It’s hard to believe it’s been twenty years living in Sedona.
Two decades ago, we arrived in Sedona from Brooklyn, New York, with about ten dollars between us and the clothes on our backs. No savings, no real plan—just a shared dream, a deep belief in hard work, and a powerful intuition that this place, Sedona, was where our lives were meant to unfold.
Looking back, the contrast couldn’t be greater. We came from gritty city streets filled with noise and chaos, where daily life was about survival, not serenity. We landed in a desert paradise where crimson rocks kiss the sky, where the pace slows down enough to breathe, and where we’ve been embraced by one of the most generous, kind, and spirited communities we could have ever imagined.
Danielle and I both found work waiting tables—our first service industry jobs in Sedona were at Lisa Dahl’s legendary Dahl & Di Luca restaurant, the Red Planet Diner, and The Olde Sedona Bar & Grill. The community of restaurant workers was tight-knit, the tips modest, and the hours long, but it gave us a front-row seat to the heart of Sedona’s hospitality scene and its fascinating mix of locals, travelers, and seekers from all walks of life.
Eventually, I worked my way up into restaurant management at Olde Sedona. Around the two-year mark, I also began driving off-road jeeps for A Day in the West—a wild and wonderful way to earn a living, and a whole new way to fall in love with living in Sedona and Red Rock Country. Every trail told a story. Every tour deepened my sense of awe for this landscape we now called home.
All the while, behind the scenes, we were both working on a dream. We’d enrolled in real estate school days after arriving in town, squeezing in classes between shifts, and studying when the moment presented itself. We both earned our real estate licenses and began juggling a new kind of hustle—balancing part-time jobs with open houses, showing homes, listing presentations and the painstaking climb of building a career from scratch.
After a few years of this juggling act, we took the leap. We dropped the side gigs, committed fully to real estate, and never looked back. That leap, terrifying as it was, turned out to be the best decision we ever made.
The community here responded. Referrals trickled in. Then flowed. Then surged.
As our real estate careers grew, so did our commitment to the community that had given us so much. About eleven years ago, we organized the very first Village of Oak Creek Community Barbecue—an event meant to bring neighbors together for good food, live music, and real connection. It started as a small gathering and has now grown into a beloved annual tradition that draws hundreds each year. We’re proud to say the BBQ just celebrated its tenth year—and we’re already planning for the next.
Around eight years ago, our passion for community service led us to help charter the Rotary Club of Sedona Village. Serving others is at the heart of Rotary, and we were honored to be part of building something lasting for our area. I had the privilege of serving as Club President in 2019/2020, a role that deepened my connection to our fellow Rotarians and to the service mission that guides us.
Over the past decade, our real estate journey has taken off in ways we could never have imagined back in our restaurant days. From being among the top 20 agents in the greater Sedona and Verde Valley region, we steadily climbed to the top 10—and in 2023, we were proud to be named the #1 team at Coldwell Banker Realty in Sedona.
That recognition means a lot—but what means more is the trust our clients place in us. Many have become lifelong friends. Some started out as neighbors or restaurant regulars. We never forget that every home we help buy or sell represents someone else’s dream, just like ours all those years ago.
And speaking of dreams, perhaps our proudest accomplishment is raising our son here. He’s now fifteen and attends school right here in the Village of Oak Creek. He’s grown up with Red Rock views out his window and trails in his backyard. We know how different his childhood has been from ours—and for that, we are endlessly grateful.
Twenty years later, we still wake up every day with gratitude. Gratitude for the people. For the land. For the chance to build a life that feels meaningful, connected, and true.
We know how different our lives could have been. We know what it’s like to start with nothing. And we know that hard work and perseverance can achieve. We love living in Sedona.
Sedona, thank you for twenty extraordinary years. We can’t wait to see what the next twenty bring.
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Living in Sedona
