I grew up on a farm in Champaign County, Illinois and attended college at the University of Illinois and Parkland College.  My real estate career began in 1975 when I purchased my first piece of real estate.  Over the next few years, my purchases, trades, and sales of real estate sparked my interest and in 1978, I obtained my Illinois real estate sales license.

After college, I returned to the farm operation where I partnered with my father.  Together we grew our grain farming operation to more than three thousand acres.  Over the next 25 years, I purchased and sold thousands of acres of farmland in addition to many homes.  Prior to moving to Florida, my wife, Susan, and I owned and managed twenty rental homes in Urbana, Illinois. We later moved to Sarasota and purchased a swimming pool construction company.  Together, we constructed more than 500 swimming pools from Sarasota to Lakeland.  After selling that business, I obtained my Florida real estate sales license, joined Exit King Realty, and am now selling homes and condominiums in the Sarasota and Bradenton area.