What is your idea of perfect happiness? Sunday morning. At home. In my studio. All’s quiet. Listening to jazz. With coffee.
What is your greatest fear? A global pandemic. Oh, wait…
Which living person do you most admire? Chuck Feeney, philanthropist.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Temper.
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Tardiness.
What is your greatest extravagance? Ordering any book that I want. And having the time to read them.
What is your favorite journey? Walking to dinner with Stephanie.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? An appreciation for all of my overrated virtues.
On what occasion do you lie? Little white lies, to my mother with late-stage Alzheimer’s.
What do you dislike most about your appearance? That I have no ass.
Which living person do you most despise? A terrorist. Foreign and (especially) domestic.
What is your greatest regret? That I waited so long to stop worrying about what everyone thinks.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My Stephanie.
When and where are you happiest? At dinner, with Stephanie.
Which talent would you most like to have? To write film scores.
What is your current state of mind? Peacefully unsettled.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My temper.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? The Todd & Stephanie Schnick Foundation.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would it be? My dogs, Shiloh and Surrey.
What is your most treasured possession? A sound mind. At least in my opinion.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Waiting for someone who is running late.
What is your favorite occupation? Of everything I’ve done, I’d have to say philanthropist.
What is your most marked characteristic? On time.
What do you most value in your friends? Honestly and punctuality.
Who are your heroes in life? Soldiers and first responders.
What are your favorite names? The Apollo spacecraft.
What is it that you most dislike? Wasting my time.
How would you like to die? In my sleep.
What is your motto? Be intrepid.
Chronology (in progress)
- 1969; Born, Aurora, IL
- 1987; Graduated, Trinity Preparatory School
- 1990; University of Oxford (Christ Church), Oxford, England, Summer tutorial
- 1991; Graduated; The Florida State University
- 1992-1994; Aide to Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
- 1995-2000; Republican Party of Florida; Political Director
- 2001; Nevada Republican Party, Executive Director
- 2002; Georgia Republican Party, Executive Director
- 2003; Lobbyist
- 2004-2006; The Strategum Group, Partner
- 2007-present; Founder, The Intrepid Group, LLC
- 2012; Married the former Stephanie Ann Lloyd
- 2016; Moved to Chicago, IL
- 2018-present; Co-founder, The Todd & Stephanie Schnick Foundation
- 2020; Launched The Foundation Podcast
- 2021; Board of Trustees, Union League Boys & Girls Clubs
My newest podcast, and the one I am most proud of, is The Foundation Podcast. iTunes has rated it a “Top Non-Profit podcast,” and we launched in early 2020. While it supports the work of our foundation, it is not about our foundation. In fact, it helps people build the foundation to live their best lives, as well as showcases leaders and organizations in the non-profit world…people affecting global change. We are very proud of this project!
Some highlights below from my trade show broadcasting days…
Many forget that politics played a significant role in roughly the first eighteen years of my career. From congressional aide, to Republican Party operative, to national political strategist. But no doubt, I reached the pinnacle of notoriety when Al Gore sued me during the 2000 Florida Recount (see image below). It was a strange piece of history to be a part of. This also resulted in the first book I was mentioned in: Jake Tapper’s Down and Dirty: The Plot to Steal the Presidency. Certainly my proudest moment!
I named my company, The Intrepid Group, LLC, after the lunar lander Intrepid from the Apollo 12 mission, which landed on The Moon in November, 1969.
I married the former Stephanie Ann Lloyd on December 12, 2012. We moved to Chicago, IL in February 2016, and co-founded our foundation in late 2018.
