Scottsdale Homeowner Magazine - Special Military Issue

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SPECIAL MILITARY ISSUE 2018

SALUTE TO SOLDIERS

IN REAL ESTATE

HOW THE AFFLUENT MANAGE HOME EQUITY

MARKET UPDATE:

REAL ESTATE AS AN INVESTMENT

7 SUCCESS HABITS

OF MILLIONAIRES

THE LIFE INSURANCE SOLUTION HEALTH & WEALTH


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WHO’S WHO

MARKET UPDATE

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NEW HOME MARKET UPDATE

CHICAGO TITLE POWER TEAM HOW THE AFFLUENT MANAGE

HOME EQUITY

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NEW HOME

THE LIFE INSURANCE

SOLUTION

MARKET UPDATE

HOW THE AFFLUENT MANAGE

HOME EQUITY

HEALTH & WEALTH

HOW THE AFFLUENT MANAGE

HOME EQUITY

7 HABITS OF MILLIONAIRES

SHOPPING MORTGAGES?

INTERIOR DESIGN

THE LIFE INSURANCE

SOLUTION

TRENDS & TIPS

THE INSIDE SCOOP ON THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK

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BEST OF THE WEST

HOW THE AFFLUENT MANAGE

HOME EQUITY

EDIE LLOYD

KELLIE FINE

JENNIFER BIALOWAS

DONNA CATHEY

Branch Manager Chandler

Escrow Officer Scottsdale

Escrow Officer Scottsdale

Arizona Escrow Operations Manager

Direct: 480.385.7221 elloyd@nextitle.com

Direct: 480.385.7216 kfine@nextitle.com

Direct: 480.385.7211 jbialowas@nextitle.com

Direct: 480.385.7213 dcathey@nextitle.com

480.385.7200

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C3 REAL ESTATE VISIONARIES & LOCAL REAL ESTATE LEADERS

HEALTH & WEALTH 7 HABITS OF MILLIONAIRES

INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS & TIPS

HOW THE AFFLUENT MANAGE

HOME EQUITY

NoCo MARKET UPDATE

HEALTH & WEALTH

SHOPPING MORTGAGES?

THE INSIDE SCOOP ON THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK

Publisher / CEO: Bryan Johnson Writers: Bryan Johnson, Christina Marchese, Holly Brauer Photography: Gary Helland Graphic Design: Dwight Getting - www.gettingraphic.net, Melanie White - American Title

7 HABITS OF MILLIONAIRES

INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS & TIPS

East ValleyHomeowner

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JANUARY 2018

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE #DealsinHeels

HOW THE AFFLUENT MANAGE

HOME EQUITY THE LIFE INSURANCE

SOLUTION

SHOPPING MORTGAGES?

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

NEW HOME MARKET UPDATE

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Copyright ©2018 East Valley Homeowner Magazine is published 12 issues yearly. All rights reserved. Reproduction of whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written consent from publisher is strictly prohibited. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of SHM. For information on advertising, editorial, or general inquires call 602-899-5967


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VANITY AFFAIR

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MARKET STREET AT DC RANCH



VF RECREATION I MODELS: AIMEE BURRELL

MICHELLE MIRANDA

JOSEPH LUCA

JENNIFER STAUSS

SUSAN VANHOOSER

HORY URIAS

ERICA SKIDMORE

JESSICA JOHNSON PAQUETTE-MAXWELL

MICHAEL KENT

JAYSEN MORSE

JAY JORDAN MONICA ALEXANDRA

APRIL CHADWICK



VF RECREATION II MODELS:

MARKET STREET AT DC RANCH

MICHAEL BANOVAC

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LAURA BRIGGS

JOHN SELMAN

JESSE SCHEEL

ANGELA HANLEY

MICHAEL O’MALLEY

CAMERON MARTZ

YVONNE MATEJKA

AMANDA MALCOLM

JERA BANKS

KIMBERLY CAMPBELL

STACEY VOSS



A Team

DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS

VF RECREATION III MODELS: LAURIE MARLOWE

MELODY ALLMON-PETERSON

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AMY ASHLEY

JOALICE OARD RYAN

TIFFANY CARLSON-RICHISON

PAM CARLSON

VERONICA MILLER

ANGELA HANLEY

RANDI MARTINSON Marketing Coordinator

602-909-0276 rmartinson@atsaaz.com

LAURIE MARLOWE Senior Account Manager

480-290-0948 lmarlowe@atsaaz.com

- OFFICES VALLEYWIDE -

JOSH GUZOWSKI Business Development

602-752-8789 jguzowski@atsaaz.com

SAMANTHA MALCOLM



WHO’S WHO

IN LUXURY REAL ESTATE?

Meet the Team Ricky Khamis National Business Development Manager | NMLS 173141 | AZ Lic 0911814 480.339.1565 | rick@amerifirst.us

MODELS:

the United States Army, a producing Branch Manager, and a mentor with a long track record of success. Ricky prides himself on leading by example by always putting his heart into everything he does. This is the very thing Ricky coaches when he is working a husband and a father of five, he has a family that looks up to him, and he wants to be sure that he is setting the best example.

ANGELA HANLEY

LEON GAVARTIN

MINDY PERFETTE

MICHELLE MIRANDA

MARNIE COOPER

BRIAN CULHANE

FRANK EYRAUD

AMANDA MALCOLM

Christopher Arbuckle

Team Captain | NMLS 946796 | AZ Lic 0925894

480.339.2003 | carbuckle@amerifirst.us Handles the team process flow. Chris ensures the accuracy of information, follow up and client care through every stage of the process. Chris reports directly to Ricky Khamis daily with metrics numbers including time frames for milestones and client satisfaction. Chris comes to Amerifirst with many years of management experience as well as a diverse background on customer service.

Jordon Partridge

Loan Partner | NMLS 1415917 | AZ Lic 0934087

480.374.7032 | jordon@amerifirst.us As a Loan Partner, Jordon works to provide a very high level of communication right out of the gate with every new client. He runs the application, pulls credit, checks debt to income, and then schedules an appointment with Ricky for their formal application. He will update the Referral Partners throughout the transaction, and is always a point of contact to get any questions answered. He also handles Ricky’s schedule, applications, client appointments, and much more.

APPLY ONLINE: www.tktlending.com

Ryan McDonough

RKT Production Manager | NMLS 203017 | AZ Lic 0915596

480.225.6699 | ryanm@amerifirst.us Ryan has over 15 year of experience as a Loan Processor, Originator, Solution Consultant and Production Manager. Ryan is the initial point of contact for The Khamis Team taking the application and qualifying them pre-contract. Ryan takes special care to make sure every client is fully approved prior to sending our agent partners a Pre-qualification Form.

