June 2023 Wichita Real Producers

COMMERCIAL CORNER Matt McClure

CELEBRATING LEADERS Chris Cribb

RISING STARS Tim & Ryan Kerr

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT JR Mortgage ASK THE EXPERT Kansas State Radon Program

GARY OBORNY

Photo By Jennifer Ruggles

MEET THE WICHITA REAL PRODUCERS TEAM

NEW PARTNERS

better serve your clients, so this is something to celebrate!

If you’re ever in the market for a new vendor, I encourage you to check out our Preferred Partners list, located on pages 10-11. Every single business that participates with WRP came highly recommended by a top REALTOR®, and in most cases, several top agents.

Sincerely, Your friend, publisher, and REALTOR®,

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community!

ARCHITECT/BUILDER

Craig Sharp Homes (316) 775-2129

craigsharphomes.com

ELECTRICIAN-RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL

Elite Electric Company (316) 258-2166

eliteelectriccompany.com

Goodfellas Property Inspection

(316) 655-0280 goodgellasproperty inspection.com

LANDSCAPE DESIGN & SERVICE

Total Landscape Solutions

Jeremiah Petrocci (316) 217-3344

Andover State Bank

(620) 755-5761

goasb.com

DIRTWORK

C3 Skidsteer Services LLC

(316) 295-6626

www.facebook.com/C3SkidsteerServicesLLC

(316) 440-6111 ictinsurance.com

HOME & PROPERTY INSPECTIONS

Bright Light Inspections

Josh Counce (316) 250-5221 blinspections.com

(316) 869-1235 insurewithsig.com

INSURANCE/FINANCIAL SERVICES

State Farm Insurance

Crystal McEachern

(316) 425-0925 callcrystalnow.com

US Mortgage Company

kansasloanman.com

ksvahomeloans.com

Gateway Mortgage Group gatewayloan.com/

Meritrust Credit Union meritrusthomeloans.com

Sierra Pacific Mortgage sierrapacificmortgage.com

MORTGAGE BROKER

www.mottomortgage.com/ offices/charged-wichita/

Phoenix Mortgage Group (316) 942-8228 phoenixmortgagegroup.com

MORTGAGE BROKER: RESIDENTIAL /COMMERCIAL

JR Mortgage Group (316) 409-5569

jrmortgagegroup.com/

MORTGAGE LENDER

Motto Mortgage Charged

Aaron Clark (316) 573-3996 yourwichitalender.com

Planet Home Lending

Michelle Crubaugh (316) 304-3910 planethomelending.com

US Bank

Sara Six (785) 492-7754 mortgage.usbank.com/kswichita-sara-six

MOVERS / PACKING SERVICES

Two Men And A Truck Garret Petetman (316) 558-5588

twomenwichita.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Allie Jael Photography (316) 633-5547

alliejaelphotography.com

ROOFING AND CONSTRUCTION

A & L Roofing

Art Lohrengel (316) 721-5799 alroofing.org

ROOFING, GUTTERS & STORM RESTORATION

Gladiator Roofing & Gutters

Security 1st Title (316) 267-8371 security1st.com

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Trussell Media (316) 755-6052

trussellmedia.com

WELL/LAGOON/SEPTIC

firstimpressionsenv.com

1.

2.

3.

4. 5

AI Event organized by REALTOR® Ivy Tydings

Erica Chavez

Tonya Wituk

Nikki Chavez

Antoine Agnew

ask the expert

Brian Hanson

Kansas Kansas

Why are we talking about radon during real estate transactions? Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive soil gas present every where on planet Earth indoors and out. As a gas, radon can make its way through the foundations of buildings and enter the indoor environment and the air we breathe at home. The concern with radon in the indoor environment is that long-term exposure to elevated indoor radon concentrations increases the lifetime risk of lung cancer. Radon gas exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer death for non-smokers, and the primary point of exposure is in our homes as, on average, we spend 10-12 hours a day at home – mostly asleep.

The purchase of a home is an excellent time to address potential residential radon issues. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a recommended national Action Level of 4 picocuries of radon per liter of indoor air (4.0 pCi/L). The EPA recommends buildings that test at this level or higher be fixed to lower levels of radon in the home. The Kansas Radon Program (KRP) strongly recommends that all home buyers 1) include a professional radon test as part of the due diligence of a home purchase and 2) take steps to reduce radon concentrations at or above 4.0 pCi/L.

