Stan Krozel and Kevin Ullery, partners in life and in business, are riding into the Shark Tank—the hit ABC-TV show filled with such two-legged business monsters as Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary and Daymond Johns.
UPDATE Post-show coverage, Sharks bite for Chicago businessmen, at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Sharks-bite-for-Chicago-businessmen/47026.html .
Krozel and Ullery have been partners for the 19 years and, for the past three years, have been riding the wave of energy, excitement and smiling faces via Fun Time Express, billed as "America's Premiere Trackless Train Ride." It pleases passengers in select shopping malls located in five states, including Ford City Mall in Illinois. Fun Time Express also has landed in Ohio, Florida, Louisiana and Michigan.
Krozel and Ullery will appear on Shark Tank on Friday, April 11.
"When we became fans of the show, I quickly realized that Fun Time Express was a perfect business to pitch to the sharks. We wanted to expand our opportunities and options," Krozel said.
"We also had a story to tell. When the economy took a turn, our real estate business took a big hit. We needed a quick way to pay the bills, so we took a chance on a business that was completely outside of anything we had ever done. Sometimes when you try something new, you discover what you're really good at," Ullery added.
Krozel, 44, is the president and CEO for Fun Time Express. He also is the president and owner of Royal Service Realty, as well as a licensed funeral director.
Ullery, 43, is the director of marketing for Fun Time Express.
They have been business partners for 11 years, having opened their first real estate office, Royal Service Realty, in 2003.
They met at Berlin Nightclub in 1995 through a mutual friend.
"Stan had seen me out at the clubs before, so when he heard from a friend of ours that I was going to be at Berlin [that night], he made sure to be there as well," Ullery said. "As you will see on the show, our personalities are very different. I'm quite the extrovert and Stan is very reserved. But, he mustered up the courage and approached me. The first thing he did was hand me his business card, which I thought was so cute. Keep in mind, we were barely 25 at the time. I had never been propositioned with a business card, let alone one that read 'licensed funeral director.'
"Needless to say, I was smitten."
They filmed the segment for Shark Tank last fall in Los Angeles, but neither can say much more about how it ended, even how long they were in the Tank.
"I've done a lot of public speaking, so I wasn't nervous at first. Only when we were in our trailer getting ready to go did I start to become anxious," Krozel said.
Ullery added, "We had practiced our pitch together in the trailer and Stan went blank, which never happens. As for me, I was too terrified to be nervous. But at the end of the day, [the Sharks are] people just like the rest of us … well, except that they are billionaires."
Krozel said the best part of appearing was just having the opportunity to pitch the business "to people we greatly admire."
Ullery said his highlight was getting to pitch the company alongside Krozel—as a couple, personally and professionally. They were identified on the show as a gay couple, though neither know if their relationship would make the edits.
"Opportunities do exist for people who work hard, but you need to be prepared," Krozel said.
Ullery added, "One thing I can say is, the show is 100 percent legitimate. There is no rehearsal with the Sharks. They literally know nothing about you until you walk through those doors, so as Stan said — be prepared or be prepared to get shredded."
Krozel and Ullery, and their business, are strong supporters of the gay community, naturally, and have been for years.
"We have always been proud of our community," Krozel said. "When the market turned, one of the Royal Service Realty offices that survived was our Andersonville location. We owe much of that to the support from the LGBT community. In turn, we've shown our support in a number of events, including the [annual Gay] Pride Parade. We are also members of National and Chicago LGBT Chamber of Commerce. So, it's an honor to be able to represent the community on a national level."
Ullery added, "When we went [to film the segment of the show], I felt like we were representing all working couples and families with our own, family-based business. The fact that we are a gay couple wasn't a big deal, because it's just a simple fact. We are a family—we have pitfalls and pull through them together like any family would. That is what I'm proud to show America—that a gay family is just a family."
The two will be hosting a small group of friends and family at their home for a Friday night viewing.
"While we speculated on [which Shark would] or would not be more interested in the business, we knew not to hang our conductor hats on anyone in particular. The Sharks are full of surprises," Ullery said.
The show appearance came about, Krozel said, when he emailed about their business—and show management responded, requesting a video submission.
"It wasn't until they responded that I had any idea Stan had sent anything," Ullery said. "I couldn't believe it."
