JACKSONVILLE
C O N N E C T I N G .
E L E VAT I N G .
TOP PRODUCERS
&
I N S P I R I N G .
MESHELL PERRY ELAINE SAMAAN
RISING STAR Katie Jervis PARTNER SPOTLIGHT Margaret Barrs – Eagles World Real Estate School
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 3
TAB LE OF
CONTENTS 14
Partner Spotlight: Margaret Barrs
20
Top Producers: Meshell Perry and Elaine Samaan
28
Rising Star: Katie Jervis
If you are interested in nominating people for certain stories, please email us at Kristin.Lunsford@n2co.com and/or Brian.Lunsford@n2co.com. DISCLAIMER:Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of The N2 Company d/b/a Real Producers but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the Jacksonville Real Producers magazine are not endorsed or recommended by The N2 Company or the publisher. Therefore, neither The N2 Company nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies.
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 5
MEET THE JACKSONVILLE REAL PRODUCERS TEAM
Kristin and Brian Lunsford
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Brandon Jerrell
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 9
ACTIONover REACTION
pub note By Brian and Kristin Lunsford
Negative Temperatures (and Attitudes) Couldn't Stop Our Positively Amazing Journey to Iowa We recently took a trip to Iowa and all did not go as planned to say the least! This was a last-minute trip (since the Jags were eliminated from playoff contention, we suddenly had free weekends ahead), and Brian had been invited to help with a presidential campaign, so we figured we would make it a family trip. Our goal is to visit all 50 states before the kids graduate high school, and we had not been to Iowa yet, so we figured it was a great opportunity to mark that state off our list. We knew bad weather (major blizzard) was expected in Iowa that coming weekend, especially Friday, so we made the decision to fly out Thursday. Trying to be responsible parents and not let our kids miss too much school (since they have missed a few days already with other trips), we booked Thursday night flights. We figured we could get into Iowa before the really bad weather hit. We made it to Charlotte, North Carolina (our layover stop) without any issues, but within minutes of deboarding that plane and walking to our next gate, we received a notification that our next flight to Cedar Rapids, Iowa was cancelled. We’ve traveled a good bit and have never experienced a cancelled flight, especially not at an airport that wasn’t close to home. Since it was an evening flight, there were no other flights out to Cedar Rapids and obviously weather was playing a factor so there would be no flights there the next day either. We quickly got in line to talk to the customer service agents of our airline (along with what seemed like the entire population of Iowa). Kristin also called and did the online chat with representatives. So far this experience had been okay. The people in line were all so calm and nice. It’s amazing when you’re surrounded by other people with good attitudes, it helps to keep your attitude positive as well. After about 1.5 hours in line, it was our turn to talk to a live person in front of us to figure out our options. Unfortunately, this customer service rep let us know quickly she did not love her job and she really didn’t care about the
people in line because she was about to get off work soon. She kept making snide comments to her coworkers about her job and the customers. Our attitudes started to shift as we kept hearing her attitude and we were feeling helpless. I looked around at the people in line and tried to remember their positive attitude. I tried to think about this lady and how her job all day long is dealing with people who have an issue or complaint. Constantly being around that obviously has impacted her negatively.
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We realized that we were not going to make any progress with this lady so instead of having a negative reaction to her, we paused and took a minute to think about what positive action we could take to make this situation better. We politely told her to have a good night and we would work to figure this out later. Kristin started back with the online chat rep and Brian started looking for a hotel. We were taking action instead of just having a bad reaction. By the time we got to our hotel room that night we had a plan and a flight change to a different city to get us close to Iowa. And it worked... we explored Charlotte that next day, then we (minus our luggage that never made it to us with our winter gear) got to fly to Omaha, Nebraska and visit another state we had not been to yet! We were then able to drive to Des Moines, Iowa the next day and see that state for the first time in all its glory: negative double-digit degrees, but with beautiful snow everywhere!
