Meet AJ Ruggieri. In 2018, he joined Meyer Capel as an associate attorney, joining the firm’s Business panning and Transactions department as well as the Real Estate Team. He is a native of Champaign-Urbana.
In 2004, he earned a double Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Political Science from the University of Illinois. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude in 2011 at the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and in addition to that, he obtained a Master’s of Law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in Corporate Law and Finance in 2012 .
Since 2001, he served in the Illinois Army National Guard and is a recent graduate of the Department of Defense Information School’s Public Affair Officer Course. He is also a very active member of the Champaign community.
He is a loving husband to his wife, a Native Mexican, and they’re married for 16 years. The couple was blessed with 1 child and now he’s 17 years old.
Thank you, AJ, for spending your time with us and your love for Champaign-urbana.
Questions:
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: When I was a young kid, I always had a fascination with being a lawyer, though it kind of came out a little bit later in life. I started in law enforcement and was working as a full time police officer for the City of Urbana, and then about 8-9 years ago I made a decision that I was going to go for it and go to Law School. I can’t say that I’m the argumentative type of person. I started out in the prosecutors office and I love it because it’s much very easy on TV, you put in a preparation and you win the case. But ultimately, I want to do something that is little more manageable and probably not as stressful.
Other than being a lawyer, I also had a strong interest in military service at a young age. I did boy scouts, I loved playing capture flag, in that moment in time I just felt an obligation that it was my turn, my time to do something about it. Previously, I have been an RTC and I had take a little break because I did some other service in the country but when I came back there was really no reason that prevent me in doing to what I thought I had to do.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Champaign-Urbana, and what do you love there?
A: We love Maize because I married a native Mexican. We have plenty of opportunities to go to authentic Mexican food restaurant and they are by far.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Champaign-Urbana?
A: I was born here in Champaign in a hospital that no longer exists. I grew up and went to Champaign Public School up to about 7th Grade, then my parents moved to Tuscola. I attended high school there, then came back to C-U to attend the University of Illinois and I’ve been here ever since.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Champaign-Urbana?
A: The one person that I didn’t know that lives here is Dr. Patch Adams, and I find him to be very interesting. We have differing opinions in some things, but he is quite a character and there’s no doubt about it. Outside of him, I’m very close to my dad, who worked and lives here as well. I learned a lot from him.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: If I could travel right now, it could be be somewhere warm. But I have this kind of goal that I’m working on to see all 7 Wonders of the World. So far I’ve been to four, and I have to pick one for the last 3 and that would be either Great Wall of China, the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil or the Taj Mahal.
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: Probably the concept of never giving up and the reason for that is I don’t think that as a human beings we have some resistance from the world outside. There are things and people that put in our path that make it harder but the biggest person that we have to deal with is ourselves. It’s so great now that you have access to everything, all the information in the internet, you can read stories or watch movies about inspirational people.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: Going to see the 7 Wonders of the World. I’ve been to 4: The Roman Colosseum in Rome, Machu Picchu in Peru, Petra in Jordan and Chichen Itza in Peninsula, Mexico so I still have 3 places left.
Q: What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Champaign-Urbana?
A: Jarlings Custard Cup is a really a good one,a place to go and hang out. I used to love 12:49, when I was a kid,it’s literally across from my house and we will go there all the time. And then the Marketplace, I remember it went to major renovation but it’s still continue to go through it’s renovation. It’s not as popular as before because we like to buy things now online but I still like going there and just walk around. Also, Lincoln Square Mall,it was a really fun place during high school and where we would buy leather jacket.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Champaign-Urbana?
A: I really like the multi-culturism of Champaign-Urbana. And that too grown over the years. I married a Mexican and we are intimately connected to Latin American community here.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: I see myself here and continue working as an Attorney and hopefully doing well with that. Also continuing my public service. And maybe retire as a National Guard so I can have a little bit more time.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: Most of my friends and family know that I did missions work for 2 years in South America where I lived and learned the Spanish language, so I am able to speak it fluently. I now see myself as kind of a resource for that community who want to build businesses, buy things and real estate, but don’t want to communicate outside their language. I’m also the kind you can describe as the most introvert-extrovert you’ll ever see because I can get up and I’ll give a speech. I was a very shy kid, I wasn’t very involved in sport and all of that were developed.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Happiness, Family and Sense of Security.
Q: If you had a full time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?
A: I will pick a Physical Fitness Trainer but if my wife had to say, it would be a Housekeeper.