Austin Khamis

Business Development Representative II | The King of Hustlers

480.374.0993 | akhamis@amerifirst.us In the Business Development Role II, Austin’s primary duty is to prospect leads, assist clients by connecting them with the right contact, and further developing consumer facing business.

khamisteam@amerifirst.us

AmeriFirst Financial, Inc. | NMLS 145368 | AZBK 0013635 | CA-DBO 4130901 • 1550 E. McKellips Road, Suite 117, Mesa, AZ 85203 AmeriFirst Financial, Inc., 1550 E. McKellips Road, Suite 117, Mesa, AZ 85203 (NMLS # 145368). 1-877-276-1974. Copyright 2018. All Rights Reserved. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates, and programs are subject to change without prior notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Not all productsare available in all states or for all loan amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply. AZ: Arizona Mortgage Banker License No. BK0013635; CA: Licensed by The Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act; CO: Regulated by the Division of Real Estate; WA: Washington Consumer Loan Company License No. CL-145368; New Jersey: Licensed by the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance. AmeriFirst Financial, Inc. is an independent mortgage lender and is not affiliated with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).


LUXURY AGENT SPOTLIGHT

AMANDA MALCOLM Tell us what got you into this crazy business? I feel like I was destined for this business and every road led to where I am now. My dad was an excavator and my mom was passionate about two things, family and interior design; I guess you could say this alone set the foundation for my career in real estate. My childhood home burnt down when I was 15 and my mom dreamed of coming west so we drove across the country from Illinois and settled in Cave Creek. When the real estate bubble burst I was in college and my family lost another home. Throughout college and several years after I spent 14 years in the hospitality industry planning events and weddings and realized three things: 1) I love people; I just want to know their story. 2) Your home is where your story unfolds- a place where you can truly be who you are. 3) I love a good challenge & thrive on finding the solution that ultimately puts a smile back on someone’s face. For me, Real Estates combines everything that drives me. What are you passionate about? My daughter, my family, People, travel, culture, interior design, philanthropy, food and wine. Do you have a mission statement? To approach everything with purpose, passion and possibility. What are your sales numbers for the last 12 months? 2017: 25 closed transactions, $23.151 million in sales. Avg. Sales price, $926,000 2018 YTD: 12 closed transactions, $14.192 million in sales. Avg. Sales price, 1.18 Million What areas do you specialize in? Paradise Valley, Biltmore, Arcadia, North Central & Scottsdale. Tell us about your family. I have a huge family. I am the second oldest of 8 children. Seven out of 8 of us live in Arizona. My extended family is just as large with a total of 29 cousins. Most everyone lives in Illinois and Missouri. As kids, life was never dull. We were constantly surrounded my smiles, laughter and a few fiascos. This is where my negotiating skills began. I’m still surrounded by children with two stepsons, a stepdaughter and a four year old daughter. When you think of the word “Successful”, who’s the first person who comes to mind and why? When I think of the word successful, no one specific person comes to mind. I’ve always struggled with trying to find the one person who personifies success. To me success is the person who gets up everyday with drive and a smile to lead their team (whoever they are) whether it be professionally, personally or both. Successful is the person who always sees the best in people, always tries to be kind, encourages others and leads their team every day. They do loose their cool sometimes and they have failed but they acknowledge, they apologize and they persevere. They are always the most humble in the room and they do what they are passionate about. They do what they love- no matter what it is and you can tell. You’ve met them. They are not everyone but they are everywhere and they can be any one of us. Do you have any mentors? Wendy Walker, the team leader and principal of Wendy Walker Fine Properties. She is not only my professional mentor but she is an incredible mother, and unbelievable business woman. She has the focus, drive, passion and integrity unlike anyone I have ever met. Who has been the most influential person in your career? Wendy Walker. What are some of your goals for 2018? Helping 30 people/families sell or buy their next home.

What is something you believe that other people think is insane? Mermaids. I mean, they may look like the mermaids in Harry Potter but I’m not convinced they don’t exist. What is the book {or books} you’ve given most as a gift? The Carrot Tracker. Do you do anything really cool for a closing gift for your clients? My gifts are always personal. I really like giving gifts! I really listen and observe. It’s actually something throughout the entire real estate process that I’m searching for. Sometimes I’m able to find out right away and sometimes it takes a bit. Finally when the client shares something I just know…in my head a light goes off and I make a mental note of that for closing. I like to give unique things, that are well thought out and heartfelt. What is your favorite documentary or movie? Legend of the Fall What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last 6 months? Three Books: The Alchemist, Un F*ck Yourself & The Big Truck that went by, how the world came to save Haiti and left behind a disaster. Do you have a personal or business coach? I have a business coach but I’m looking into a personal coach as well. What are your morning rituals? What does the first 60 minutes of your day look like? Think a happy thought, check my email ( I know…everyone says you shouldn’t do that but I feel like it gives me a head start to the day), get ½ ready, drink a full cup or water, have a slice of fruit, make coffee, finish getting ready (hopefully my daughter is still sleeping), get her breakfast, feed our pets and take her to school or hang with her until I head to the office about 8:45am. What obsessions do your explore on the evenings or weekends? Houses (I’m in Real Estate, I can’t help myself), interior design ideas, places I’d like to travel, cool kids stuff. What topic would you speak about if you were asked to give a talk on something outside of real estate? Parenthood; creating sanity (us moms are all in this together- somehow just listening to other moms and sharing experiences keeps me sane). Child abuse & Child Crisis Arizona. What is the best or most worthwhile investment you’ve made? Could be an investment of money, time, energy, or other resource. How did you decide to make this investment? Hiring an assistant Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? Life will pay whatever price you ask of it- Tony Robbins What is the worst advice you see or hear being dispensed in your world? For Adults: Mind your own business. I really think standing up for others and using our voice is one of the most powerful tools we possess. For Kids: Just ignore them. This never worked for me as a kid. I was teased more whenever I ignored it. My goal with my daughter is to give her age appropriate ways to respond so she is standing up for herself. We have already had practice doing this once. A couple little boys were teasing her at school and we rehearsed by practicing looking them in the eyes and saying firmly “ excuse me, I do not like when you touch my hair, so please stop.” She had to say it twice but they stopped and never did it again. I’m sure it will get more difficult as we are talking about preschoolers here but sometimes I think kids just don’t know what to say. I don’t blame them- sometimes as adults we don’t either. If someone told you they were thinking about becoming a real estate agent what advise would you give them? Are you sure? Just kidding. I’d say, no matter what, always do what is right, even if it means loosing the sale or a client. When you are a real estate professional you are ultimately your own company and how you operate your business will be parallel to your success and longevity. If you could have one gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say? You Do You.

