With the holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to put up your Xmas lights! Every year, people across the country step out of their houses eager to deck the halls with a gorgeous Xmas light display before realizing what a massive undertaking installing Xmas lights can actually be.
When you book an appointment for our Xmas lights installation service, we make your home the shiniest on the block without you having to lift a finger! There are plenty of advantages to booking our professional Xmas lights installation service, but our expertise easily ranks at the top. We wanted to share a few tips from our experts to help make sure your Christmas display is all it can be!
Keep the Cords in Mind!
Our commercial-grade Xmas light bulbs truly capture the spirit of Christmas! The cords on the other hand? Decidedly less so. When planning a light display, you will want to create a concrete plan beforehand to display as little of the cables as possible. When our friendly, uniformed technicians arrive to create a stunning display, we will already have a plan in place to ensure that your display is all Christmas, less cord!
Test the Bulbs
Fixing a bad bulb is far easier on the ground than when they are suspended on your home! That is why our friendly, uniformed technicians test all of your bulbs before they start hanging the lights to ensure that your bulbs are all at their brightest.
Plan for Power
If you’ve spent an entire afternoon creating your gorgeous display, there is nothing more disheartening than not being able to connect to a power source. When installing Xmas lights, it is crucial to have a plan for where your lights are going to connect to a power source before committing to a design. Our Xmas light installation experts always plan ahead for where the lights are going to connect into your home and how to hide the extension so that it is as out of sight as possible.
Our Xmas Lights Installation Service: Your Home Will Love You
Want the light display you’ve always dreamed of? Be sure to contact us and book an appointment for our Xmas lights installation service! Our friendly, uniformed technicians put happiness into every detail of your light display to make your home the shiniest it has ever been. We never get tired of seeing a customer’s face upon revealing their professionally lit home for the first time!
Christmas is almost here! Ready to light up your life with a stunning Christmas display?
When you book an appointment for our professional Christmas light installation service, we truly bring the Christmas spirit to your home! You might be asking yourself, “what makes Christmas light installation ‘professional?’” With our professional Christmas light installation service, it is not just about putting up lights. Our friendly, uniformed technicians go the extra mile to ensure that your display delivers the Christmas cheer your home deserves!
We don’t just make your home shine—we make your home shine the way you have always dreamed of! Our experienced design consultants know exactly what it takes to make your home shine in a way that captures the Christmas spirit and perfectly suits your home. Have a specific vision in mind? Our design consultants love teaming up with our clients to help bring your vision to life. Let your imagination run wild—our friendly, uniformed technicians can make it a reality!
We Provide the Best Bulbs in the Business—for You to Keep!
When you sign up for our Christmas light service, we bring the bulbs to you! Not just any bulbs though, our Christmas lights are commercial-grade, custom cut bulbs that shine brighter and last longer than most store-bought lights. Not only are our bulbs some of the best in the business, but they are also yours to keep after the holidays and feature a two-year warranty! Think of them as an extra Christmas gift for booking with us.
One Detailed Visit
When you book our Christmas light service, we get it right the first time, every time. You won’t have to worry about making time in your schedule for a follow-up appointment to finish the job; one detailed visit is all it takes to make your home shine. Simply relax and enjoy your day; we will take care of the rest!
Professional Christmas Light Installation with Shack Shine: Your Home Will Love You
With our experienced design consultants, commercial-grade lights, and one detailed visit guarantee, our Christmas light service is sure to make your home positively shine, every time. Contact us to book your appointment before the holidays. Your home will love you for it!
At Shack Shine, Christmas lights are our favorite part of the Holidays! Who doesn’t love a nice cruise down their neighborhood with a cup of hot cocoa while taking in all the different ideas and designs that others came up with? We know we do.
Our top priorities are to make your life easier and to make you fall in love with your home all over again. Whether you need our cleaning services or help with your lights, we go the extra mile and get it done right.
Shack Shine is proud to serve a wide range of customers in both the United States and Canada, so we’ve compiled some of our favorite places to see Christmas lights in both countries. We hope you enjoy, and we also hope you get the chance to visit some of these destinations in the future!
United States
Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway — Las Vegas, Nevada
The Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a drive-through only Christmas light experience that boasts a total of more than 3 million individual lights. Drivers are welcome to pack up their cars with friends and family drive slowly through the 2.5-mile course — hopefully with some hot cocoa! Locals warn it gets colder than you might think. Admission is by vehicle, so the more you can pack up your car the better.