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We made incredible memories there campaigning for our friend and presidential candidate, watching Brian speak on the governor’s behalf to voters at three caucus precincts, meeting famous broadcasters and political people, and even running into former President Trump multiple times as he stayed at the same hotel as us. The former president even waved our two children over to take a photo with him in the midst of the media and Secret Service there in the lobby.
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If we had let negativity rule our reaction back at the airport, we likely would have given up and missed out on this trip of a lifetime.
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 13
MARGARET BARRS
partner spotlight
Eagles World Real Estate School
LIFELONG LEARNING
By Brandon Jerrell
There is an idea studied throughout history that revolves around the concept of “never stop learning”. Some people think of it as “learning something new every day,” and some think of it as “you are always a student.” No matter how you approach this, the core remains true: regardless of how good you are at something, there is always something more to learn.
This principle is certainly true in the world of real estate. There’s a lot to learn to enter the industry, but it would be a mistake to assume that’s everything. This is where Margaret Barrs and Eagles World Real Estate School flourish. In addition to providing the tools necessary to begin a career in real estate, they also offer advanced classes for those looking to advance to the next level of professionalism.
14 • February 2024
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of school teachers. Education was a prime focus for me and my five sisters. All of us graduated with various college degrees. Skills and entrepreneurship were also strongly encouraged… which we mainly learned from watching our parents and grandparents.”
studies in college were geared toward business administration. My career paths have included business management, financial planning, property management, marketing, teaching, and public speaking engagements,” Margaret says.
Margaret’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, a Master of Science degree in Finance, and a Master of Science degree in Financial Planning.
As for her family, she shares that she and her sisters are all over-achievers. “We challenge each other on almost everything. It definitely keeps us sharp!”
“I believe that growing up in a small, country town set the pattern for me early in life. Learning how to interact with others, how to help others, and even participate in community events was necessary and invaluable,” she reflects.
Margaret, a real estate instructor at EWRES, shares what makes the school so special. “Our goal — our mission — is to provide real estate courses to students taught by a highly knowledgeable, highly experienced, and highly dedicated instructor. We believe that filling a classroom with positivity and encouragement is an essential part of the learning process.”
Then one day her perspective on education was changed forever. “When my grandmother (who was an elementary teacher) passed away many years ago, she left me a small plaque that she kept in her classroom. It was a Japanese proverb that read, ‘Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.’” Margaret explains how this profoundly changed her perspective on the importance of a great teacher. She now keeps that same plaque on her desk at home.
A Great Teacher is Born Margaret was born in a small community south of Lexington, Kentucky. “I come from a long line
Before exploring the real estate industry, she primarily focused on business administration. “My undergraduate and graduate
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Lifelong Learner As a lifelong learner, Margaret first explored real estate out of curiosity after a move to Jacksonville from Chicago. “Since financial planning involves real estate as an investment option, I decided to take a real estate course in Jacksonville in the late 80s.” Although it started as curiosity, she quickly fell in love with the industry. “I was immediately attracted to the possibilities that real estate licensure would provide. It was during that course that I realized (in addition to obtaining a sales associate license) that I also wanted to teach real estate,” Margaret recalls.
Found Her Calling With Margaret’s past career choices, she often dealt directly with individuals and businesses. She explains how this helped her to identify and understand the many different personalities and the various thought processes of others. Jacksonville Real Producers • 15
LOCALLY OWNED, NATIONALLY BACKED Margaret and Lori Kellezi, owner of Eagles World Real Estate School.
“That has been a major asset when teaching real estate students,” she adds.
Like all real estate schools, EWRES provides courses designed to meet the licensure requirements set forth by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
With over 25 years of teaching and over 20,000 students taught over that time, it is clear that Margaret has found her calling as a great teacher, and Eagles World Real Estate School has been an outstanding place for her to continue her teaching career. “The absolute most fulfilling part about being a real estate instructor is the satisfaction of seeing students achieve their goals and knowing that you played a role in that process.”
Eagles World Real Estate School is not just for those just starting their real estate career. “Our school’s purpose is not only to offer necessary courses for state licensure, but to offer all post-licensing education and continuing education requirements for both sales associates and brokers,” she says.
