A.J. Ruggieri joined Meyer Capel in 2018 as an associate attorney, joining the firm’s Business Planning & Transactions department as well as the Real Estate team.

In 2004, Mr. Ruggieri earned a double Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Political Science from the University of Illinois. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in 2011; and, additionally, obtained a Master’s of Law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in Corporate Law and Finance in 2012.

Mr. Ruggieri brings with him experience as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Champaign County from 2012 through 2015, and was a Champaign County Circuit Court Spanish Interpreter from 2007 through 2008.

A.J. has earned many awards, including Eagle Scout (1996), Central Illinois Business Magazine’s “40 Under 40” (2009), Combat Infantryman Badge (2009), and the Bronze Star medal (2009).

Mr. Ruggieri has been serving in the Illinois Army National Guard since 2001 and is a recent graduate of the Department of Defense Information School’s Public Affair Officer Course. He is also a very active member of the Champaign community. He has been serving on the Board of Governors for the Champaign County Bar Association from 2012 to present and currently serves as Vice President. He is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, an affiliate member of the Champaign County Association of Realtors, member of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association, served on the Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee from March 2015 through April 2017 and served as Vice-Chair of said Committee from 2016 through 2017. A.J. was also elected to the Board of Trustees for the Village of Savoy in 2017.

In his spare time, A.J. enjoys fitness and running, public service, and sport shooting. He and his wife, Jessica, reside in Savoy with their three children.