Igor obtained his first degree from a top-ranked grammar school in the capital of Croatia, Zagreb. After moving to the United States, he then earned his bachelor’s degree from Rockford University in Illinois with a major in Business Management and Philosophy. In 2005, Igor completed a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and international business from Loyola University in Chicago.
Post-graduation he started his career with successful tenures at LaSalle Bank and Morgan Stanley as a relationship banker and wealth manager, respectively. Igor co-founded the American Southeast Europe Chamber of Commerce, a not-for-profit organization focusing on business and cultural exchange between countries of Southeast Europe and the United States.
In 2002, he co-founded Areté Renovators with his brother, Davor, to give their father Jovo an outlet to market his skills as a master carpenter. Igor soon left the finance industry to focus on Areté Renovators full time as the President. With 18 years of experience in the real estate and construction industries, he leads a team of highly qualified individuals responsible for the daily management of the Areté group of companies – Areté Renovators (design build firm), Areté The Art of Design (showroom and design center), Areté Realty (in-house property management of investment properties), and Areté Investment Fund (real estate investment fund).
Igor also leads the Board of Directors at Council Oak Montessori School in Blue Island, a non-profit private school established in 1990, as the President.