What advice would you give your 20-, 25- or 30-year old self? And please place where you were at the time, and what you were doing? To my 20 year old self: If it’s meant to be, it will be, so baby just let it be (yep, like the song). I was working like crazy to put myself through college because debt scared me. I was also in a relationship with little commitment that I was worried about loosing for some reason. I would tell myself to take out a student loan, pick a destination and study aboard because life will be there when you get back or you’ll find who you are in the meantime. Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know? Most people think I’m very focused and serious but I have a silly side and I can be very sarcastic. Do you have any interesting hobbies or talents? I recently volunteered with a good friend of mine in Haiti assisting doctors and nurses in surgery. She has taken the trip 6 times and it has become my new hobby. We will return again in October. How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Or, do you have a favorite failure of yours? There always seems to be a valuable lesson that results from every failure. The tough part is when the lesson is not obvious or takes awhile to surface. The good news is, the reason will reveal itself when the time is right Then, the door is open for new opportunities and possibilities. What is something really weird or unsettling that happens to you on a regular basis? I always look at the clock when it’s the same time. It changes but for months it will be something random like 7:09. What have you changed your mind about in the last few years? Why? I rarely change my mind. Once I commit to something I see it through. However, about three years ago I made a conscious decision to do two things: 1) Accept and love people for who they are, to embrace all their personality traits even if I’m not particularly fond of them. 2) No matter where I am and how someone greets me or treats me to find a way to make them crack a smile. What is something that you knew for certain was true and later found out it was not? What do you believe is true, even though you can’t prove it? Life on another planet Last parting words? Almosts gets you nowhere.


THE HEAD SAYS YES. THE HEART SAYS DEFINITELY, YES.

FROM COMBAT BOOTS TO BUSINESS SUITS Success after Service: Honoring our Military ARTICLE BY HOLLY C. BRAUER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY MANDARICH

When the Drill Sergeants come kicking and screaming, yelling to get your sweet assets out of bed at 3am, you can’t just roll over and hit snooze. When you’re deployed overseas, you can’t just catch a quick flight home to see your family whenever you feel like it. These are the small things we easily take for granted each day. It takes a brave person with a “BIG” heart to voluntarily put his/her life on the line for the betterment of the American people...and they do it selflessly! Discipline, Integrity, and Honor are just a few of the core values instilled in our Armed Forces. There are many stories and reasons for serving that go untold, but their patriotic actions and selfless service to protect our way of life are never forgotten. From combat boots to business suits, we are recognizing some of our very own who have gone from service to success. Not only are they accomplished entrepreneurs in the real estate industry, but they are the true heroes who signed their name on the dotted line to defend our country. This 1% of Americans put on the uniform every day and left their families so we could enjoy time with ours. Their discipline and dedication to the military has bled into their civilian careers after they had hung up their uniforms. Every Soldier, Airmen, Sailor, and Marine has a story. There are no words that could show our gratitude and appreciation for their service. Therefore, we salute our Veterans.

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Holly C. Brauer • 602-300-1642 • holly.c.brauer1@gmail.com

Financial Advisor/ Wealth Manager/Real Estate Investor / World Elite Investments/Public Affairs Officer/AZ Air National Guard


Your Name: Company: Title: Phone: Email: Militar y Branch: Years of Ser vice:

Debra Allen Debra Allen & Associates REALTOR ® FOR 15 YEARS 480.797.4080 Debra@DebraAllen.com U.S. Army Recruiting Command 4 Years Active Duty, 4 Years Civilian Contractor

Your Name:

Ricky Khamis

Company:

AmeriFirst Financial, Inc.

Title:

National Business Development Manager

Phone:

480.339.1565

Email:

rick@amerifirst.us

Militar y Branch:

U.S. Army

Years of Ser vice:

4+ Years

Debra Allen’s Military Life Trained in cross-cultural communications and fluent in German and English, I specialize in residential and investment properties in the US, Panama, Mexico and selected cities in Europe. My access to professionals around the world has led me to establish long lasting intercontinental connections. To better serve a global client base, I have attended At Home with Diversity training and traveled to Madrid, Spain, where I successfully obtained my Transnational Referral Certification. My TRC designation allows me to make and receive compensated referrals worldwide. As Arizona emerges as a premier location for second home ownership among overseas buying markets, I am in step with the trend. I also hold the prestige Certified International Property Specialist designation and is serving as past and current 2018 Chairman of SEVRAR Global Business & Alliances Council. There have been so many lessons I learned from being a Soldier that have stayed with me ever since I strapped on my first set of boots in the United States Army. I was only 18 years old when I enlisted into the Army as a 63B, which is a light vehicle mechanic for duce and a halfs and Humvees. Growing up, I was more of a tomboy. I always enjoyed fixing things and I wanted to learn more about repairing cars at that time in my life. This led me to select this military occupational specialty. Being a soldier means learning to cope with living in rough conditions at times. When you’re out in the field you sleep on extremely hard ground, you don’t get to shower every day, the MRE’s you eat taste like crap, you’re outside in the heat or freezing cold, and you have to just make the best of it. In comparison to civilian life where you have air conditioners, comfy beds, whatever food you want to eat -- this is a very different lifestyle. When you get used to living in discomfort in the Army, suddenly all the things everyone complains about in the civilian world make you say, “Really?” I learned that persevering and doing what I had to do, while everyone else was whining, makes me stand out of the crowd for all the right reasons. Everyone goes through challenges at some point in their life. I had a few times where things were bad in my personal life and I was going through hell in the place I was stationed at. Those times of adversity give me enormous courage and strength for the challenges yet to come in real life and taught me how to go through life successfully for decades to come. In the Army, the constant adversity is like a hammer beating against the steel, making it harder and stronger. When the big hits from life come, you already have the emotional resilience to cope with them, so they aren’t such massive blows to you. Life isn’t meant to be perfect, and the more you try to run away from difficult situations, the worse it will be when you face true hardship in life. Look at adversity as a necessary part of life and work to focus on the positive, even in the most negative situations you are facing. This lesson has helped me tremendously in my real estate career to negotiate and overcome challenges my clients were facing. Everyday life and moving up in the world can be tough. You try something, you fail. Maybe you try again. After a few times, though, many people give up and stay in a rut because it’s easier. Failure has become enough of a pattern that people get discouraged and don’t want to put themselves out there anymore. But in my opinion, gratitude is one of the biggest secrets I have learned in the Army. Tony Robbins says, “If you want to change your life, change your thinking from expectation to appreciation.” People don’t like other entitled people, because all they do is whine and have a huge chip on their shoulder. The Army showed me quickly I have nowhere to go but home with a chip on my shoulder. When you have to sleep on the ground, eat terrible food, and work in temperatures that would have everyone else running to cool off in the air conditioning, you learn to really appreciate the comforts of life. When you’ve had to drink water from a canteen hot enough that you could bathe in it, you thank the universe when you get something ice cold. When you learn to be grateful and count your blessings daily, you are happy and positive, and people want to be around you. Every time you’re about to complain about something, stop yourself and take a moment to reflect, it’s not easy to do. I catch myself complaining at times, only to remind myself life could be so much worse. By the time you get out of the Army, you feel that there isn’t much you can’t do. The Army gives you self-confidence to conquer almost anything in life. I challenge myself all the time and learn as many different skills as I can, especially when I realize I can do anything that I set my mind to. There was no such thing as “I can’t do this.” You just had to work your way through it. My biggest takeaways from the Army are: Keep your word. If you say you’ll do something for someone, do it. Trust takes a long time to earn and can be dashed in a heartbeat. Never shy away from a challenge. Even if it seems like you’re biting off more than you can chew, just chew like crazy. If you need help, ASK someone. Just don’t say no to the challenge because you’re scared. ARMY STRONG!!!

