You What?

Dennis Callison, President, Broker, Xplor Commercial Real Estate
Aug 7, 2023
Jeffrey Crane
You What?

Do you have a nickname? I have been called Butch my entire life. My dad had a friend in high school named Butch and wanted to name me after him, but my mom wouldn’t let him, so instead I was named after my father; he just called me Butch from day one. It’s caused some confusion in my professional life — some know me as Butch and some know me as Dennis.

What was your first job? I worked for my dad at his agricultural products and services business visiting farmers and doing whatever I was told.

What book has had the greatest impact on you? “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell.

What is the first movie you ever saw in a theater? Most likely “Grease” with my mom.

What famous person would you most like to meet? Michael Jordan.

What do you actually do at your job? Help clients with all of their commercial real estate needs, although some days I’m not exactly sure what I do. 

What is your greatest accomplishment? Marrying my wife, having two incredible kids and realizing that we have done ok raising them, so far.

Who is your hero? My dad. He’s always happy and cracking bad jokes.

What is your biggest pet peeve? Being late!

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party (living, dead, famous, real or fictional)? Dave Chappelle, Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart and Bill Murray.

What three items would you want with you if you were stranded on a desert island (other than food and water)? Bow and arrows, a lighter and a drum set.

Where will you go on your next vacation? It’s always a mystery to me. I get told where we are going, it changes five times, then I get on the plane and end up on a beach somewhere, which is perfect.

What’s one thing you can’t live without? Good cheese.

If you could give your 15-year-old self-advice, what would it be? Focus only on the things you can control and concentrate on how you can make a positive impact. Life moves way too fast to worry about things out of your control.

Who was your first celebrity crush? Elle Macpherson.

What is the best gift you have ever been given? A Hot Wheels racetrack or my family… it’s close.

Name one person who has inspired you in your life. My wife. She is always positive and happy, which I sometimes struggle with. 

If you hosted a talk show, who would be your first guest? Jesus.

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you win a medal in? Mowing the lawn in straight lines. It’s the most peaceful time of my week.

What fad do you wish would come back or stay gone forever? I wish the big hair of the late 80s would come back. It would make me laugh to see everyone with big hair.

If you could send a message to the entire world, what would you say in 30 seconds? Be kind, and take care of yourself and others. Get out of the passing lane if you are driving slowly, please! 

When was the last time you cried and why? I got something in my eye when my daughter was named Dancer of the Year for her studio. Listening to people say wonderful things about my kids gets me every time.

What is something that never fails to make you laugh? This is terrible, but I love seeing people trip (not fall). I laugh every time because everyone has the exact same reaction. They look at the ground as if it was the ground’s fault, get a little disgusted and keep walking.

If you could go back and change a single thing, what would it be? I wouldn’t change a thing. As Bill Walton says, “I’m the luckiest man in the world.” 

Describe yourself in three words. Straightforward, driven and introverted.

In what city did you grow up? I grew up in Lapeer, Michigan and went to high school in Orchard Lake, Michigan. Fort Wayne has been my home since 1997, so I did most of my growing up here.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A professional athlete — football baseball or basketball.

What is your favorite part of your job? Helping people accomplish their goals.

What do you love most about Fort Wayne? It offers so much of what a large city can offer, with a smaller town appeal. It’s also a great place to raise a family.

Do you have a motto you live by? Do what you say and say what you do.

What would you choose as your last meal? Pizza. You can never go wrong with a great slice of pizza.

If you had a time machine, where and to what time period would you travel? 1804 to tag along with Lewis and Clark on their expedition across the U.S.

Who would you like to see perform in concert? I always love a Pearl Jam concert.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? The Greek Islands.

What does your workout regimen consist of? Not nearly enough.

What profession would you never try? I would never be a window washer for downtown buildings. Dangling from a rope 5-10 stories up would not be my thing.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Be kind.

What’s your biggest fear? Bats – flying rodents with teeth and skin wings that can slip through small cracks in your home… nah.

What skill would you like to master? Golf. What a frustrating sport.

What age do you wish you could permanently be and why? College was so much fun, so I would say 20.

What was the last gift you gave someone? I gave my daughter a computer for college… boring!

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten? I do not eat strange things.

What would you do with your 15 minutes of fame? Probably hide.

What is the most productive time of day for you? The morning, before everything gets hectic.

If you received enough money to never need to work again, what would you spend your time doing? I would continue working helping others achieve their goals, travel and drive my kids crazy trying to hang out with them.

When was the last time you tried something new? I’ll try anything once, but as I get older it’s less likely to be physical in nature.

If you had to teach someone one thing, what would you teach? Don’t drive slow in the passing lane.

What gets you excited and driven to achieve? Satisfaction of completing successful projects and helping people achieve their goals.

What moment in your life would you most like to go back and relive? College was the greatest. Although it was regimented because of playing football, the freedom of not having any real-life worries was fantastic!

What is your earliest memory? My grandpa Callison would give me a quarter or a piece of candy every time I saw him. Who would give a two-year-old a quarter?!

When were you happiest? When I finished answering these questions.

What trait or habit in yourself do you deplore? I get distracted easily.

Do you have any guilty pleasures? What are they? I love a good glass of bourbon.


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