72-Hr Broker Course, 45-Hr Post Licensing Course for sales associates, 60-Hr Post Licensing for brokers, and the 14-Hr Continuing Education Course for both broker and sales associates.” There is no doubt that Eagles World Real Estate School should be considered as your real estate school of choice, which will give you an opportunity to learn from a great teacher.
Website: eaglesworldrealty.com
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 19
&
top producers
PERRY
SAMAAN
G re a t T h i n g s Com e From S m a l l B e g i n n i n g s By Zachary Cohen | Photos by Renee Parenteau
In 2022, Meshell Perry and Elaine Samaan partnered to found Dogwood Realty, an independent, Jacksonville-based brokerage. Meshell and Elaine lead Dogwood with a collective vision centered around ethics, education, and a deep commitment to their clients. And while the early results have been impressive, Meshell and Elaine are aiming higher. Their goal is to make Dogwood Realty one of Jacksonville’s most recognized brands.
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 21
PARALLEL PATHS Meshell and Elaine first met in 2018, in the early stages of their real estate careers. As they focused on building their businesses, they each sought out the top producer in their office, hoping to learn from him. “We saw this one guy winning all the sales awards every month,” Meshell recalls. “I said, ‘Here’s a guy who knows what’s going on.’ He’s continually the number one salesperson. So I started holding some open houses for him, and he appreciated my professionalism and wanted to do more business with me.” Meanwhile, Elaine took a similar path. She, too, sought out this agent, starting as his assistant and later becoming his lead buyer’s agent. The trio formed a team, with Meshell becoming the lead listing agent. While that team didn’t stand the test of time, it formed the foundation for what would eventually become Dogwood Realty. Meshell and Elaine went their separate ways, but it didn’t take long for that to change.
agent and Elaine’s love for serving buyers, the pair set out to grow a sustainable brokerage. “Elaine is a former educator, and I’ve been in sales,” Meshell explains. “We’re a great yin and yang. I’m good with listings and sellers; Elaine is great with buyers. We’re very similar but also different, which is what makes it work.” While Meshell and Elaine have differing strengths within the business, they share common values. Education is paramount at Dogwood Realty, as is their commitment to their clients and agents. The culture is warm, welcoming, and collaborative.
“Elaine called me one day to ask about my experience starting a team. Without support, it was harder than expected. Turns out, she wanted to start her own team, too, and said, ‘What do you think of partnering to open our own brokerage?’ Of course, I said, ‘Yes, let’s do this!’ She’s amazing,” Meshell reflects.
“We realized there was a lack of knowledge and education, even among professionals in the industry, and we wanted to make a contribution to our professional cohort,” Elaine shares. “Dogwood is our baby. Everyone who joins us has the same core values. We are ethical, honest, and knowledgeable. We focus on training and culture, and we give it our all. It’s been such a blessing to us, and we have loved every step of the journey.”
YIN AND YANG Dogwood Realty was officially founded in February 2022. With Meshell’s prowess as a listing
GREAT THINGS COME FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS Outside work, you’ll find Meshell and Elaine with their
22 • February 2024
Meshell and her husband, Brent, have been together since they were 15 years old.
Elaine and her husband, recently had a baby boy, John Saber.
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 23
families or giving back to the community. Meshell has been with her husband, Brent, a licensed agent with Dogwood Realty, since they were 15. Their daughter, Savannah, is a licensed REALTOR® with Dogwood Realty, and their son-in-law, Josh, is a home inspector. Savannah and Josh have two daughters, CJ (4) and Logan (2). Elaine and her husband, John, a pharmacist and licensed REALTOR®, have a new baby, John Saber, and two rescue dogs, Dolly and Ellie.
“We’re a family of REALTORS®,” Meshell laughs.
lasts for generations to come. As their tagline states, Great things come from small beginnings.