Ricky Khamis’s Military Life May 1991, prior to graduating from Dobson High School in Mesa, AZ, I was sitting watching the news with my uncle, Ricky Nunnally, my namesake. Uncle Rick, a Vietnam war veteran with the 7th Infantry Division, was my idol growing up. I was the only one that he talked about his time in Vietnam with, and with every story I hung onto every word intrigued and awe struck. He was never glamorizing it; however, I didn’t see it that way. As we sat there watching the Gulf War, I said, “Uncle Rick, I am going to join the Army and go fight.” I don’t think he actually believed me, but the next day I went down to the recruiting station. I ended up scoring really well on the ASVAB so I had a list of choices for jobs and duty stations. I remember my recruiter looking at me saying, “Young man, you are being offered a Dental Assistant position, and if you get out you will have learned a skill set that will set you up for life.” I looked at him and said, “No offense Sir, but I am not signed up to clean teeth.” That’s when I saw AIRBORNE INFANTRY, 82nd Airborne Division 11B. I said, “Sir, I want this job.” He looked at me like I was nuts and off I went. I left 5 months later, October 1991, and spent the next 4 years with the 82nd as a SAW Gunner with 3/505th Infantry Regiment, Ft Bragg, Nor th Carolina. I can tell you that having served where I did, and accomplishing what I accomplished during my tour literally changed the course of my life. Things like Discipline, Honor, Integrity, Loyalty, Dedication, Determination, and Perseverance, to name a few character traits instilled in me. With having now been in business for almost 20 years all of those traits are what have kept me in the top 1% of Originators, and top producing branch managers of a large mor tgage company. When I meet with clients, it’s not about how I am benefiting, never has been, it is about changing lives and helping people secure a little bit better financial security while helping a family go from a house to a home.


Your Name: Company: Title: Phone: Email: Militar y Branch: Years of Ser vice:

Erica Skidmore The Laughton Team - My Home Group REALTOR ® FOR 15 YEARS 623.217.0803 Erica@LaughtonTeam.com / Erica.MyPhoenixHomeSearch.com U.S. Navy 5 Years

Your Name: Company: Title: Phone: Email: Militar y Branch: Years of Ser vice:

Lance Watson Realty Executives REALTOR ® 480.773.4715 LanceWatson@RealtyExecutives.com U.S. Air Force 7+ Years

Lance Watson’s Military Life Erica Skidmore ‘s Military Life At the age of 17, I began my journey to join the United States Navy. Going to college was my plan, however I wanted to ser ve my countr y as well - together. It also was a must for me as when I am told I cannot do something (at that time my father - worried for me)...I will and do it 200%! On my 18th bir thday (and needing a waiver as the required weight minimum was 100lbs and at the time 5 ft tall and 98lbs), I said goodbye to my parents, family and friends. Skipping onto a plane going to camp in Chicago, IL...sounds fun, right? The difference was it was bootcamp and boots along with ver y heavy uniforms were required in 100 degree temps. After 8 weeks, I graduated with 20lbs of muscle and grew 3 inches. Not sure what was in the food, but to this day, I wished I had eaten more to be a bit taller! From Chicago, I graduated school as a Cr yptologic Technician of Communications. With this job, I held a Top Secret Security Clearance and had the job where it was “If I told you, I’d have to kill you” kind of one. Being stationed in Memphis, TN, then Pensacola, FL, and ending my 5 years in San Diego, CA. Ser ving my countr y was such an honor and it has helped me in so many ways to be the strong, independent, hardworking and determined mother to three children, and as a Realtor. The skills learned while ser ving are used daily as I honor my friends, family, co-workers and clients while helping them find or sell their homes in the countr y I love and am so honored to have ser ved. This is my moto I provide to all of my clients as it is my goal to help them save 1. Time 2. Stress and 3. Money. “As your personal real estate representative, I will work with you to understand your goals and work diligently on your behalf to ensure you get the best possible outcome. Buying, selling or renting, each transaction is unique and requires a personalized approach! Par tner with me and let my experienced team and my personal approach work for you”. - Erica Skidmore flies flys

For as long as I can remember, militar y life is all I knew. Ever y male on both sides of my family has ser ved in the militar y tracing back three generations with the most inspirational being my dad. My father was a Combat Search and Rescue helicopter pilot and my hero who ser ved 20 years before retiring from the Air Force. All my life I have wanted to be just like him, so I naturally followed in his footsteps earning my commission through the United States Air Force Academy just as he did. My first duty station took me to nor thern California where I worked as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer at Beale AFB on the unique U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane. During that time, I deployed twice with the highlight being my deployment to Al Dhafra, Air Base in the UAE to conduct High Altitude Intelligence, Sur veillance, and Reconnaissance missions in suppor t of Operation Iraqi Freedom. My next duty station was clear across the countr y at Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts. I worked here as a Life Cycle Logistician in the acquisitions field suppor ting my assigned program management team. From here I deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, as a Foreign Militar y Sales Officer responsible for the procurement and management of all guns and ammunition purchased for the Afghan National Army and Police forces. The militar y gave me the oppor tunity to develop as a leader while traveling the world alongside some of the most amazing people I’ve ever known. It was an honor to ser ve my countr y, but after seven years of ser vice my time in uniform came to an end for me to peruse a new endeavor. Today, I use the same hard work and discipline instilled in me during my time in the militar y to provide unmatched ser vice and dedication to my clients as their Realtor.


Your Name: Company: Title: Phone: Email: Militar y Branch: Years of Ser vice:

Kelli Lumsden Mealey Howe Realty REALTOR ® 480.710.9399 kelli@howerealtygroup.com U.S. Air Force 4 Years

Your Name: Company: Title: Phone: Email: Militar y Branch: Years of Ser vice:

Dave Rosenfeld RE/MAX Alliance Group Agent Extraordinaire 480.376.5545 Dave@RosenfeldRealtyAZ.com U.S. Army 22 Years

Dave Rosenfeld’s Military Life

Kelli Lumsden Mealey‘s Military Life Little did I know where my life would be headed in 1988. I was a 21-year-old woman looking for a purpose. With an incredible passion, the desire to always ser ve others and motivation and drive to match, it just made sense that the militar y would fill all of my attributes.