For questions on radon or to arrange a free Radon for the Real Estate Industry CE class through the KRP, call 800.693.5343 or email lwallace@ksu.edu. You can also visit www.kansasradonprogram.org for more information

Average Radon Level by Kansas County 2016-2020

Copyright 2023

father son team

Photos By ?? Written By Dave Danielson

PROVIDING A SOURCE OF STRENGTH

While it might be possible, relatively few people who are buying or selling property try to go it alone.

issues they are worried about … in turn helping them through every step

“I like the creativity that we can provide. There are many jobs where there is a lot of routine. This industry really lends itself to figuring out issues and helping to get people where they want to go. On the other hand, they are sometimes selling property due to a death or a failure in the business. So it can be both ends of the spectrum. It allows us to take care of the needs of our customers as a form of our ongoing ministry.”

FULFILLING THEIR PURPOSE

Ryan appreciates that sense of purpose that he and his father fulfill each day for the people they work with.

As he says, “There hasn’t been one transaction that we have been involved with without a road block that we need to figure out how to move out of the way. I am thankful to work with people to be that resource to help them solve their problems.”

GAINING GROUND

The family’s start in real estate can be traced back to when Tim came of age and earned his degree in Finance and his master’s in Business Administration from the University of North Dakota. After graduation, he worked for several banks. After about 10 years in the business, he decided that he wanted a career path that would give him more flexibility.

So he earned his real estate license and began his career with a developer in Fargo in 2000 — working on commercial develop ments, including industrial, office, retail and land developments with the Property Resource Group.

In time, Tim transitioned to owning his own brokerage franchise. It was a move he felt good about.

“One of the primary reasons for me to be in real estate was for the family aspect of it … so I could be at all of their activities. I was at the boys’ games and a lot of their practices because that’s what was important to me,” Tim says.

“When we moved here, I worked for a local bank for a time. Then I met Dawn Truman. I decided to get back into the business work ing with her here because of the people and what they stand for.”

That direction in life definitely left a positive influence

“When I look back to my time in high school, that meant was looking at options and decided that I wanted to take advantage of that time. I watched my dad do it my whole life, so I got my real estate license in 2020.”

rewards of doing what they love together. mentor and someone you can look up to is very important and it helps knowing this is someone you have had a relationship with through life … someone who is there to mentor you through life.”

“Not every dad gets the opportunity to continue spending time with and pouring into your kids. In a lot of cases, you don’t get that,” Tim says. “I don’t take that for granted at all and being able to be a

cheerleader and see him grow and take on new challenges and achieve. I’m excited about how God has shaped this opportunity for us and seeing him take the mantle. I am very thankful for how this is playing out.”

They are also very grateful for the environment that surrounds them in their work.

As Tim says, “From the Kerr Team perspective, it’s just the two of us but we have a ton of support from Reece Nichols, including Georgia Biggs and also our Broker, Dawn Truman. We have a great team around us.”

LIFE’S REWARDS

True fulfillment is found through family.

Tim cherishes his marriage of 30 years to his wife and looks forward to time spent with his two sons.

“We prioritize faith, family and fun. Jesus Christ is super important in our lives and He has preeminence in our lives,” Tim says.

In his free time, Ryan has an ongoing love for sports, coaching track as local high schools.

“I really enjoy working with student athletes and developing their character,” Ryan says.

In their free time, Tim and Ryan both like to play golf and have a musical back ground. Tim has done a lot of singing and performing with groups. Ryan plays guitar and sings in worship groups.

ROCK-SOLID RESOURCE

Those who know and work with Tim and Ryan understand that they have a rocksolid resource in their corner with Tim and Ryan.

“I want them to feel cared for, to know that we’re people of high integrity and that we have their needs and wants prioritized above everything else,” Tim says. “We become really good friends with the

WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL CARED FOR AND TO TRUST OUR PROFESSIONALISM … KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO GET

people we work with. We are men of faith and family. We care about the people who are put in our path.”

As Ryan adds, “We want people to feel cared for and to trust our

professionalism … knowing that we have the knowledge to get the job done.”

Clearly they realize the great source of strength they have when they work with Tim and Ryan Kerr.

Cribb Chris

Photos By Kelly Remacle

Written By Dave Danielson

answers to those around him, in turn, helping to clear the path ahead for those seeking assistance, including the members of his own team.

“I love being able to coach and teach. At some point in everyone’s life, they deserve to be a teacher. As a leader, It helps you grow as well,” he says.

Clearing the Path

and now, Real Estate. In fact, he started his real estate career when he earned his license in 2013.

