozen times, all over the country.Houses came and houses went, but my sisters and I remember each set of four walls as “home.”

One of the most important features in a home to me, as a child, was a big back yard and great neighbors.In my childhood home in Bremen, all the houses were situated on about an acre of land.This was great for me because I loved to play baseball and with a big back yard and plenty of neighbors to play with, we always had a neighborhood game going on.

…and early memories and experiences prepare us for the journey ahead.

Growing up in Syracuse was a great way to spend my youth.I spent many a great summer on Lake Wawasee swimming, skiing and just having fun.Slalom skiing has always been my favorite hobby.For a few summers, I performed with a local ski team, The Lake City Skiers, where I learned a lot of pretty cool tricks.My favorite was “Round The Boat,” where I would slalom ski – you guessed it – around the boat.I also learned to ski over the jump, though it intimidated me every time.We built pyramids, skied doubles, and even barefoot, though I have yet to pick up that particularly painful skill!The ski team taught me to challenge myself, and the memories of my small personal successes continue to encourage me in my endeavors.

I believe that in order to succeed in real estate, you have to understand business…

My parents are the entrepreneurial type, and I watched and learned from them throughout my youth. In the early 80’s they opened their first restaurant. Displaced Chicagoans, they wanted to bring a taste of Chicago’s roadside hot dog stands to Nappanee, so they started the “Time Out Chicago-Style Eatery” with my father’s brother.I learned many great things at Time Out not just how to make fresh cut French fries.I think this is the first time I learned how valuable location was in commercial real estate.We first started Time Out on the West side of town in a rented location.Things went well but when we bought a building in the center of town, wow did business change.

Fast-forward a couple of years to Jo-Joes, another of my mom and dad’s Nappanee start-up businesses, this time named after Yours Truly, now twelve years of age.This one was an arcade and t-shirt shop, and it was where I honed my skills as a pool shark.The clients of my mom’s little shop who wanted to challenge me at pool learned a valuable lesson during their stay – “Don’t underestimate the Kid.”That lesson holds true to this day!

Our last family business adventure was the most successful.Pat’s Chicago Dogs in Syracuse earned a reputation as a one-of-a-kind establishment with a welcoming atmosphere and fabulous regional food.I learned a lot in the ten years our family owned and operated the business.I spent the summer before my senior year of high school cleaning, gutting and remodeling the disheveled building we chose to house our new venture.As the years passed, I became a passably good fry cook and cleaning crew, but mostly I learned the art of managing people.Leadership is the most valuable tool I took with me from Pat’s.Anyone can manage people, but being a leader is an ongoing thing.Being able to not only tell people what to do and how to do it, but also being willing to do it yourself.Lead by example.

…because there is an entrepreneur in all of us just waiting to get out.

It was inevitable that someday I would have a business of my own.So, immediately after graduation, I started a landscaping company, Scenic Transitions.Of course, lesson #1 was how hard it was to manage and run a business!Although I spent that summer doing something I really enjoyed, I found it difficult to make any money.Today, I still love to work outdoors, but only as a hobby.

Not long after the demise of Scenic Transitions, another business opportunity arose.Again, I went with what I knew, and this time it was a mix of innovation and fun.The Lake Wawasee Oasis was introduced to my favorite summer hangout – the Lake Wawasee sandbar – in the summer of 2001.The Oasis, aka “The Hot Dog Boat”, was a 36’ houseboat that a friend and I turned into a floating restaurant that we anchored at the sandbar.

Life lessons continued to wash over me.Selling snacks at a wildly popular summer hangout was about the most fun a guy could have at a summer job – that was true enough.I learned how to overcome obstacles to get my hot dog boat up and running:we needed to renovate the boat for its new “job”, acquire a health department food permit, figure out the dynamics of ordering and delivering food on a packed sandbar, and more.One problem we didn’t have was hiring help!There was no shortage of people wanting to come out with us and work on the sandbar.We hired girls to take paddleboats around the sandbar to take orders and deliver food.They loved it.They could get a great suntan and make money.These girls were tipped very well but unfortunately a lot of the time it was in drinks!We usually couldn’t keep paddleboat going for more than half a day.

After running the hot dog boat for two summers, my lease on my pier space ran out and I had to move the boat.Being such a big boat I had no luck finding a new pier space so I decided to get rid of it.Between getting busy with real estate and the mechanical troubles I was having with the boat, I decided to move on.But not before I acquired a ton of information that would later serve me well:I think the most valuable lesson here was pick your partners wisely.When you have a business, your reputation and image are attached to that business.Making sure your partner has the same ethics you do is of uttermost importance in forming a partnership.