Meshell and Elaine also enjoy giving back. Their primary means of supporting the community is through the local schools and City Year, a nonprofit that supports students and schools.
“I would love for it to grow into something that can change the real estate industry, lift it up, and make agents feel cared for,” Elaine says.
As Meshell and Elaine look ahead, their primary goal is to continue growing Dogwood Realty. Ultimately, they’d like to create a business that
“And I would love it if my granddaughters and John took this over. That would be, oh my gosh, so super cool,” Meshell closes.
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FUN FACT: The name Dogwood has a personal meaning for Meshell. “A tree is stable, sturdy, has roots, starts small, grows big, is beautiful, and has a bloom. I had a white dogwood in my yard growing up, and I loved it. It’s my mom’s favorite tree; whenever we’d go anywhere, she’d point out the dogwoods. So it felt perfect.”
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 25
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 27
rising star Having the Perfect Blend
It’s a testament to Katie’s determination and her passion for real estate that in just her third full year in the business, her total sales volume soared to an impressive $15 million across twenty-three transactions. Katie humbly reflects on her remarkable achievement, stating, “I realized that my genuine interest in people, coupled with my negotiation experience, has proved beneficial – it’s really become this ‘perfect blend.’” Island Life
KATIE JERVIS RELATIONSHIPS Katie Jervis is a “Natural”
In the real estate industry, success often hinges on an individual’s ability to build meaningful connections with people. REALTOR® Katie Jervis, a rising star in the Jacksonville real estate community, readily acknowledges that her natural ability for building relationships has been a key factor in her professional success. With a smile, she reflects, “I’ve always had an affinity for people. I’m naturally curious, and I knew that building relationships was the key to doing well in this business.”
Katie’s family, originally from the United Kingdom, spent several years living in The Bahamas. She fondly recalls her early years, saying, “I was born in England. We moved to The Bahamas when I was eight with plans to move to Connecticut. But, my parents fell in love with The Bahamas and we never left; they joke ‘they moved to an island with three kids and three suitcases’... And it’s true!” During her time on the island, Katie gained an early appreciation for the value of real estate from her father, a successful residential developer on Grand Bahama Island.
K ST G r o u p
FIRST!
By Carol Nethen West Photos by Scott Golmic
Unexpected Beginnings: Katie’s Entry into Real Estate
Foundational Experience; Sociology, Law and Compassion
Katie’s journey into the world of real estate wasn’t anything she had initially envisioned. However, when the opportunity presented itself to join her brother Tom at the KST Group in 2020, she embraced it wholeheartedly. She explains, “I was given the chance to work alongside Tom, who serves as the Owner/Broker of the KST Group, in building a real estate brokerage here. He’s done an exceptional job and I feel privileged to be part of the company’s growth and success.”
Many of the attributes that Katie brings to her real estate career were cultivated during her college years; she pursued a degree in Sociology and English, and later, a law degree in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her professional experience, including her work at a NC-based non-profit organization dedicated to assisting survivors of human trafficking, and her time spent in London, England with Save the Children UK, has proven valuable.
Katie shares, “When it was time for middle school for me, we moved to South Florida, but still split time between there and Grand Bahama.” She finds it fitting that her real estate career has brought her back to the United States and to beachfront living; “The opportunity to make an impact in Jacksonville is huge, both as an agent and at the brokerage level. That’s really exciting for me. I couldn’t be happier than to call this city ‘home’.” A “Relationship First” Approach
One of the most rewarding aspects of her journey is building her book of business locally with a “relationship first” approach. She reflects, “I knew that if I could leverage my ability to build connections with a wide variety of people, transactions would be a Katie is thankful for her relationship with her siblings and enjoys working with her brother, who is her broker.
28 • February 2024
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 29
byproduct of that. In just over three years, I’ve worked with about 100 clients, many of whom I now consider friends.” The Best Chapter Yet!