“I definitely have an entrepreneurial background. At the same time, I’ve really enjoyed settling down. Real estate allowed me to make sure that I was firmly with my roots here in the

Midwest. I have two girls who are my big why,” Chris explains.

“I jumped into real estate about 10 years ago to spend more time with them and not be on the road.”

Before he became a Broker, Chris was an independent agent and ran a team. Along the way, he’s had good success in growing the real estate brokerages that he’s been with.

That record of results continues today with Chris’ virtual brokerage with eXp Realty.

“We don’t have large offices, but some of our teams do have offices. We have a virtual office that we run and we have a number of agents who work with us through that,” he says.

“In the Wichita area, we have about 170 agents that are part of eXp Realty and are achieving spectacular results across the states of MO & KS that I oversee.”

Real Results

One of the gifts Chris has when it comes to his work in the industry is having the ability to bring real results down to a very tangible, human level.

“Every day is new and exciting. I love the having the ability to make home ownership real for people,” he says. “At the same time, I love being able to grow and help in my role to grow agents into having a great career, as opposed to just a job.”

Wonderful Life

Family enriches Chris’ world each day. He treasures time with his daughters — Ellie and Rosie.

Away from work, Chris has a wide range of interests. He’s a foodie, a wine sommelier and a wine collector.

He also enjoys the outdoors. One of his favorites is hiking. He also enjoys

ness. That’s one of the cool things I really like about it.”

With a spark for helping others see a new way forward and a trustworthy, forward-thinking energy, Chris Cribb is a leader for all seasons … in turn, clearing the path for those around him.

I’m really proud of our growth. The community of agents that we are building is tremendous.

OBORNY OBORNY

ingness and ability to help others create their own positive paths forward.

That’s exactly what Gary Oborny does each day.

As CEO/Chairman of Occidental Management, Inc., Gary has a true

COMPREHENSIVE SUCCESS

That comprehensive approach to success is reflected in the extent of what Occidental Management, Inc. is involved in today with its commercial real estate operations in Kansas, Texas, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado. The

company handles a full range of office deals, industrial and land development with departments dedicated to development, construction, property management, legal, human resources, accounting and marketing.

“If you’re in the real estate business, you always love doing deals. I love to work with new opportunities … either purchasing a property that needs to be

Photos By Jennifer Ruggles

Written By Dave Danielson

developed or purchasing a value-add property, one where we need to use our creative talents to come up with a development opportunity that we think will be successful,” Gary says.

“It’s working with all our team members to locate opportunities and then take that opportu nity and come up with a value-add creative way to make it to be an amenity for the future.”

One of those proper ties is Wichita’s Union Station. Gary and his group bought the property after it had set vacant for a time.

“That was a fun one to be involved with,” Gary smiles. “We re-did it as a historical prop erty, but put a slant on that property.”

Another success story is the office building Gary and his team call home today — a threestory, re-purposed brick ice house.

“We took that building and put a very contem porary slant on it,” Gary smiles. “We like to take a lump of coal and turn it into a diamond.”

ACTIVE IMPACT

It’s all part of a conscious and active effort to make an impact on the community in a number of positive ways. Gary is on the Executive Board

for the Greater Wichita Partnership, a group of local CEOs and business leaders.

Gary is heavily involved with youth entrepreneurship, as well as supporting people as they start and scale their own businesses. Along the way, they have become part of around 40 companies, including a bank, manufacturing companies, wholesale distribution and more.

Nick explains. “Being around the action degree’s worth of information throughfits of entrepreneurship: time flexibil-

leadership firsthand is Nick Flores. Gary has judged a contest that Nick won. Gary invited

my life by creating an environment

that connects resources and knowledge with entrepreneurs so that their businesses grow and last. It began in 2015. Gary sits on the Board of Directors.

THE CREATE CAMPAIGN

Christina Long is Founding President and CEO of The Create Campaign and has seen, firsthand, the drive and follow-through Gary brings to those around him.

“Gary has been a supporter literally from day one. He brought me in to a group of business owners at that time who were interested in activating more diverse entre preneurs. We had a half-day event that first year and we had twice the number of participants we anticipated,” Christina emphasizes. “Gary has also served as a coach and a mentor to our organization. We were gifted a property, and I had never gone through a renovation project. Gary got his team involved to serve as consul tants and volunteered that knowledge to allow us to work with contractors with more confidence to help turn this into a jewel into our city.”

ENTREPRENEURIAL TASK FORCE

Gary is Co-Founder of the Entrepreneurial Task Force in Wichita, with the goal and mission to create a system for entrepreneurs to activate their business and then going through an accelerator process through NEXTUS, a group that provides capital to support those newly minted companies as they take their next steps forward.