Austin Trail of Lights at Zilker Park — Austin, Texas
With a general local affinity for the arts and a slogan like “Keep Austin Weird,” it may come as no surprise to you that this city doesn’t mess around when it comes to their Christmas lights. The Austin Trail of Lights is Austin’s biggest holiday tradition and the second largest of any single event in the city at all. In addition to the impressive light displays, Austin’s other specialties make appearances — from music to food to technology.
ZooLights Smithsonian’s National Zoo — Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian’s ZooLights experience is an event that’s open to the public and brings thousands of visitors each year. Hundreds of thousands of lights span across the zoo for an unforgettable sight, and there are also other events like live shows and interactive exhibits. Food and drink are available at this event.
Enchanted: Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens — Los Angeles, California
Going to the Descanso Gardens in LA is an amazing experience any time of the year, as this expanse of land is covered by the rare natural beauty of the specialized botanical collections. The light display they set up for the holidays, though, is truly something that needs to be seen to be believed, and many locals will tell you this is the best place to see Christmas lights. The Enchanted Forest of Light delivers stunning, interactive displays to visitors that attract thousands each year.
Canada
Calvacade of Lights — Toronto, Ontario
Every year the city of Toronto hosts the Calvacade of Lights — an event that officially marks the beginning of the holiday season there. During the event, they light up the 50-foot Christmas tree in Nathan Phillips Square, followed by music, skating, and fireworks. This tradition started in 1967 and has since transformed into a month-long celebration.
Winter Festival of Lights — Niagara Falls, Ontario
As far as scenic views go, it’s difficult to compete with Niagara Falls featuring a holiday-themed light spectacle. An 8km path takes visitors through Niagara parks, the Dufferin Islands, and surrounding areas while they get to see attractions like the Zimmerman Fountain, Skylon Tower, wildlife displays, fireworks, and more. The Winter Festival of Lights sees over a million visitors every single year.
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden — Vancouver, British Columbia
Like the Forest of Light at the Descanso Gardens, the VanDusen Garden is a visually stunning experience regardless of what time of the year you go — which makes the opportunity to see it during the holiday festivities something really exciting. On top of the beautiful landscape sits a picturesque winter wonderland that the whole family will want to visit every year.
Christmas Lights Across Canada
Need a Hand With Your Christmas Lights This Year?
Admittedly, it’s going to take some dedication to compete with our contenders — but hey, we’re not doubting your creativity! Hopefully, a look at some of these world-renowned Christmas light displays will help you find inspiration to dazzle your neighbors with a display of your own.
That’s where we come in! In addition to our full-service outside cleaning, we can also take care of Christmas light installations — whatever that looks like for you. We’ll have a full team with all the necessary equipment and experience ready to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Get a quote for your Christmas light installation today!
Question #1: Have you taken your cozy sweaters out of your clothing storage yet?
Question #2: When was the last time your home had a thorough rain gutter cleaning?
Ok, ok, these questions may not be related to each other, but if you think about it, they kind of are. 🙂
Fall and winter bring so many cozy, heart-warming experiences for you and your home. Think pumpkin spice lattes or Christmas lights, or both!
Back to your gutters – if you can’t remember when you last had them cleaned or have noticed a waterfall forming by the side of your home, it might be time to get them done again!
Gutters may not be the first item on your mind when it comes to making your home happy, but they play an important role in keeping your home smiling and safe. Here are the three most important reasons why you should have your gutters regularly cleaned.
#1) Prevent Water Damage to Your Home
When clear, a gutter can safely catch, carry, and dispose of rain. However, if the gutter is blocked by debris, the water is no longer able to be safely carried away and begins to overflow. As the water pools over the sides of the gutter, it creates one of those waterfalls you may have seen around your house. The real issue comes from the side of the gutter that is facing your home. The water from the gutters can pool onto your roof and cause expensive internal and external damage to your home.
If you have noticed any waterfalls forming around your home during rainy days, be sure to give our friendly gutter cleaning technicians a call!
#2) Protect Your Roof and Gutters
As you can imagine, a gutter full of debris and water build-up can be quite a bit heavier than the steady flow a gutter is intended for. Too much extra weight can actually damage your gutters and cause them to sag.