Originally from Maryland, I joined the Army in 1982 and served as a Tank Crewman and then Commander on three separate Armor platforms; the M-60A3, the M-1 and the M551-A1 (Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle). I finished my career at FT Knox, KY, the birthplace of

I was trained as a Pharmacy Technician to Combat Medic in the United States Air Force. I graduated second in my class with a division known to be one of the hardest militar y medical trainings in the Air Force. I gave it 150% because if I was committing, I was all in.

all Armor and Cavalry since WWI. After a two-year tour with the 3rd

I was stationed in Tampa, Florida, at MacDill Air Force Base, which is statistically the largest per capita of retired militar y. Therefore, the volume of prescriptions and medical needs was the largest in the countr y, which meant we had to ser ve well. I was honored to ser ve my countr y for four years, and was called to deploy to The Gulf War Deser t Storm. However, with the miracle of having found out I was pregnant with my first child I did not have to go. So, I stayed at MacDill Air Force Base to ser ve with my fellow comrades. I was then honorably discharged at the end of my term in 1992.

than 500 parachute jumps out of fixed wing, rotary wing and even a balloon or two. After serving as an

I have since utilized and transposed my gifts and talents from the USAF to my civilian career in Real Estate. Having to pay attention to the medications for accuracy with people’s lives in my hands has allowed me the ability and oppor tunity for my clients in the civilian world to experience an educated and pleasant process ensuring accuracy for the entire transaction. I have been honored to be one of the top 1% producers over the past 4 years with over $10 million in volume in just 2017.

there is no greater aspiration for those living in America than home ownership; literally owning a piece

Along with my attention to detail and organizational skills, my compassion for others goes above and beyond, due to the unfor tunate personal experience of the loss of my own home when the Arizona market declined. I have since recovered & have acquired incredible knowledge, wisdom and skills, and have grown even more passionate to ensure that I walk alongside my clients throughout the entire process. As I did for my countr y, I go above and beyond for ever y one of my clients no matter what the situation, almost putting my life on the line. It was an honor to ser ve my countr y and just as much an honor to ser ve my clients.

I love talking about “State 48” and the Valley of

Armored Division in then West Germany, I went to “Jump School” and was stationed at Ft Bragg, NC, with the storied 82nd Airborne Division and went on to make more Instructor at the Non-Commissioned Officer’s Academy, I went on to Recruiting Duty and finished my career as the Chief of Plans and Doctrine at the Headquarters’ of the Army Recruiting Command. After serving in the United States Army and another dozen years working in the Defense / Federal industry, my wife and I made the choice of getting back to helping others achieve their dreams. I believe of our Nation, so Real Estate was a natural fit. As an avid outdoorsman who loves hiking our Arizona mountains, riding a road bicycle, remodeling the home and landscape, and of course cooking and enjoying a glass of wine or bourbon, the Sun. I also have an uncanny ability to make everyone I speak with feel at ease. I work with both buyers and sellers in residential real estate and focus on assisting my clients in achieving their goals. I also have a passion for working with other Veteran’s and on Veteran issues.


Your Name: Company: Title: Phone: Email: Militar y Branch: Years of Ser vice:

Isaiah Melendez AZ and Associates Real Estate Group Personal and Corporate Consultant 623.692.7820 isaiah@propertyplaceco.com U.S. Army 8 Years

Isaiah Melendez’s Military Life As a kid I’ve always wanted to do three-things. One was a professional boxer, two was join the Army, three was to own my own business. Well, I got to do two out of the three at least! Lol. I joined because I always looked at ser ving in the militar y as a sense of gratitude for our countr y I was for tunate to live in. If you think about how many people are in the world, not ever yone can say that they were born in a place as great as ours. So, for that, I am thankful. From the age of four, I knew I was created to lead, so I thought what better way to learn how to lead than to follow and experience it in the Army. I was 100% correct! Joining the Army really opened up my eyes to the essence of how different this nation is by having the oppor tunity to lead hundreds of men and women from all over the countr y and even the world. At the end, I understood that we’re all essentially the same with small distinctions that seem bigger than what they are. I’ve learned a lot about what true leadership is; what it means when our lives are actually on the line, and at the end of the day there really is no difference with what we go through day to day in our civilian lives. Yeah, we may not be getting shot at or blown up, but ever y day is a battle and a war we fight within. A war within ourselves to be the greater you, a war to expand your business, a war to create a healthier lifestyle that ser ves you, and a war to be better spouses and parents. A lot of people won’t want to talk about that, but that’s the reality of the life we live. I ser ved for eight years in the Army, five of which were in 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and three of which were 1st Infantr y Division at For t Riley, Kansas. I ser ved in three combat tours; two tours to Iraq, one to Afghanistan, and was one of the youngest Staff Sergeant’s at the age of 21, and youngest leader at the Army Leadership Academy.

Your Name: Company: Title: Phone: Email: Militar y Branch: Years of Ser vice:

Robert Dauk AZ and Associates Real Estate Group REALTOR ® 602.540.9584 rwdauk@gmail.com USMC 4 Years

Robert Dauk’s Military Life: Why I joined The United States Marines I was just out of High School and working at a job I didn’t like much, and was headed for trouble. Drinking way too much and street racing cars. One of my best buddies and I were at a house party and he says, “Hey man, I am going to talk to the Marine recruiter tomorrow, you want to come along?” I said I would go. We get into the office and here stands this poster board Marine 6’2” perfect uniform and no shit attitude. I am shorter than average and at the time (1989), I had grown my hair to my shoulders. SSGT Bennet looks at me and said what do you want? After further discussion it was decided that my buddy and I would take an initial fitness test the next morning. They had the entire delayed entry program there, and SSGT Bennet challenged me, and said if I could beat out everyone on the run then he would listen to what I wanted. Just so happens I wrestled in High School and physical fitness was like recess for me. I was the smallest guy out there with the biggest chip on my shoulder, so naturally I won. That’s how I ended up enlisting. I spent four years in 3 Battalion 11th Marines, an Artillery unit stationed in 29 Palms, CA. Two weeks after reporting to my duty station we were put on alert and ultimately sent to Saudi Arabia at the start of The Gulf War. We spent a total of 9 months in the region throughout the Gulf War. We were sent home for a few months then sent back for training. I would deploy once more to Okinawa, Japan, before completing my four years of service. My military service taught me a number of good habits that transfer into the civilian world. Work ethic and attention to detail. When you accept any job do that job to the best of your ability and do everything with honor and integrity! I run my business holding myself and team in the highest standards of integrity. Everyone we work with can expect this level of integrity.



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Brandon Bialkowski

Eric Brossart

Christopher Gonzalez

Zach Monroy

In this edition of Dapper, Mr. Dapper (Brian Peitz) has been keeping his eye on the next generation. Brian has sought Dapper men in their 20’s who have a certain class and style in the real estate space. These young gentlemen are making names for themselves by creating a 5-star client experience. Brian Peitz

DAPPER a new generation •

While providing top-notch service, they passionately follow through with every detail to perfection. Being Dapper is a concept that is just part of their overall strategy of excellence.