“We bring that element to our real estate business,” he says. “We really try to understand their business and help them with con tacts and sometimes with mentorship and assist ing them with their business plan.”

The spark that Gary brings to those around him has long been part of the Wichita native and graduate of Kapaun Mt. Carmel High

School, and then attended Wichita State University, where he studied entrepreneurship.

“As I was growing up, my parents had a couple small businesses and we were always talking about those at the dinner table. I went on to do my own thing, but that process made it systemic to my DNA. It was natural for me fairly early on to be self-employed,” he remembers.

During his freshman year of college, Gary’s drive was undeniable. He started his first business—a landscape construction business. In 1989, during the savings & loan crisis, Gary

“During that time, you could buy property for 10 to 20 cents on the dollar… so I bought apartments and townhomes as an investment for rentals. In 1997, I sold the landscape construction business that I had and I also sold a fairly large oil and gas project that I had developed with some other partners. In 1997 and I decided to take the capital from that sale and created Occidental Management with my wife, Gretchen. We started in the commercial real estate business at that time as owners and started off with purchasing an office building downtown and then a shopping center in Wichita. We owned and managed real estate and that morphed into Occidental Brokerage, LLC, when I got my Broker’s license in 1999.”

Today, Occidental Management continues to grow, with 34 employees in Wichita, and another 50 in Kansas City.

FAMILY FULFILLMENT

Gary’s world is made much richer by family. He and Gretchen trea sure time with their sons — Kit and Lad — who are both deeply involved with playing USTA tennis on a national level. As part of that, Gretchen home-schools the boys and they spend a lot of time on the road at tournaments and events around the country.

In addition, Gary and his wife put their rich volleyball playing exper tise to work — creating the Wichita Flyers Volleyball Club — a USA juniors program that went on to help 40 young ladies develop their games to the point where they each played at the Division I level in college.

In their free time, they have a passion for scuba diving, hunting and travel. Plus, Lad is also in a band, so one of

Debbie Kennedy is CEO of the Wichita Children’s Home. She has been thankful for Gary’s involvement.

“Since our start 135 years ago, WCH’s legacy has been built on a foundation of community partnerships, enabling us to serve nearly

WE REALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR BUSINESS

JRMORTGAGE GROUP

Early Riser

The alarm clock begins ringing at 3 am. Instigating the snooze button is not an option as Justin Rocheleau is already out of bed and preparing for the day. By the time 3:30 am rolls around, he has been in the office for 10 minutes already catching up on emails he missed while sleeping. The endless phone notifications roll in all day, not stopping even when he leaves the office, on some days as late as 9 pm.

Justin merely responds with a slight chuckle when questioned if this is how he envisioned his entrepreneurial narrative unfolding. “It isn’t how I would have anticipated, but I just roll with the punches.”

The First Chapter

JR Mortgage Group began in December 2020 when Justin embarked on establishing the premier pioneering mortgage brokerage in Wichita. Previously in retail lending, Justin saw an opportunity to help his clients save money and receive better service by starting his own enterprise with a flatter, more efficient operation that leverages a network of lenders compared to being handcuffed by a single bank or retail lender.

“As a broker, we possess the capability to present a client’s information to the market and procure the most competitive terms, rates, and programs tailored to their specific circumstances,” remarked Justin. “One of the things that sets us apart is the level of communication that we offer. We tailor it to meet each person’s needs, and you can come to our office and talk with us or reach us 24/7.”

Creating a Team

Six months later, after starting to see a small glimmer of success, the next chapter of JR Mortgage began when he brought on a co-founder, Ramona Chapman, a previous co-worker at the retail lender and close friend. Combined with their unquenchable ambition and strong business acumen, they powered JR Mortgage to become the top mortgage broker in Kansas in under 2 years.

The team’s unwavering dedication to their clients is evident. “We dedicate ourselves to what we do on behalf of others,” says Justin. “We understand that the business is built on real estate relationships and a drive to serve, and it’s amazing to be a part of helping people achieve homeownership and improve their financial stability.”

Important Numbers

In 2022, JR Mortgage secured 7th place on the Wichita Business Journal’s Wichita-area Residential Real Estate Mortgage Lenders List.

“In 2022, we focused heavily on hiring a strong team around us, including carefully building out our core leadership team, including a Director of Marketing, a Director of Residential Lending, and a Director of Growth,” Ramona explained. “We have about 20 team members overall.”

The result of their efforts speaks for itself. In 2022, the organization funded over $53.3 million in residential loans.