Not only can having clogged gutters damage the gutters themselves, but it can also damage your roof. Continuous exposure to overflowing water can rot away shingles and lead to leaks and mold.
#3) Discourage Pests
Did you know clogged gutters make great homes for all sorts of critters? Yikes!
Rodents in particular love to build nests in clogged gutters. Once a critter sets up shop in your gutter, you can be sure it will be on the lookout for snacks around (or inside!) your home.
Not a fan of furry freeloaders? Regular gutter cleaning is a great way to discourage any unwanted house guests from calling your gutters their home.
Gutter Cleaning With Shack Shine: Your Home Will <3 You
Regular rain gutter cleaning is an important part of maintaining your home that can often get lost in the shuffle of hectic schedules and busy weekends. And that’s okay!
At Shack Shine, we make it easy and convenient to keep your home safe and shiny. Our rain gutter cleaning services ensure that your home is ready for the changing seasons by clearing your gutters of whatever the weather may bring. For a free estimate for professional gutter cleaning services, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly, uniformed technicians today!
The Pumpkin Spice Latte season is upon us and you might be wondering when you should start thinking about Christmas light installation! We could be a little bit biased (just a tiny bit :), but we at Shack Shine believe it is never too early to start spreading some Christmas cheer!
That’s exactly why we have our Christmas lights installation team ready to go (as early as all-year-round) to help you make your house the shiniest one on the block. 🙂
Whether you are looking to spice up (pun intended) your Halloween decor or ready to kick off the holidays early, Shack Shine is here to help you. Here are the three reasons why it is never too early to start decking the halls by installing your Christmas lights now!
#1) Enjoy the Light Show for Longer
Few things are more gratifying at Shack Shine than the expressions of our customers when they see their professionally-lit home for the first time. The anticipation! The unveiling! The shining spectacle of it all! It’s like a red carpet event where your home is the star—it would be a shame to limit such an event to just one month.
By installing your Christmas lights early, you get to enjoy the amazing light show for much longer. Best of all, there is literally no downside to installing your lights early! When you contact Shack Shine for help with outdoor Christmas lights, we make your home shine with one detailed visit and then return to take them down after the holidays have ended. It’s all included in our high-value package—when you want to put your lights up is completely up to you.
#2) Make Your Home Shine
Trust us, your home will love you for it! Installing Christmas lights early is the perfect way to bring joy to you and your neighborhood.
Picture this—it has been a long day at work. The days keep getting shorter and it is already dark as you are driving home. You turn a corner and notice a house on your street—brightly radiating through the dark, with a vibrant display of colors and holiday cheer.
Sounds nice to come home to, right?
There is a certain magic to Christmas lights that goes beyond the bulbs, and let’s face it, everyone can always use a little more magic in their lives!
#3) Be a Trendsetter
Just like you, your home is unique, special, and deserves to shine! Putting your Christmas lights up early is the perfect way to help your home stand out and turn heads.
With our professional Christmas light installation service, we really want to make your home shine in a way that your home deserves. When we help with outdoor Christmas lights, we use a custom approach that caters specifically to your home.
No two homes are the same, which is why we light up your home in a way that is unique to it. When we finish with your home’s Christmas light glow-up, it is always the talk of the block!
Making Your Home Smile With Shack Shine
When Shack Shine helps with installing outdoor Christmas lights, we put happiness into every detail. With a visit from our friendly, uniformed technicians, our professional Christmas lighting makes your home smile brighter than ever before. Interested in booking our Christmas light installation service? Reach out to our Christmas light experts and we would be happy to make your home shine!
Shack Shine Franchise Partner Alex Blackwell talks relocating to Florida to start his new business, building a legacy he can pass on to his kids, and the benefits of being part of a franchising system: ‘it’s freedom within a framework’.
Read his interview below.
What made you want to own your own business… why now?
I retired from a 33 year career in printing, and I’ve always wanted to own my own business, it was now or never. I’m probably older than the typical franchise partner coming in, but I see that as an advantage – because I can leverage my previous career and use that experience to build a profitable Shack Shine business. So really, the answer is now or never!
And you’re moving from Kansas City to Florida East to start your business?
Yes, my wife and I bought a home in Florida seven years ago, and we’ve always wanted to live there full time, but we were on the career track, raising kids – it just wasn’t possible. Now we’re at a point in our lives where 3 of our 4 children live on the east coast, with 3 grandchildren, so we want to be closer to them. I call this my second act in life. My first act was the 33 year career in printing in Kansas City, and now this is my second act in Florida as a business owner – and being more present as a grandparent.
