Tony Chimino

Tell us about your family: 

I live in Hinsdale, IL, with my inspiring wife Liz. I have three children, all adopted from China, and two stepchildren.  

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

I wanted to be a US Senator. It looked like a cool job where you could debate the most interesting things that affected the country. But, once I realized what that looked like in the election process, I knew it wasn’t for me.  

What was your first job? 

I had a paper route when I was young and I started bussing tables at a Chi-Chi’s restaurant when I was 15.  

What’s the best advice you ever received and who gave it to you? 

I find a lot of inspiration in the musings of Warren Buffett. Here’s a particularly powerful one for me: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”  

What’s your favorite hobby? 

I love to scuba dive. I’ve stopped counting, but I’ve done over 300 dives and hope I’ll get to dive the Great Barrier Reef in Australia one day.  

What’s something people are usually surprised to learn about you? 

People are typically surprised to learn how short I am. I guess my loud personality gives off a tall vibe.