When asked about his thoughts on ranking above household Wichita names such as Intrust Bank, Legacy Bank, and Emprise Bank, Justin remarked, “It is definitely humbling and not something I fully imagined when I started. We are so thankful for the support of all our clients and referral partners, without whom

But as with all stories, every chapter has a close, and this last chapter found its ending. After an exciting last two years fueled by epic growth, both in mortgage volume, clients assisted, and team members hired, Ramona announced she would be stepping away

from the company to focus on her family and business aspirations outside of mortgages, including home development and consulting.

With her first successful business exit in the rearview, Ramona explained, “I want my team only to grow, expand, and help more people. They (JR Mortgage Group) are the only team I trust and know will take the utmost care of my clients and referrals.”

“Ramona gave so much to grow this company, and I’m so excited to see her succeed in her next adventure,” Justin remarked. “JR Mortgage would not be what it is today without her tenacity and leadership, and I’m very thankful for the time she invested in JR Mortgage.”

A New Chapter

In June, JR Mortgage Group will be relocating. The new office will be located downtown at Douglas and Main in the

heart of Wichita, making it easier for employees and clients from around Wichita to meet. This is an exciting new step as more people join the JR Mortgage team, and this new space accommodates this growth.

“I think you’ll be surprised at the initiatives we are cooking up currently. Our goal at JR Mortgage has always been to offer a level of personalized service

Justin ensures he maximizes every moment he shares with his wife Marissa and their two sons. — Theo and Emil. In his free time, Justin enjoys playing golf or exploring new wines.

His family holds immense significance to Justin, and he carries that same heartfelt dedication into his work at JR Mortgage Group. “We want all of those we serve to feel heard and comfortable,” says Justin. “We tailor our services to each person’s needs and wants, and we care about their loan and about them

Each chapter presents various challenges and victories. As the sun sets on this most recent chapter for JR Mortgage Group, Justin has already set the alarm to hit the ground running before the next

MATTHEW

commercial corner

Photos By Kelly Remacle

Written By Dave Danielson

McCLURE

TENACIOUS DRIVE

You can have all of the raw tal ent and knowledge in the world, but if you don’t apply it, hone it and put it to use with some effort, it can all go for naught.

Realizing that makes it even more special when you see someone who has all of those positive attributes — coupled with a tenacious drive to grow and be better for those he serves.

Those are the words that describe Matthew McClure, Commercial Associate with JP Weigand & Sons.

In the Center of the Action Matt grew up in New York. As he was coming of age, he and his family moved to Kansas City, and he finished high school in Olathe. Like more young adults, Matt wasn’t sure which direction he wanted to take at first in life.

“I dabbled in college at the University of Kansas until I decided what I wanted to do. I worked for a company in the fighting industry and that became a big part of my life,” Matt remembers. “I was very involved with Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I’m still active in BJJ and try to compete from time to time.

was a trying time. Eventually, I sold it to one of the trainers who worked for me.”

Searching for a New Step

As Matt considered his next professional moves, he thought about his wife and 2-year-old son.

“I was trying to figure out my next move and the best way to support my family … to

that transition pretty seamless,” Matt says.

“When I first started in June of 2021, I felt like when I was opening my business. There was a learning curve, but my approach was diving in.”

Along the way, Matt has been grateful for the mentorship of senior agents who have been willing to help him navigate obstacles and keep learning.

“It is a fantastic environment here,” he says. “JP Weigand has always been run like a family business and that’s how they treat you.”

During 2022 (the year that Matt considers as his first full year), he earned the Rising Star award for Commercial for South Central Kansas and became the Commercial Rookie of the Year. He has kept moving forward from there.

Fueled by Family

My success has been with support of my family and friends, including my wife, Courtney, and our children — Maverick and Bodie,” Matt says.

“Courtney has been very supportive. She understood this is a long-term career.”

In his free time, Matt has a lifelong love of fitness and JiuJitsu that he continues.

“Fitness is a big part of my life. That’s a pretty big catalyst in my life. For the last 17 years my first love has been Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I have a very flexible schedule. I pick and choose when I can … I train at Fox Fitness with Jake Fox,” Matt says.

“I also recently got into cars. I’ve got two muscle cars, including a 1967 Chevelle SS and a 1993 Ford Mustang.”

The energy that Matt shares with the world is positive and

FITNESS IS A BIG PART OF MY LIFE. THAT’S A PRETTY BIG CATALYST IN MY LIFE. FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS MY FIRST LOVE HAS BEEN BRAZILIAN