Why Shack Shine?
Well, I wanted to invest in a business in home services. My wife and I love to work on homes. So home services was the market segment I wanted to invest in. And Shack Shine is a great fit with Florida, because the climate in Florida lends itself to year round service. It was a very modest investment too, so that was a factor, but I think the real ‘deal sealer’ was the culture at O2E Brands. It exceeded my expectations. Just the… honestly, it was just the quality of the people – how much they truly cared about my success, it just blew me away.
And why franchising?
Again, my dream was always to own my business. In one of Brian Scudamore’s Founders Stories podcast episodes, one of the franchise partners said: ‘it’s freedom within a framework’, and that sums it up for me really. I can finally own my own business, but I have the support and the framework of many successful people behind me. So that’s why a franchise.
What are you looking forward to most about your new business, would you say?
Just the ability to create something from scratch, and watching it grow into something valuable for my family, my community, and the employees that I hire – the team that I build.
What’s motivating you, what’s the big goal?
Well, as I said I’m a bit older, so ultimately I want to create a legacy – I want to sell my business to one of my children, be a part-time business owner, and then fully retired, sitting on the beach. But I still have plenty of gas in the tank before that happens!
And finally, how are you involved in your community, what are your interests outside of work?
We’re just moving into this community full time, so task one will be to continue to meet people and make friends, and learn about all the fun things that area has to offer. Before now we only spent a couple of weeks a year there, but now we get to live there, so getting involved in the community will be a big priority. As I mentioned before, me and my wife both love working on homes too, so we’re going to spend some time renovating the house. And spending time with our grandkids of course!
Thanks Alex, and congratulations on your new business!
Are you interested in learning more about our franchise opportunities? Get in touch!
Shack Shine Tampa has expanded into Lutz, Wesley Chapel, and Land O’ Lakes where they’ll offer a variety of house detailing services. Shack Shine’s Tampa location was the first to launch in Florida and is quickly expanding north to service Tampa’s more suburban neighbors.
“It’s a great opportunity to professionalize an industry that hasn’t had the best reputation. We’re excited to bring a trusted brand to more doorsteps” said Zach Tyler, the Franchise Partner of Shack Shine’s Tampa location.
“Customers can now get all of their exterior house cleaning needs out of the way in one detailed visit. No more coordinating with multiple service providers. We differentiate ourselves not only through our bundle of services but through professionalism that’s rarely seen within the industry.”
Shack Shine operates Monday through Saturday and is now available to the residents of Lutz, Wesley Chapel, and Land O’ Lakes. Early plans are to continue servicing the area lead by Zach Tyler and his experienced team of Lead Technicians and Technicians.
Looking to start your own fast-growing franchise company? Find out more about our franchise opportunities here.
After 15 years of running a 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchise with her husband, Yvonne de Boer is going it alone… but keeping it in the O2E Brands family, of course. Here, she explains why owning a Shack Shine Franchise was a ‘no brainer’, what motivates her to build a business at the age of 50, and what makes her territory unique (hint: it’s not Justin Bieber).
So Yvonne – what made you want to own a business?
Well, we actually already own a business, my husband and I. He owns a 1-800-GOT-JUNK franchise. So I’ve been familiar with that brand and the people behind it, the same people behind Shack Shine, for 15 years. Originally we weren’t going to buy another business until our kids were completely out of the house, but they were like, “What are you nuts? We want to be involved!”. We’ve got a 21-year-old, 19-year-old, and a 16-year-old, and they’re all involved in our junk business – they work on the trucks!
So will join your Shack Shine team, too?
Well, two of them probably. One of them is looking to move on to different areas – I mean they have their own lives too, right? But my 16-year-old has already started helping me field market.
That’s amazing. So what was it that appealed about Shack Shine as opposed to any other business?
My husband kind of came up with the idea, actually. We always thought that I would take over more of the junk business and he would start something else. But then he was talking to somebody who was already involved in Shack Shine and it got him curious – so he came and told me about it, and we discussed it, and I said, “yeah, that doesn’t scare me at all, it sounds really cool.” I’m a homeowner, so I really saw the value in a business that unites these services together. I knew that I could sell it myself because I believe in it myself. Also, O2E Brands has been really good to us, through our experience with 1-800-GOT-JUNK, so it was kind of a no brainer to invest in another of their franchises.
