Michael Stone Group, LLC

A Legacy continues…

The Michael Stone Group, LLC was established in late 2004 as a second generation real estate development company. Founder’s Ryan Johnstone and Michael DeBartolo officially began their careers in the real estate business in 2000 and 2002, respectively, by working with parent's company, O.G.I. Development (Our Gang Inc.).

O.G.I. is a real estate development company started by Ryan’s parents, Lynn and Rick Johnstone. O.G.I. Development built its portfolio first by acquiring and leasing multi-family units and apartment buildings in Evanston in the mid-70’s. By 1980 the family had moved North from Evanston to Deerfield. Commercial, industrial and residential opportunities were plentiful, and thus O.G.I Development was born. By the late 80’s and early 90’s, O.G.I. began to shift the focus towards developing residential properties along the North Shore in Deerfield, Evanston, Glenview, Winnetka and Highland Park.

Ryan began working on the company’s renovation projects as a laborer when he was 13, sweeping out homes, organizing materials and using the heaviest sledge hammer he could manage to inflict the most damage. This seemed like an ideal fit for a kid with endless energy.

Once back from the University of Iowa with degrees in both Journalism and Communications, Ryan decided to begin his business career in Colorado, moving to Denver for both the sun and the snow in the Summer of 1998. During this time, Ryan worked at Translogic, a pnuematic tubing systems manufacturer, as an inside sales representative. He then moved on to join Storage Area Networks, a data storage start-up, as a sales and marketing associate. At this point, two years had passed, and Ryan was offered an opportunity to learn the family business back in Chicago.

So in the fall of 2000, he came home, and again started in the field, this time as a construction supervisor. Thankfully for his back, the sledgehammer was replaced with a notebook and a cell phone. After almost two years in the field, Ryan moved into the office, to focus his efforts on land acquisition, marketing and sales.

Mick comes to the building business with a very interesting and impressive resume. He started his “real” education as an engineer in the Navy, where he progressed quickly through the ranks while receiving an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering. Mick spent most of his time at sea in the engine room of the ship, entrusted as one of the lead engineering personnel with the ship’s nuclear reactor. Once his obligation to the Navy was over, Mick decided that he wanted to pursue engineering and project management in the private sector. He started at Lever Brothers, a soap manufacturer, as a manufacturing engineer. He then moved on to Com Ed as an engineer. Finally, Mick worked for Phillip’s Electronics, a company that manufactured x-ray tubes, as a design and project manager. In his spare time, Mick picked up an MBA from Lake Forest College.

Over the years, O.G.I. has built a reputation based on their tastefully designed homes and attention to detail, as well as their core belief that the process of designing and building your family’s dream home, while daunting at times, should be an enjoyable experience. O.G.I. is well known throughout the North Shore of Chicago as a leader in custom design, with a penchant for creating homes with sophistication, character and a style all their own.

With a desire to run their own business, Ryan and Mick created the Michael Stone Group, LLC in November 2004 in order to continue O.G.I.’s tradition of quality workmanship and innovative design. Michael Stone Group is committed to working with clients in order to create both the timeless design and cutting-edge functionality our customers have grown to expect. To achieve this level of quality, Michael Stone Group works with the finest local craftsmen, architects and designers to bring these dreams to life.

Michael Stone Group continues to stay involved with your project once you move into your new home. They have a warranty and customer service package that is unparalleled in the custom home building industry, due in part to the profoundly simple philosophy under which O.G.I. was founded; build the perfect home, each and every time, making sure the client’s reflection on the process is a positive one. This may seem like an unrealistic goal, especially given our industry’s well-earned reputation. However, through the tireless pursuit of building the most unique, efficient, and tasteful homes possible comes a clear understanding of our client’s expectations. These expectations are met time and again because O.G.I. and now Michael Stone Group, refuses to stray from their mission statement, which reads “we strive to treat each and every client as a family member, and each project as if it were our own home”.

Given this philosophy, along with building some of the areas most beautiful homes, it is no surprise that the client base continues to stress how our building process equates to their outstanding customer satisfaction.

Michael Stone Group is honored to continue this tradition, of which you can be a part. Together with Michael Stone Group, you can create the custom home you’ve always imagined.