COAST Brokered by eXp Realty

When they first began the journey that would lead to them opening COAST Brokered by eXp Realty, real estate legends Tristan O’Grady and Rick Saba were spurred by one idea: creating something that would give real estate professionals the power to chart their own course and create their own success. They found that very quickly when they discovered eXp Realty.

“Inside eXp Realty, Glen Sanford (founder) has developed an agentcentric culture, placing the agent and the client at the forefront of the cloud-driven real estate organization,” O’Grady said. The highly efficient debt-free model allows much of the company’s revenue to be generously shared with its agents, based on performance.

That culture has allowed Tristan and Rick to build a real estate office that operates in new and exciting ways and far different from the traditional old-fashioned models. Their Coligny district office is more of a sophisticated hangout spot than an office, albeit one powered by hightech solutions that make a Realtor’s job easier and more effective. Opening COAST allowed them to not only assemble a team of the area’s best and brightest in real estate, but it let them create a culture of their own.

“We’ve attracted top talent, but really we find that we’re bringing on people who share our core values,” O’Grady said. “By looking for people with high ethical standards who work hard, we add to that culture by really helping each other and being supportive. It’s become like a family, whether someone is coming in with tons of experience or just getting their license.”

These women in business reflect that cross-section of the industry, with some bringing decades of experience to COAST and some already enjoying the benefits of the office’s culture in their first year as licensed Realtors. But they all share the core values of COAST—values that let them excel in their own careers while offering the industry’s best service and support to their clients.

From left to right, these women are individually Kasie LeRoux, Elizabeth Acuff, Caroline Rankin, Julia Lowe, Karla Ramos, Mary Scott, Renaté McNulty, Alison Schreiner, Kacie Templeton Desjean, Christine DeVallee, Katie Casey, Tisha Chafer, Jaclyn Orlando and Donna Gilmore. But together, they’re proof that the right culture can create an atmosphere where top producers and new talent can support each other in changing the face of real estate.

Windermere Insurance Group, LLC

2 Palmetto Bay Rd., #200 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 341-0080 windinsgroup.com

When Windermere Insurance Group, the firm renowned for its next-level customer service in providing insurance solutions to high-net-worth individuals, wanted to set up an office on the South Carolina coast, there was no question that they wanted the best professionals to head up their office.

Naturally, they turned to Amy Kinasch and Wendy Harvey, two long-time insurance veterans who had built tremendous careers since starting around the same time in the late ’90s. The duo was well aware of Windermere’s sterling reputation, making it a perfect fit. “We jumped at the opportunity, and we have been growing ever since,” Kinasch said.

Just as Windermere had sought the best in opening their coastal office on Hilton Head Island, Kinasch and Harvey knew they needed to find true insurance professionals. Fortunately, they knew exactly where to look. Amy Sullivan joined the team in 2020, continuing a 27-year career in the family business of insurance.

Nikki Petitt

Seaglass Windowscapes

70 Pennington Dr., #4 Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 949-8444 seaglasswindowscapes.com

For years, Nikki Petitt had worked alongside her husband Morgan as the two of them built Savannah Blinds into the Coastal Empire’s top source for window treatments, awnings and storm protection. But when they decided to bring their empire across the Savannah River into the Lowcountry, Nikki decided it was time for her to branch out and build something on her own. “I’ve always believed in standing by your husband, but not behind him,” she said with a laugh.

“It’s what I thrive on,” she said, “providing exceptional service and being surrounded by strong women.”

Next came Christina Horton, who had worked under both Kinasch and Harvey in their previous position, and gladly put her 12 years of experience to work at Windermere. “I was lucky enough to mentor under them early on in my insurance career,” Horton said. “I’m so thankful to be back with them because their main focus is on customer service and truly exceeding our clients’ expectations.”

It’s a true sense of teamwork these women have found among each other, including claims manager Lily Nguyen, one they have forged into a thriving insurance practice.

“We handpicked these ladies because of their work ethic and their dedication to customer service,” Harvey said. “And because all our clients have all our business cards, they essentially get four of us for the price of one.”

With the full support of her husband, she opened Seaglass Windowscapes. The name is an echo of what makes this new venture Nikki’s own: Just as no two pieces of seaglass are alike, no two offerings are the same. Built around the same business model of offering high-quality window treatments, awnings, storm protection and more, Seaglass Windowscapes customizes each to create something unique for every project.

Inside, outside, and above each window, they offer endless possibilities for giving your home its own distinctive style. The name is a reflection of the marvelous customization that Seaglass can offer, but the business itself represents Nikki making her own unique mark on the industry.

“It was a proud moment when we opened,” she said. “You always want something you can call your own.”