I once had a dream, so I packed up and split for the city.

I grew up in a mid size town along the Mississippi in Southern Illinois. Here I did a lot of Boy Scout stuff (Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor), graduated High School (Marquette Catholic HS), co-hosted the college radio morning show (WLCA 89.9FM, the "Me & V" show; I was V... don't ask, I don't know) while earning an A.S. in Radio Broadcasting (Lewis & Clark Community College). I also met a girl here.

I then loaded up my red and gray 90-something Chevy S10 Blazer with clothes and that girl and followed I-55 all the way up to Chicago where I attended Columbia College Chicago and earned my B.A. in Marketing Communication. Around this time I learned a very important lesson about credit cards that I am still trying to figure out.

I have been in Chicago ever since. Following a scavenger hunt that ended up on the rooftop deck of our northside apartment building, I asked that girl to marry me. We have been happily married since May 17, 2008.

I love music and spend a lot of money on vinyl records. I love craft beer, and even brew some of my own. I love the opportunity to be creative and solve problems. I love to research and read, because I love to learn new things and know what I am talking about. I love to pursue my dreams even when I don't know what they are.