About Stacey
I grew up in the Peoria area, but allowed the military and college to drag me from Arizona to Washington D.C. and eventually Heidelberg, Germany. Upon returning to the states and after leaving the military, I lived in Philadelphia before marrying Julie and moving to Chicago. Julie and I have two children, Sydney and Harrison (and I have a son from a previous relationship, Matthew). We have lived in Mahomet for 18 wonderful years. Sydney and Harrison are attending Miami University in Ohio together, Matthew is a trainer at Lincoln’s Challenge, Julie is a researcher at the UofI and I am a real estate broker working with Matt Difanis at RE/MAX Realty Associates.
Do you have any nicknames? How did you get them?
I did not have a nickname. The irony is that for the last 10 years I have been giving the players on my soccer teams nicknames.
What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
I would open a sports training facility in Mahomet. This is a community that I believe could really benefit from a large indoor sports facility.
What advice would you give your 16-year old self?
I was lucky enough to meet my wife when I was 16. However, my failures to make her a priority caused me to lose her for 8 long years. I would explain to my 16 year old self how to make her a priority so we could start our lives together sooner. I firmly believe that she would have been a great influence earlier in my life, resulting in better decision making and success much earlier in life.
Do you have a favorite line from a movie?
Donkey from Sherk, “We can stay up late, swapping manly stories, and in the morning, I’m making waffles!”
Would you rather go 30 days without your phone or your entire life without dessert?
Take my phone, but get your hands and fork away from my dessert!
When was the last time you did something for the first time? What did you do?
I rode/drove a jet ski in the Gulf at Destin. I didn’t go as fast as I wanted because we were too afraid of flipping the jet ski and owning $3500 (the cost according to the guy at the rental office). But, we did get close enough to touch a dolphin that swam by in a school, which made us so excited that we almost flipped the jet ski while it was standing still.
Would you rather be a fish in a tank or in the open water?
I would prefer the open water, because I think one of the greatest pleasures in life is taking off in a direction with no idea where you are going. It doesn’t always work out, but when it does you have the chance to have an adventure and create awesome memories when you least expect.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an FBI agent. I served as an investigator in the military (97B US Army), where I had the chance to work side by side with FBI agents, but decided not to pursue this path after leaving the military
Where is your favorite place to get takeout in Champaign County?
Ming Garden, Champaign. I can eat for two for only $5. (the problem is I alone eat a meal large enough for two), but it is so good… along with being cheap and super fast.
What’s the milestone you’re working towards right now in your personal and professional life?
As a father of two kids in college and real estate broker that truly loves what he does. At the moment my milestones marry well… I want to be the best broker to every client I am lucky enough to serve, which in turn will allow me to pay for college and send my kids into the future without the burden of student debt.
