Classification Talks by Ben Weaver and Jason Ivy, Oct. 15, 2015

Ben came here by way of a childhood in San Diego and Grand Rapids, then Kenyon College, followed by the Peace Corps in Zambia teaching fish farming.  He later worked with the Field Museum as a supervisor.  He and his wife moved to Anchorage when his wife got a job there.  He worked at Trustees for Alaska, a non-profit law firm active in environmental issues.  He subsequently went to law school, moved to the Chicago area, then Mt. Prospect.

 

Working with Saddlebrook Farm as a lawyer, he started his own law firm,”23Legal” in 2012, specializing in Real Estate law and Estate Planning.  Ben said he enjoys bringing buyers and sellers together, with their "personalities", to work through the home-buying process.  Ben saw Rotary service through his father's work as a dentist and a Rotarian.  Ben is a former member of the Mt. Prospect-Arlington Heights Sunrise Club.  He and his wife, Kerry, have two children, Rose and Clay.         . 

 

He can be reached at 630-306-9736, ben@23legal.com, 209 S. I Oka Ave., Mt. Prospect, IL  60056. If you weren't at the meeting, ask him how he came to choose the name "23Legal".

 

Jason’s background is that of an unabashed Wisconsinite (and if you weren't at the meeting, ask him why he feels Wisconsin folks have the last laugh).  He played soccer in high school and at Concordia University where he majored in Graphic Design/Business.  Moving to Illinois, he earned his Masters in Education at Columbia College and taught school in Mt. Prospect.  School budget cuts led to his going to work as an independent insurance broker, and then in business development for the Schmidt Financial Group, a financial planning firm.   When asked about the change in professions, he said both entail teaching…“It’s just about different subjects and different age groups." 

 

Jason and his wife Sarah live in Arlington with their three young boys, Jax, Brennan, and Camden.  He joined Rotary to be a part of the community and is also trying first-time scouting as a Cub Scout Den Leader.  He can be reached at 847-897-7402, jason@schmidtfinancial.com,