Vito resides in Arlington Heights with his wife and their 8-year old Rhodesian Ridgeback, Buddy and 6-month old Chihuahua, Ché. Vito is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, majoring in anthropology and Asian studies. Prior to selecting an anthropology major, he completed extensive coursework in biology and botany.

Prior to joining A B C Humane Wildlife Control & Preventions Animal Rescue Team, Vito tenured as a research associate at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. At the Arboretum, he worked alongside world-renowned researcher, Dr. George Ware.

Vito's favorite part of his job is bee, hornet, and wasp control. Currently, he is completing an apprenticeship in beekeeping and establishing an apiary and honey farm.

According to Vito, his most thrilling experience as a wildlife technician was removing 60,000 honeybees from a church belfry in Aurora, Illinois. We spent 18 hours removing hundreds of pounds of honey and wax. We left 100 jars of honey for the priests, and kept another 100 for ourselves. I don't think we'll ever run out. My wife is trying to incorporate honey into all of her recipes in an attempt to reclaim some much needed cabinet space, Vito jokes.

When asked how he became interested in ecology, Vito says, I studied briefly at the College of DuPage, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and a professor named Dr. Russell Kurt took me under his wing and let me help him burn the adjacent prairie. This guy had been in charge of the school's prairies for 25 years and knew everything about them. I was particularly interested in prairie restoration and helping to foster only native species.

In his leisure time, Vito is an avid hiker and loves to take Buddy on long hikes. Some of his favorite destinations are Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, and Volo Bog. Vito also loves bows and enjoys shooting arrows at his backyard archery range. When asked if he likes to hunt with his bow, Vito replies, Nope, I consider archery more of a zen-like meditation. I'd never want to kill anything.