Announcement: We’re Moving to Chicago!

After living in Phoenix for over a year, Stephanie and I have decided to start a new chapter, a new adventure together; we’ve decided to move to Chicago!
Blog Image - Chicago

It goes without saying that moving out to Phoenix, to be with the love of my life and to try a new new opportunity has an amazing experience. Not only is Phoenix an amazing vista with so much natural beauty, it is also a very welcoming community. I cherish all the people I have met and grown to love; I always will. Despite Phoenix being hot, and I do mean freaking hot, it has been a cool experience. I’ve had the opportunity to grow and nurture an impenetrable relationship with the woman who has stolen my heart. I’ve had the opportunity to work with amazingly talented people and grow my skills even further. I’ve had the opportunity to cherish life and appreciate the surroundings.

There were truly great times here in Phoenix. Everything from meeting a new part of my family, to Stephanie’s graduation, to climbing mountains, to experiencing some of the most serene landscapes in Sedona, to seeing a hole in the ground at Meteor Crater, to dancing the night away at the nation’s best club – Hakkasan, all the way down to owning a car and experiencing the “commute,” all great times!

As we look to the future, to the new chapter and adventure, we are excited to begin. Both personally and professionally, it’s a new opportunity that we’re ready to take on! To those we will be saying goodbye, thank you for the awesome friendships, love and great times; we will always visit our family and friends! To those who we will see again shortly, book a DJ and pop the champagne!

Announcement: I’m Relocating to Phoenix

Image

After living in Chicago for the last four years and the midwest for my entire life, I’m moving on, I’m moving to Phoenix! It goes without saying that this is a pretty large life-changing event. That being said, I look at it as a new adventure, a new chapter to experience. Not to mention, I’m pretty tired of the Chicago Winters; man, this last one was brutal.

The love of my life is in Phoenix (she truly is the love of my life) as is a great, professional opportunity. I have accepted a position at a national advertising agency in Phoenix. These guys (which you will find out later who they are) are rockstars and are very passionate about the work. The passion that I’m talking about is the same passion that I always seek and have been a part of. I have had the opportunity, no, the honor to work with very talented and passionate people everywhere in Chicago and it will be difficult to let them go. However, this is a chance for me to open up a new chapter in my life; one with the woman I love, a chapter of new professional and digital opportunities at the agency, and a new chapter to grow digital in new forms, new clients and new work.

As I look back at my life in Chicago, I look back with a smile on my face. Chicago is the home of advertising, the home of marketing; if anyone says different (I’m looking at you NYC), they’re wrong. Chicago has taught me so much and has made me grow into digital professional I am today. The memories I have of this town, will always stay with me; especially the people. Everyone (too many to name), has made a significant impact on who I am, how I view the world, how I work and how I see the future. As I look back at my life in Chicago, I look back with a tear in my eye. I know that the experiences I have had here will always stay with me. The memories, the people and the moments have shaped me and have helped make me the person who I am today. It is sad to leave you all, leave the city that I have grown to love. However, with an end should come a new beginning; a new chapter.

Now, I can’t forget about Milwaukee… my alma mater. I keep thinking, “how did I get here?” And I know it’s because of Milwaukee. I have nothing but fond memories of Milwaukee and it will always have a special place in my heart. After all, it is the town where I met Stephanie. Milwaukee, as most of the Midwest, kept me pragmatic, humble and driven. It brought me up to the person I am today, with, what I hope, a strong moral code, work ethic and great friends that will never leave. I leave the Midwest thinking that Milwaukee was my hometown.

As I look forward, I see a bright future. A future of amazing possibilities, both personally and professionally. It is a future of exploration and adventure. I’m moving West. It’s Manifest Destiny. It is the American way. I see myself as a pioneer of sorts. I see this next stage as opportunity to start anew. I see this as what I want, need and have to do. Don’t think of it as me moving across the country, think of it as I’m only 2 hours behind.

In closing, I leave you with this. A close friend of mine once told me, “When you stop looking up at your city, that’s the moment you need to leave.” I believe that to be true and I’m ready to look up at Phoenix.

PS> You can follow my journey by following the #CHI2PHX hashtag on social media. (Yes, I had to make a hashtag for this)