Born with a unique perspective, John is an architect, avid climber and adventurer whose kind heart soothes the minds of many. An old and creative soul, Melissa chases the sun, picking up friends, songs and degrees along the way. We met in the Illinois MBA program in 2012 working on a business school case competition. While both proud undergraduate alumni of the University of Illinois, we never crossed paths during our earlier years at school, which is surprising considering how much time spent at Joe's 😉. In 2013, we drove from Champaign to New Orleans with some friends for spring break. We arrived late in the night and happened to be staying in an airbnb on Royal Street right next to the Tigermen Den. Fate would have it that the first place we went to on our first night in New Orleans was an art exhibition at the Tigermen Den. In December of 2014 and into January of 2015, we went to a wedding in India and then continued our trip to work on a self-produced documentary in the Khumbu Valley of Nepal. The trip was intense and death defying, but it was also life changing in so many ways and we began to date. Over the last 8 years we have had many great experiences and travels together, always meeting and befriending new and interesting people. On July 15, 2022, we became engaged on a rocky outcrop at sunset in the magical little town of Thomas, West Virginia. We look forward to celebrating with friends and family in New Orleans on November 18, 2023!