Austin Zaback

Josh Zuniga Mr. Dapper, Brian Peitz ◆ “Little Guy...BIG RESULTS!” ◆ 602-481-0243 ◆ Brian.Peitz@ctt.com


BRIAN CULHANE

THE CULHANE GROUP @ EXP REALTY

Who has been the most influential person in your career? Glenn Sanford - Chairman of Exp World Holdings Inc. - hands down. What are some of your goals for 2018? Invest in great people, great companies and great ideas & buy properties, finish a Spartan tri-fecta and lose another 10 lbs. What is something you believe that other people think is insane? Cold water cures and Ancient Astronaut theories. What is the book {or books} you’ve given most as a gift? What Doesn’t Kill Us - Scott Carney, Sun Tzu ‘The Art Of War For Managers’ & Golf In The Kingdom - Michael Murphy Do you do anything really cool for a closing gift for your clients? Ancient Artifact art or spa days. Doesn’t Kill Us - Scott Carney, Sun Tzu ‘The Art Of War For Managers’ & Golf In The Kingdom - Michael Murphy Do you do anything really cool for a closing gift for your clients? Ancient Artifact art or spa days. What is your favorite documentary or movie? Rise Of The Suffer Fest (Documentary) & Caddyshack (Comedy) & Apocalypse Now (Action) What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last 6 months? Opera singer throat spray, cause I talk so much. Do you have a personal or business coach? I have a few - Glenn Sanford, Rob Flick, Darren Jacklin, Hoss Pratt,Tony Jeary - good business people have one coach, great business people have multiple coaches.

Tell us what got you in to this crazy business? I have always been in Real Estate in one capacity or another, Architechtural Due Diligence Sales, Commercial Real Estate Trade Mag Ad Sales, and then after 29 winters in Chicago, I threw all my clothes in a duffle bag, hitched a ride with a buddy and headed out West. I quickly realized i wanted to stay here especially after meeting my future wife Kristi and so i went to Real Estate school (while waiting tables) and got my AZ Real Estate license. I interviewed with many Commercial outfits, but also responded to a Craigslist ad for a Residential Team Leader and it ended up being Glenn Sanford (Future Founder of EXP Realty). Glenn was my coach and mentor and rain maker and taught me how to be a Real Estate Entreprenuer and how to be a team and business builder and we ultimately founded EXP Realty about 4 years later. What are you passionate about? My family, helping others, health, wellness, freedom, classic philosophy, american politics, sports and ancient mysteries. Do you have a mission statement? Helping others is a lifes work and surround yourself with people better than you. What are your sales numbers for the last 12 months? Since I am a National Re-Organization Builder thats hard to say, I have an international

group that is over 1000 people in 30 states and Canada (over 10% of EXP’s agent base personally). I also get stock from my company. So I am probably worth over 8 figures now because of this company and because of Real Estate in less than 14 years in the biz. Real Estate has been berry berry good to me. What area’s do you specialize in? Closing deals, helping agents build careers and jumping in cold water. Tell us about your family. My amazing and beautiful wife Kristi and I have 3 great kids: 2 boys and a little girl. My wife and I run Culhane Group and our kids run the house. When you think of the word “Successful”, who’s the first person who comes to mind and why? Leonard Lavin - Billionaire Owner of Alberto Culver - the utimate turn around guy and the original shark tank investor. Author of Winners Make It Happen and my mom’s former boss. Do you have any mentors? My father, Bob Valvano (college basketball coach) Bob Eckland (first CEO in RE - Eckland Consultants), Gail Warren (first sales mentor - Real Estate Forum Magazine), Glenn Sanford (founder of EXP) and Rob Flick & Tony Jeary (two of the worlds best organization builders).

What are your morning rituals? What does the first 60 minutes of your day look like? Coffee, 20 mins of WIM HOF method breathing techniques and cold plunge for at least 2 mins up to my neck. Or trail running on run days.

If someone told you they were thinking about becoming a real estate agent what advise would you give them? Surround yourself with top producers and emulate them, ask lots of questions and write out goals, have a plan and get after it, cause nobody else is going to do it for you. If you could have one gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say? An un-examined life is not worth living - Socrates. What advice would you give your 20-, 25- or 30-year old self? And please place where you were at the time, and what you were doing? When I was waiting tables and caddying in my late 20’s to not give up, everything will eventually work out if you keep working hard. Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know? I never learned cursive. Do you have any interesting hobbies or talents? I can still dunk a basketball after 2 hip surgeries and an implant, I’m amazing at all video games and primal weapons training. How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Or, do you have a favorite failure of yours? Breaking my hip and losing my father in same year was devastating, but it opened my eyes up to getting healthier, taking nothing for granted and the power and importance of passive sustainable income. What is something really weird or unsettling that happens to you on a regular basis? If it becomes regular, it stops becoming unsettling and I adapt quickly. What have you changed your mind about in the last few years? Why? I change my mind hour to hour, always re-examining and self evaluating. What is something that you knew for certain was true and later found out it was not? I know i know nothing - Buddah.

What obsessions do your explore on the evenings or weekends? I’m obsessed with finding quiet time away from my phone’

What do you believe is true, even though you can’t prove it? Life on this planet did not start on this planet.

What topic would you speak about if you were asked to give a talk on something outside of real estate? How to find pain freedom, financial freedom and time freedom, thermo-genisis and adrenaline management and 80’s pop culture.

Last parting words? Say it out loud, say it with confidence, work towards it and it’s already done.

What is the best or most worthwhile investment you’ve made? Moving to Arizona, my family, my current house, and my time spent building EXP. Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? The student has to seek out the master and coffee is for closers. What is the worst advice you see or hear being dispensed in your world? Far too many coaches in the business realm think that they can just string together a bunch of power word salad and think that will motivate and educate struggling professionals and they charge them for it. Most people don’t understand the principals of wealth building and even fewer will ever implement them.

BRIAN CULHANE CO-FOUNDER EXP REALTY

480.650.7712 [PHONE] 6 0 2 . 5 1 3 . 7 3 6 6 [ FA X ] BRIAN@EXPREALTY.COM


Melissa began her Real Estate career in 2011. She worked in the Commercial Property Management division of CBRE for 5 years. While she enjoyed her time in commercial real estate, she ultimately knew she needed to make the switch to the residential sector. Early 2016 Melissa started working as the Listing Coordinator for one of the top producing Real Estate teams within RE/MAX, where she remained for 2 years. In Fall of 2017, she decided to leave her administrative role and follow her passion for helping people. She jumped right in to full time Realtor where she began building relationships in her community, by helping her clients buy, sell, and invest in the Arizona Real Estate Market. Without hesitation she took an amazing opportunity and joined the multi-million dollar producing team, The Heidi Majidi Group at RE/MAX Fine Properties. With Melissa’s wealth of knowledge and with her wide range of experience she offers nothing less than pure dedication to her clients, throughout every real estate transaction. Melissa’s passion about building deep relationships with every client certainly sets her apart. She listens to client’s needs and prides herself on going the extra mile every time. Her positive and bubbly personality on top of her unmatched knowledge in this industry gives her clients nothing short of a 5-star experience. When you work with Melissa, you

Real Estate Award Winners Arizona’s Real Estate Agent, Christy Hijar, is known for providing comprehensive, useful information and resources that is designed to assist you in buying or selling your home. Christy is a native of Arizona knowing much of the valley, including builders and neighborhoods, which gives her an upper hand in today’s ever-changing market. Christy is “Your Realtor For Life!” and is here to help!

