Posted February 16, 2022 in Alumni Profile
Lawrence School, 2011
B.S. Notre Dame College, 2015
Since graduating from Lawrence, what have you been up to?
I went to Notre Dame College in South Euclid and it was an incredible experience. The college offered a lot of opportunities to travel during spring break, and I took full advantage of them. We did a big trip through Italy; two days in Milan, then Florence, Venice, and Tuscany. That was amazing. Florence, especially, was beautiful. When we visited Spain, we went to Madrid, Barcelona, made a few stops along the coast, and saw some Roman ruins. In Portugal, we got to see some of the older churches and areas where the sailors would pray before they’d head out to sea. That was awesome.
I earned good grades at Lawrence, so I worked hard to do the same in college and graduated magna cum laude. I spent a lot of time studying, but I did make a few very close friends. Outside of class, we would often grab some coffee or get dinner together. It was a great way to have fun and unwind.
In 2015, after receiving my bachelor’s degree in business management, I joined my father at his real estate consulting firm. The business had grown quite a bit, and he needed some help, so I figured I’d come on for a little while and do what I could. Getting real-world experience seemed like a fantastic idea at the time, plus I was helping my dad, but I ended up falling in love with the industry!
I’ve since taken on more responsibility, stepping into the role of project manager. Now I spend most of my time in the office developing client relations, scheduling property inspections, and completing paperwork.
Working in real estate allows me to help local communities improve the quality of their housing. I love seeing entire streets get renovated and reinvigorated at the same time.
How did Lawrence prepare you for college and your career?
No matter what you’re doing, getting the accommodations you need to succeed is the best way to actually succeed. The academic support I received at Notre Dame was an excellent resource, and I was able to take advantage of it because I learned to self-advocate at Lawrence. That’s my best piece of advice for current Lions: Don’t be embarrassed to ask someone for help or to confirm things.
Team-building and working with other people also played a large role in my Lawrence experience. And now I find myself collaborating with a wide variety of people professionally—Lawrence gave me the foundation on which to build those relationships.
Another thing that stands out is learning the power of assistive technology. In college, I started using Livescribe, which is a smart pen that translates audio files and handwritten notes to a typed file. This technology wasn’t yet available when I was in high school, but I know it was the fact that Lawrence made me so comfortable with embracing tech tools that I had the willingness to try new things!
What was your favorite class at Lawrence?
Math was always a struggle for me, but Mrs. Lovelace, who taught middle school math back then, got me to actually enjoy the subject. I’d often get lost transferring numbers or trying to work my way through an equation, but she took her time and made sure I really understood the concepts. Middle schoolers are easily frustrated, but she changed that for me!
I credit Lawrence entirely with my success and ability to read, write, and do math. I love the school and am grateful for everything my teachers did for me.
What is your favorite memory at Lawrence?
The theater productions really stand out to me—I was General Genghis Khan Schmitz in Seussical and did lighting for the plays. I loved being part of those productions! Especially the after-show parties, getting together with the entire cast and crew to run through the highlights gave me such a sense of community. I’m very hopeful I’ll be able to come back and see this year’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in person.
How do you spend your free time?
I recently bought a house in the Cleveland area and have spent a lot of my time renovating. There’s no such thing as a quick trip to Home Depot, but painting and making changes has been really fun. My last project was updating the family room, adding a pool table and flat-screen TV—it’s a great place to relax. When I’m not working on my home, I like to spend time gaming and woodworking.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I recognize how fortunate I am to be part of a wonderful family business. In the future, I hope to continue expanding the company. My goal is to simply enjoy life and stay on this positive track.