What would you say is your main motivator in life and in business?
Oh, my family. My kids are incredible, my husband’s incredible, and I do this for them. But also for myself, you know, because I can do this – there’s a sense of pride in building something yourself… which can happen at the age of 50, believe it or not!
What advice would you give to anyone looking at franchise options?
Go for it. Because you have systems in place for you that are already tried and tested, and you own a business, but a business in which you are supported. I only have experience with O2E brands, but I’ve heard that compared to a lot of other franchises, they’re just incredible – they really want to see you succeed. I think Brian Scudamore especially really does care about all of the Franchise Partners – and that’s pretty unique and pretty special in a franchise system.
What would you say makes your territory, London, Ontario, unique?
I love the fact that it’s probably the largest small town in Ontario. It’s huge, there’s a lot of people in it, but it still has a small town feel to it. We’re far enough away from Toronto that we’re not 24/7, we’re not go, go, go. The city kind of shuts down a little bit on Saturday afternoon and Sunday is a little quieter again. But the people are what make it, for sure.
And it spawned Justin Bieber.
Yeah, that’s kind of cool too, I guess. [laughs]
What are your passions outside of work?
Oh boy, I love traveling. That’s probably a big one right now. You probably hear that from a lot of people, right? I’m doing a little bit in the community through a church that we’re a part of, too, and we really enjoy that. We’re also involved in things like the Santa Claus parade, a lot of different little community things.
If you’re among the almosthalf of U.S. workersand75 percent of Canadianswho are actively seeking another job or opportunity that offers you more, it could be time to take your first step towards independence. Here are nine signs you might be ready to start your own business.
1. YOU DREAM OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES
If you find yourself dreaming about doing something bigger and better, something that really motivates you – it could be time to switch directions and create your own opportunity. It may not seem like it now, but it is possible to wake up feeling excited about work, and to go to bed with a sense of fulfillment, after a productive and rewarding day.
2. YOU WANT TO GROW YOUR WEALTH FOR THE FUTURE
What you put into your career is what you get out of it, and business ownership is no different. As a business owner you trade a capped monthly salary for a ‘sky’s the limit’ mentality – and if that excites you more than it scares you, it sounds like you might be ready to make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality. Yes, you’ll have to grind at the beginning – it wouldn’t be rewarding if you didn’t – but satisfaction lies in the knowledge that your hard work is for you, and that you’re investing in your own future.
3. YOU CRAVE FREEDOM
With business ownership comes freedom. The freedom to set your own goals, and to choose your own future. Being your own boss means that you own the crucial decisions, and it allows you to choose where, when, how, and with whom you want to work – so that you can create a lifestyle that revolves around the things that matter most to you.
4. YOU HAVE YOUR OWN VISION OF SUCCESS
Success means different things to different people, and for some, real fulfillment comes from being a leader. If you’re ambitious and hard-working, but you want to leverage your leadership and business skills to write your own founder’s story, then it’s time to think seriously about working for yourself.
5. YOU HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM
A solid support system is crucial when it comes to business ownership. At Shack Shine, franchise partners know this, because they’re backed by a culture of founders, back-end systems, and tried-and-true marketing. In other words, they’re supported every step of the way.
6. YOU WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PASS DOWN
Ask yourself if you agree with this statement: “Life isn’t about benefits, pensions and slaving away until retirement; it’s about doing what you love to build a future for yourself and your family.” Business owners build legacies, and if you want a career that is personally and professionally rewarding, but also something you can pass down, business ownership might just be the perfect choice for you.
7. YOU’VE BEEN FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE
If you’ve been plugging away at your existing career and have saved up enough capital to invest in a new business, it might be a great time to start looking into your options.
8. YOU HAVE GOOD PEOPLE SKILLS
You understand people and the way they work. You’ve been told you are a leader. Good interpersonal skills are crucial to business success, especially when it comes to building your own team, working with clients, and even networking within your industry.
9. YOU THRIVE ON NEW EXPERIENCES
If you’re the kind of individual who thrives on personal development and experiencing new people, places and things, then you might be ready to take the leap. Starting a business won’t be easy. It takes hunger, hard work, and an element of risk-taking to succeed. But if you’re up to the challenge, you could write your own founder’s story, and change your life.