RISING STAR AWARD WINNER

Christy Hijar REALTOR®

will always be her top priority. Melissa Gasper lives in North Phoenix with her husband and son. She enjoys being outdoors and volunteering at her son’s school. Having lived in Arizona since the age of 3 and being a ASU Alumni, she knows the Metro Phoenix area like the back of her hand. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

Melissa Gasper REAL ESTATE AGENT

480.510.9650 mgasper@fineprop.com www.unicornrealtor.com

602.751.3009 christy@myhomegroup.com www.zonieliving.com “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

“When Values Are Clear, Decisions Are Easy.” - Roy Disney


As the Vice President of Sales for The Jason Mitchell Group, Leon Gavartin leads one of the Top 5 Real Estate Teams in the United States. During the past decade, he has been responsible for and involved with over $1 billion in residential real estate sales amongst him and his team, earning him accolades including Top Producer and Salesperson of the Year for 2017.

About Debra Allen:

Leon is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of real estate experience and 30 years experience in businessoperations, product and market development, marketing, management and sales. He is a graduate of Northwood University with a double major in Management and Marketing and has held various positions including CEO, President and COO for various companies domestically as well as internationally.

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” - Thomas Edison

Trained in cross-cultural communications, fluent in German and English. Debra specializes in residential and investment properties in the U.S., Panama, Mexico and selected cities in Europe. Her access to professionals around the world has led Debra to establish long lasting intercontinental connections. To better serve a global client base, Debra has attended At Home with Diversity training and traveled to Madrid, Spain where she successfully obtained her Transnational Referral Certification. Her TRC designation allows Debra to make and receive compensated referrals worldwide. As Arizona emerges as a premier location for second home ownership among overseas buying markets, Debra is in step with the trend. She also holds the prestige Certified International Property Specialist designation and is serving as past and Current 2018 Chairman of SEVRAR Global Business & Alliances Council. What brought you to the U.S? I was 18 years old and decided to see the world. Destiny lead me to America. Both my parents left home very young, they traveled the world before they settled down in Germany. I grew up traveling the world with them. Growing up I always wanted to live somewhere else. What values are most important for you to develop in your children? That Family is important to us, we have to always be there for each other. Hard work, honesty, a giving heart and a strong faith with God. Never quit in life! Every conversation or connection we have in life should be about growth, betterment, exploration, and the expansion of our soul. I pray that I lead my children by example and that they will teach their kids the same. My parents were the best role models to me. My father was one of the hardest working men I know and my mother one of the most loving person I knew, and I passed that on to my kids. Do you have any interesting hobbies or talents? My interest are mostly around culture and arts. I love traveling, emerging myself in other cultures, dancing and I love to express myself in paintings. I am also quite crafty, I have woodworked, crochet and even tried pottery before. I Volunteer at many organization and I have a special heart for Veterans and children. I appreciate classic cars and my dream is to sail a sailboat around the Mediterranean Sea one day. What advice would you give young people in their 20? I would tell them that happiness is only found within, that smiles are contagious, and kindness is FREE. Everyone journey is different, live your authentic life and don’t try to live someone’s life. Remember that you only fail in life if you quit, so don’t quit on yourself! Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know. I love to dance, I was a ballerina growing up. I am bold, spontaneous and very competitive. I was a Tom boy growing up. It took me all the way to my 20’s to learn how to love myself. I used to get beat up at school almost everyday by the same girl in high school in Germany. Now I eat chocolate when my heart wants it and kale salad when my body needs it. I have learned to embrace all sides of who I am becoming.

MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

Leon Gavartin VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

602.329.1918

lgavartin@mitchellgroupaz.com

If someone told you they were thinking about becoming a real estate agent what advice would you give them? The number one advice that I would give to new agents is: “forget about the sale and start caring about people.” People want to deal with people who can genuinely show that they care about them. We live in a busy world and we tend to streamline a lot of tasks to become more efficient. Staying in touch with your clients cannot be replaced even by the best technological tools or by another individual. If you want that client to be loyal and supportive to you, you will need to find the time to genuinely care about them first. Prospecting is hard but fundamental to building a solid foundation for your career. Get up, have a set schedule, stay consistent and don’t give up. Treat your real estate career like a business. Worry as much about relationships with fellow Realtors as you worry about relationships with clients. Be the Realtor other Realtors want to work with. It makes a big difference. If you are a great problem solver, a knowledgeable professional and you can keep it together when the going gets tough, because it will, you will be rewarded with devotion, adoration and so much happiness because you are helping people purchase THE most expensive item they will ever buy, and you will change their lives forever. As a real estate agent today, you are an entrepreneur. You wear a lot of the hats: CEO, marketer, lead generator, education director, etc. Start learning right away about business and you’ll do well. If I could give myself one tip it would be not to listen to everything you’re told. Take chances, don’t be afraid to be different or make mistakes, because failure is not only the best way to learn, but each failure will bring you one step closer to success. Debra is a consummate professional. She consistently provides exceptional service to her personal clientele as well as offers her leadership in supporting her passion for her community as well as the real estate industry overall. In my opinion this award is tailor- made for Debra. I congratulate her and am so very proud to have her as a member of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices family. “Mark Stark, CEO”

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT LEADER AWARD WINNER

Debra Allen REALTOR®

480.797.4080 “Create relationships, success will follow.”

Debra@DebraAllen.com www.DebraAllen.com


Kathy is a top producer in real estate year in and year out, she is consistently ranked in the top 1% of real estate agents in Maricopa County. Kathy is the recipient of the 2016 Top 16 Woman in Realty Award, from the Women’s Council of REALTORS® and was honored with the Sotheby’s 2017 Lyon’s Elite Top 1% Award. Her background in corporate sales and marketing at Johnson & Johnson provides a wealth of innovative ideas for marketing and selling properties. She lived in Mexico, speaks Spanish, and has international real estate experience.

Real Estate Team of the Year BVO LUXURY GROUP

Her extraordinary level of integrity builds trust among her clients, business associates, and other REALTORS® that establishes a great atmosphere for successful transactions. Kathy’s personal philosophy in real estate comes down to being private, professional, and persistent and that has clearly paid off in her success in this industry. On a personal note… Kathy and her husband, Greg, have three children who attended Notre Dame Preparatory School. Their son and oldest daughter have graduated from Texas Christian University, and their youngest daughter graduated from Southern Methodist University. Kathy is involved in the soccer community, Notre Dame Preparatory School, VCorp board for Russ Lyon, and contributes to numerous charitable organizations.

