Get to know the AroundCU team
AroundCU is a local Champaign-Urbana real estate team built around practical guidance, careful follow-through, and a strong understanding of the local market. We help buyers and sellers make confident decisions before, during, and after the transaction.
Contact the team Read client testimonials
How we work
Local perspective
We live and work in the Champaign-Urbana area, so our advice is grounded in the neighborhoods, market patterns, and day-to-day realities of this community.
Full-service guidance
From search strategy and pricing to inspections, negotiations, deadlines, and closing details, we help clients understand what matters at each step.
Better tools
We keep improving AroundCU.com so buyers and sellers have useful local real estate information, map-based search tools, and clear ways to connect with us.
Mariya
Designated Managing Broker
Mariya leads the AroundCU team and is a full-time Realtor, allowing her to devote her professional focus to client real estate needs. She strives for excellence in everything the team does and is always looking for ways to make AroundCU a better local real estate resource.
Before real estate, Mariya served as an officer in the Illinois Army National Guard until she was honorably discharged in 2010. Her roles included Interrogator, Intelligence Platoon Leader, General's Aide, and Intelligence Officer for a Chemical Battalion.
Mariya was born in Norilsk, Russia, spent her early childhood in Kharkov, Ukraine, and moved with her family to the Chicago area in 1989. She has lived in Champaign since 2000 and has University of Illinois degrees in Economics and Spanish. She is fluent in Russian and Spanish and can converse in French.
Outside of real estate, Mariya enjoys badminton, table tennis, skiing, volleyball, and reading about science, nutrition, health, and new skills.
AroundCU in local media
Ron
Broker
Ron is a full-time Broker with AroundCU Real Estate Company, working with buyers and sellers under one roof. He enjoys every part of real estate and is a resource whether clients are buying a first home, a move-up home, or an investment property.
Ron has been a licensed real estate agent since January 2006 and has continued building his real estate knowledge through the Realtor Institute, ABR® designation, and e-PRO® designation. Before real estate, he served as a Business Administrator for a large local Methodist church and as a Chief Financial Officer for several downstate Illinois dental offices.
Ron grew up in Galesburg, IL and received a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Western Illinois University, where he also minored in Computer Science and was a two-year co-captain and member of the Track & Field program. He can be reached at Ron@AroundCU.com.
Melody
Office Administrator
Melody provides administrative support to the AroundCU team. Before joining AroundCU, she worked at a local title insurance company for more than 25 years, bringing deep transaction experience, organization, and attention to detail.
Melody and her husband were both born in Champaign and have spent their lives here, including raising their daughter and son locally. Her roots in the area are deep, and she enjoys walking in her neighborhood, singing in her church choir, and volunteering with community organizations.
Kirby
Tech Specialist
Kirby helps the AroundCU team with the website and other technical issues that come up. His work supports the tools and information that make the home buying and selling process easier for clients.
Kirby grew up in Missouri and has a Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering and a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Missouri. He moved to the Champaign-Urbana area in 1999 and enjoys learning more about local real estate and how technology can make the process smoother. He can be reached at Kirby@AroundCU.com.