It has been said that many business ventures are essentially speculations in real estate…

I love real estate, and see now that I was slowly moving toward it for years.A few years ago, my father and I began JPG Developing, LLC, a company placing manufactured homes on parcels of land.With my father’s 25 years as a manufactured homes representative, and my eager desire to be involved in real estate, we thought this would be a good business to get into.We built spec homes and became very familiar with the ins and outs of the trade.Being new in Real Estate I had a lot to learn, and unfortunately some of those things I learn are learned the hard way.When we purchased the property for our spec house we did not have a title search done and never paid attention to the deed restrictions.After having our home built and securing a buyer, we ordered a title search for the buyer.To our great surprise we learned of a deed restriction that had been placed on the land.That restriction read “No manufactured homes to be placed on this land.”Well, that put a big kink in our plans and we had big problem to solve.After much research and worry, we went to talk to the grantor who placed the restriction on the land.He released the restriction and we went on our way.

When I decided to dedicate myself 100% to the promotion and sale of residential real estate, I was living in Syracuse, IN, on Lake Wawasee.This was a hard place to start off as a realtor, for the lucrative waterfront market was run by a select group of good old boys in the area.The fact that I was able to achieve some success in the area was exciting to me, and the professional affiliations I made have been extremely valuable.

A move to Fort Wayne led me to #1 Advantage Realtors, a very positive career move.I learned in Syracuse how to be successful in a very saturated, very tightly controlled real estate market.In addition, I found that I enjoyed catering to the infinite variety of buyers that we had in the area, from the first time homebuyer to the multi-millionaire looking for a vacation “cottage” on the lake.With Advantage, I found a wonderful mentor in my broker, Jan Sanner, and was enthralled by the possibilities that the Fort Wayne real estate market held for me.

…But I’ve found that life itself is the ultimate in speculation and adventure.

I love working with clients who are new to the area, or working outside of their geographical comfort level, because I understand well how it feels to be the new kid on the block.During my first 18 months in Fort Wayne I did a lot of learning, much of it “the hard way,” as my Polish grandmother would have said.I had to learn the roads and subdivisions.I knew practically no one, yet had to make a name for myself.Many people who work in sales have a home-court advantage, not the least of which is connections with friends and family.Since my friends and family lived all over the country, I had lot of work to do.

Through my efforts and occasional struggles, I have discovered that self-employment is truly the life for me.From an educational standpoint, I am a bit of a self-help junkie.It is a rare occasion that you will find me without a book by me or in my car.I also enjoy attending seminars.My favorite speaker is Tony Robbins.I have been to two of his seminars that they both have been life changing.At each of the seminars I walked on fire!It was a phenomenal experience that taught me I can do anything I put my mind to.

Growing up on Lake Wawasee, I learned to love the nautical lifestyle.I am a closet Parrot Head who firmly believes that a change in latitude really can bring upon a change in attitude!The more I listen to Jimmy Buffet, the more I want to be on the beach in Florida watching the sun set, sipping on a margarita.To many people’s surprise, Jimmy Buffet is also fantastic writer.If you’re ever in the mood, read his book, “A Pirate Looks at 50.”He describes the first time he went to Key West and went to the beach to watch the sun set.Jimmy tells how the beach was crowded with people watching as the sun slipped below the horizon.As it finally disappears, the people on the beach applaud.Jimmy says how wonderful it is that the people can take the time to watch the sun set and applaud such a common thing.After reading that, I wanted to jump in a plane and head south!

Part of the excitement and thrill in my life is helping you to find the excitement and thrill in yours.

Upon my arrival in Fort Wayne, I took on the project of restoring a historic house South of downtown in Williams Woodland Addition.This has been a very entertaining and challenging experience, particularly since I’m living there through the restoration process.I bought my home in foreclosure and in much disrepair.For three years, the home sat vacant, and attracted many undesirable inhabitants!A dormer in a bedroom had collapsed and much damage from water and mold ensued.The slate roof repelled water like a sieve.The chimney was about to fall over (and did shortly thereafter).The covered porch somehow managed to divert water toward the house, and I considered it fortunate that it was about to fall in on itself.The kitchen was destroyed from the collapse of the upstairs dormer.The pipes leaked, the electrical system was a disaster, and the furnace was on its last leg.

With all that said, when I walked in for the first time, I fell in love!Between the large rooms, hardwood floors, rich woodwork, and slate roof there was no chance for me.After thousands of hours of work and tens of thousands of dollars I still feel like I have gained little ground against the rapid deterioration of an old home.But I know what it feels like to fall in love with a hunk of wood and plaster, and I know how to get you to that point, too.I am committed to the search, the hunt for your perfect home.Hopefully, we won’t have to evict a family of raccoons from your home when we find it, but if we do, know that I’m up for it!

I want to say a heartfelt thank you, not only for trusting me as a guide in your home search, but also for taking the time to learn about me by reading this short biography.I really value the people in my life: family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and clients.I like to consider them all as friends, and think that relationships like this are what make life truly joyful.I look forward to our upcoming adventures.