POSITIVELY DISRUPTIVE. BVO Luxury Group’s chief assets are information, interactions & experience . Together, they are also the source of the value we create for our clients.

HUMMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

Kathy Reisdorf REALTOR®

480.797.4977 kathy.reisdorf@russlyon.com www.RMPrealtors.com

Our team offers a collaborative approach to real estate for buyers and sellers. Our ability to leverage the experience & expertise of more than one real estate brain is integral to the competitive advantage we bring to a buy or sell transaction by simply having more resources to tap, more people, more ideas, and more perspectives. You and every other consumer have unique personal preferences. We are deeply respectful of this. Our collaborative process is an all access pass to the depth of experience and cumulative real estate wisdom we have. You get to benefit from our diversity and expertise in the various Scottsdale hyperlocal markets as well as our technical savvy. The meteoric rise of social media & technology has had a significant impact on traditional real estate marketing, and some agents may be better at it than others. We are confident in our execution and have full-time marketing strategists, technologists, graphic designers on staff. Our team shares each other’s strengths and fortifies each other’s weaknesses. We fulfilled 120+ requests in 2016. Everything is catered to our clients’ preferred level of assistance and tailored to their personal requirements. We’re ready to fulfill yours.

www.bvoluxury.com


Real Estate Award Winners

A native of Arizona, Brenda Fouts was raised by two wonderful parents who taught her to respect others, be honest and treat everyone fairly. She has worked for over three decades at West USA Realty, Arizona’s largest family-owned realty business. Today Brenda is a fulltime agent and short sales specialist who enjoys being able to help families sell their home and help buyers find their dream home. She has become a Top 10 producer as well as a coach to other Realtors, in addition to running the inbound sales department at the company’s Surprise office with a team of 18 amazing men and women. As a member of the Board of the charitable umbrella of West USA Realty – West USA Cares – she has also been very active with charities. In 2016, Brenda was awarded the Ellen Olive Community Leadership Award in recognition of her outstanding service and volunteerism to the communities of the West Valley. Brenda has built her success on sincere care for her customers and her community. Working with her team of dedicated professionals, she strives always to provide all clients with a superior level of customer service. Selling or buying a home takes time, patience and an understanding of the process, which she has gained through education and experience. What she loves most about being a REALTOR® is establishing a foundation of trust and building a relationship that continues far beyond the real estate transaction. The heartbeat of her life and her career is her family. Brenda has been blessed to have the support of her Loving husband of 30 years, their two amazing children. Continually challenging herself to be well-educated and well rounded in every aspect of life, four words encapsulate her philosophy: Knowledge – Integrity – Commitment – Passion! -- and she applies them to all she does. Brenda is honored and humbled to be nominated for Woman of the Year 2018 and she thanks everyone who voted. She extends special thanks to Bryan Johnson for putting on the amazing event to announce the winners and for his hard work on this magazine.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

Brenda Fouts

REALTOR®

BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

602.818.9670 brenda@westusa.com AzHomesByBrenda.com


Highly experienced, determined and client-focused, Ed and Tracy Oliva have taken theArizona real estate market by storm. They are originally from Chicago, and moved to Arizona in 1995. Ed has been in the real estate business since 1976, while Tracy has been in itsince 1989. The two married in 2003, and have been unstoppable ever since. “This is all we’ve known, it’s been our whole life focus,” Tracy explains With that intense focus comes a strong commitment to deliver superior service. They are extremely passionate about what they do, and want each and every client to feel taken care of. The Oliva’s manage five different offices in the state, including one in Fountain Hills, Payson, Heber-Overgaard, Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside and Snowflake-Taylor. With their slogan reading, “Mountain to Valley Connection,” they help clients find homes all over the state. And just as Ed and Tracy are committed to excellence, so too are their agents. “We’re always looking for quality people to become a part of our dynamic team.” Working with all types of buyers and sellers, one thing that sets them apart in this industry is their ability to communicate effectively. “We always answer our telephones, even when it’s late at night or a weekend,” they say. They answer questions before their client asks them, and they stay on top of any updates or changes in the transaction. As the “Arizona Deal Makers,” they are devoted to making deals happen. When it comes time to negotiate, they work hard to get their clients the best deal and close in a timely manner. Having lived in Arizona for years, they make it a point to give back to the community in any way they can. When they are not working, they are spending time with their family. Ed and Tracy have several grandchildren that they love to see as often as possible. They also visit and work in Chicago when they get the chance. Ed and Tracy have withstood the test of time; they have seen the market grow quickly and they’ve seen it crash. Through it all, they’ve remained passionate about their work and their love of people has only continued to grow. “It is all about bringing happiness to other people’s lives. It’s very personal and meaningful for us to help others attain that dream of home ownership and to help them with all of their real estate needs.”

FAMILY TEAM OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

Ed & Tracy Oliva REALTORS®

As the Director of Operation at West USA Realty, I am honored and privileged to be working at one of the largest producing brokerages in the nation. Our real estate family of over 2500 agents works hard to assist their clients with their all their real estate needs. We at the brokerage, love coming to work every day to serve and support our agents. I have spent the last six years partnering hand-in-hand with not only our agents, but also our staff, to ensure that we successfully continue to provide the service and support on the founding philosophy of the company’s foundation. West USA Realty is humbled to have won Brokerage of the Year for the second year in a row! West USA Realty continues to be the best agent-centric real estate company!

WEST USA BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR - AWARD BEING ACCEPTED BY NICK

Nick Weitekamp DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

480.980.3032

Olivateam@westusa.com www.blog.olivateamauthor.com Enough Said, CALL ED

602.942.4200 nick@westusa.com www.westusaflex.com

“Work Hard and Be Nice to People.” - Anthony Burrill


Confident, Knowledgeable, Fair, and Passionate – these are the words that describe Michael Hofstetter. This Real Estate Broker truly cares about the success of all REALTOR®’S. He delivers what it takes for sales associates to achieve record-breaking production. Michael has over 24 years of experience working in the real estate industry in Arizona for the last 14 years Michael has been involved in the management of real estate companies. Currently he is the Designated Broker for West USA Realty helping over 2500 agent. He serves as Treasurer of SEVRAR, AAR Director, Par Director, AAR Professional Standards and expert witness for local attorneys. Michael’s education includes the University of Phoenix where he studied business management and Texas Institute for Civil Engineering. Michael is a Veteran and served in the United States Navy as a Civil Engineer “Fighting Seabee’s”.

Strength in Numbers

“As a Real Estate Broker, I take my responsibility very seriously. It is my duty to motivate, coach, inspire, and believe in the potential of every REALTOR®” - Michael P. Hofstetter DESIGNATED BROKER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

Michael Hofstetter DESIGNATED BROKER

602.942.4200 db@westusa.com

21 valley locations

602-667-1000



THE BEST EVOLUTION IN REAL ESTATE

www.retireinrealestate.com


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