When asked to pinpoint a pivotal time in her life, Katie’s reflections are clear. She shares, “Looking back, I think my mid-twenties were quite a pivotal time in my life. Whether right or wrong, there’s an underlying pressure to have your life figured out by twenty-two. I moved a couple of times as career plans fell into place… and moved again, as they fell out of place. I learned that there’s something empowering about being able to start over, about acknowledging the next chapter of your life. My ‘next chapter’ back then is probably my greatest chapter now.”
Katie adds, “I give 110% to everything I do; my work ethic is second to none. I became resilient in my twenties, and I’m proud of that. I started my dream career at thirty with skills and experience I just didn’t have at twenty-two. I’m a better agent and business partner because of it.” Family Ties
Family plays a significant role in Katie’s life, and her close-knit bond with her two siblings and parents is evident. She generously credits them, saying, “I have the most amazing family. I work with my brother, Tom, at KST, and my dad helps us with the business behind the scenes too. My mom loves to have us over for a Sunday roast (very British!) or we plan dinners out – we like trying new restaurants! Growing up, we traveled together a lot as
I GIVE 110% TO EVERYTHING I DO; MY WORK ETHIC IS SECOND TO NONE.
well. My sister, Sophie, and her family still live in London; we miss her!” She adds with a laugh, “If you’re wondering what ‘KST’ stands for, it’s Katie, Sophie, and Tom!”
Passion, Ability and Genuine Connections
Katie’s journey in the world of real estate so far is a testament to the power of genuine connections. Her passion for the industry, ability to build relationships, and her strong work ethic has propelled her to great heights in this business.
Striking the Work-Life Balance
In the midst of her busy real estate career, Katie treasures her leisure time. She shares, “When I’m not with clients, I’m probably at the gym, traveling, or with friends. I enjoy being active, so I try to be out and about as much as possible. A lot of my friends are now spread out across the country, so I love a fun, long weekend trip to visit them!”
As she continues to make a significant impact in Jacksonville, she remains committed to her “relationship first” approach and is sure to see continued success. Katie is so thankful for her parents.
30 • February 2024
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 31
question of the month
If you had a day to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?
TANYA COSMINI Realty ONE Group
LINDSEY AND KATIE DILLER DJ & Lindsey Real Estate
JAN RICE Momentum Realty
JONATHAN DAUGHERTY Future Home Realty
I would spend the day with my horse. That is my happy place... riding, grooming, grazing... that would be perfect.
We love this question! It actually made us stop and think. Think small, not fussy, think local. Katie and I are not only a couple raising a teenage daughter but we also WORK together, as REALTORS® as a team for DJ & Lindsey in St Augustine. People often ask how do you do it? Do you ever get tired of each other? Wish you didn’t see each other all day everyday? No, absolutely never. We owned a food truck before becoming REALTORS® and work really well together. However, we do not do much for ourselves and certainly never together because someone has always got to be chasing the dream! That being said. A day with a wonderful brunch, a book by a beautiful pool, maybe, dare I say a massage! What woman, mom, hard working real estate professional wouldn’t love a day like that. Not sure I’d want to leave.
I would certainly take a trip to a Ritz Carlton in Amelia Island and spend the day getting pampered at the spa for a nice massage, sipping wine and a nice quiet private dinner. Literally just decompressing and winding down. That would be a great way to recharge.
Turn my phone off and go to the waterpark with the kids.
ANDREW MICHAEL eXp Realty
That’s a trick question. We can take a day whenever we want! That’s the beauty of being self-employed. I guess I would do one of two things. Either go to a coffee house and read a book for the day or take my family for a daytrip to somewhere in South Georgia or Central Florida.
32 • February 2024
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ANITA VINING Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
A day to do whatever I wanted would include being with my grandchildren and family.
CHRISTINA WELCH Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners
Spa day!
SHANTRECE THOMAS Florida Homes Realty and Mortgage
Go shopping.
ALLISON CHANCE Anchored Real Estate Group
Spend a day at the spa or organize my house!
realproducersmag.com
Jacksonville Real Producers • 33
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34 • February 2024
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realproducersmag.com
Jacksonville Real Producers • 35
