Wickmans see good days ahead for real estate

If two heads are better than one, then two Wickmans are better than one for Wickman Properties, Inc. in St. Charles.

Wickman Properties continues to buck the current downward trend in the real estate market, but Don Wickman, president of the company for nearly 30 years, is utilizing his son's expertise in marketing and sales to make sure the success stories continue.

Eric Wickman, who operates Wickman Development out of the Wickman Properties office at 1121 E. Main St. he shares with his dad, actually sees the commercial property business heating up.

"People are still doing business and still expanding, so they are still leasing space," said Eric, who graduated from St. Charles East in 2000 and Central Michigan in 2004 with high honors and a business degree. "Some businesses are actually thriving in this market."

Don was happy to see his son come on board, saying, "Now I can stay away from the marketing tasks that I previously was doing."

Eric, who worked for Inland Real Estate in Oak Brook before starting his own business, said the formula for success remains relatively simple.

"Trust is very important," he said. "People have to know they can trust you that when you tell them, 'This is what you'll get,' that when it is over, there are no surprises."

Both Don and Eric know the value of knowledgeable and reliable support staff when they point to the contributions of administrative assistant Pat Pribel, who has worked for Wickman for 20 years.

"She works so hard and has done so much for us," Don said. "She is an important part of our business."

Don also feels his company has been visible in St. Charles for so long that it goes hand-in-hand with enjoying a good reputation.

"We manage buildings and keep the tenants happy, that's what we focus on," said Don, whose company currently has 82 tenants. "We are doing well and we have been doing it for a long time.

"Once I get tenants, I keep them."

For good health: It's been mentioned in the Daily Herald's informative Health section, as well as magazine articles and TV segments in the past. They all tell us the same thing -- chocolate has some definite health benefits.

In some research specific to men at Imperial College in London, dark chocolate has been shown in tests to lower blood pressure in men who enjoy the sweet treat, as they tend to process fatty foods better and have a lower LDL, or bad cholesterol reading.

So what better way to bring on Valentine's Day than to remind the men that they can eat some of the chocolate they give their wives tomorrow?

Orientation pasta sensation: Now here's a novel idea. West Aurora High School will host its freshman orientation for students and parents on Feb. 25 -- and include a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the same time.

It's been a long time since my freshman orientation, but a spaghetti dinner would have eased some anxiety. In fact, I might have just sat and ate pasta all night and then asked my mom how the orientation went.

dheun@sbcglobal.net