Don has been an Illinois licensed real estate broker since 2011 and licensed auctioneer since 2013 and joined The Loranda Group, Inc. team in 2022.

Don has lifetime experiences with farming and agriculture having been raised on a grain and livestock farm near Gridley, Illinois. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Ag Education at Illinois State University and a master’s degree from University of Illinois. His farmed 4 years part-time with his family and gained additional experiences during 15 years of managing and owning the family farm. Don has had an exemplary long career in agriculture, including 15 years as high school teacher and university faculty member and 27 years with McLean County Extension. Don has taught 16 undergraduate and graduate courses at Illinois State University and is a graduate of the Missouri Auction School. He has offered auctioneer continuing education courses for Novalis, Inc.

He received Illinois State University College of Applied Science and Technology Hall of Fame recognition and has been recognized with awards including ISU Ag Department Non-Tenure Track Outstanding Teacher, McLean County Service to Agriculture, WJBC Radio “Spirit of McLean County,” McLean County Chamber of Commerce Legacy of Excellence, McLean County Farm Bureau Golden Clover, and was a WILL television “Illinois Gardener” panelist for several years.

A firm believer in community service, Don has been a volunteer fireman, city council alderman, 4-H leader, founding board member for the local school education foundation, and has coached youth league soccer, softball, and baseball teams. Don shares local agricultural history information through workshops, bus tours, newspaper columns, and radio segments and was co-curator for the McLean County Museum of History Farming Gallery on display since 2017 in Bloomington.

As broker, Don applies his years of agriculture experiences and provides exceptional service for clients with thorough communication and attention to details.  His professional network and reputation extend throughout Illinois and includes many past Extension contacts and former students now employed in farming and agribusinesses.