He’s a self-proclaimed die-hard sports fan with a ‘Type A’ personality and ambition by the bucketload. Meet Brian Bensema, Shack Shine Franchise Partner in Southwest Chicago, and discover why he chose franchising, what he loves about Shack Shine, and his plans for a million dollar business.
Hi Brian, welcome to the Shack Shine family! Let’s start things off with the big one: what made you want to own your own business?
I’ve been in retail management for close to a decade, maybe a little bit more – everything from store manager to operations manager. And the thing I found was that the more you work for other people, and the more hours you put in to make them a lot of money, the more you start to think ‘why not make that money for myself instead?’. For me, I knew how to run a business from the perspective of management, and so running a business as an owner felt like the logical next step.
Looking back at those initial thoughts that kick-started all this for you, how does it feel to be a business owner now?
The process has been exciting, nerve-wracking, terrifying, fun – if you have an adjective it’s probably the right one! It’s been almost 6 months since I first started that process – and it’s just so good, because you really learn about them, they learn about you, and they make you feel like family by the end of it. If it wasn’t like that I probably wouldn’t be here.
Now I’m just ready to get going. It’s a big thing to wrap your head around: that the buck stops with you. It’s your show, you win or you lose, it’s all based on you, not what people above you tell you. It’s big, but it’s liberating and it’s exciting.
So why Shack Shine?
I actually found Shack Shine when I was looking to get 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to pick up some stuff for me, and I saw at the bottom of the website that the same company has other brands. I discovered that there were franchise opportunities at these other brands, and Shack Shine jumped out at me. That’s how it started!
The thing about Shack Shine is that unlike a lot of other businesses, it’s all about repeat business. So it’s not a model where I have to constantly keep finding new customers. Instead, as we build up over the years people will stick will us – they’ll remember the great customer experience, they’ll remember the first class work we did, and they’ll book with us again and again and again. That’s what really intrigued me to begin with.
It was definitely good to go out to Vancouver and see everything that’s behind Shack Shine too, at the head office ‘The Junktion’. To be honest, I was just relieved to see that it wasn’t somebody in a basement pretending to be a company! here are franchises like that in the world, I know people who went on a visit, and all of a sudden it’s just two people in a basement, so this obviously wasn’t like that at all. Instead it’s a huge office, so many people, so many great, friendly faces, such an amazing culture.
Why Franchising?
The big thing about Franchising is you’re not doing it alone. I have a lot of experience with the managing of a business: running a team, hiring a team, all that kind of stuff, but building from the ground up is a whole different ball game, you know? Knowing how to go about everything from funding to getting all your paperwork in line, I didn’t want to shoulder all of that myself. With franchising there’s a process already set up, and it’s a turn-key operation. I’m not starting from level zero, I’m starting from level one or two. It knocks that beginning of the learning curve down a little bit.
What are you looking forward to most about owning a Shack Shine Franchise?
Control. [laughs] I like being in control of situations. If I need to take a day off, I have to make the decision if I can afford it or not, but it’s on me – it’s not you know, “sorry we need you in today, too bad”. For me it’s all about family, too, and having that ability to work around my schedule if I need to.Being type A, I’ll probably work 6 or 7 days a week anyways, at least for the first year. But I have the option. It’s all about control, and flexibility, and having time to spend with family.
Where do you want to be in 5 years?
I plan on being a million dollar business in 5 years.
Amazing. What would you say motivates you most in life?
I’m type A, I motivate myself! I don’t like not being number one, so that’s my motivation: to be the best at what I do, because that’s how I reward myself. I’m very competitive.
Any passions outside of work?
I do a little bit of everything! I’ve been home-brewing beer for about 20 years now, so I have a pretty nice set up. I’m also a big reader – my goal is to read 52 books a year. Haven’t quite made it yet, 48 is my current record. That’s the goal. My mum reads one or two a day, so she kind of makes it hard to not aim high [laughs].
Finally, what makes your territory Chicago unique?
It’s where I’m from. It’s family. It’s friends. It’s the whole reason I went back, to be close to friends and family. It’s about being back to my roots and with my mum and my sister, and her family. I would never leave Chicago if I didn’t have to, that’s who I am. I’m a hard-working die-hard sports fan just like everyone else here – and now I’m going to make their houses beautiful!
