Mobile Bay Real Producers | July 2023

REAL PRODUCER

KASEY HARRIS

Realtor On The Rise

Melinda Nagy

Brokers In Charge

Julie Mento & Melissa Morrissette

Partner Spotlight

LD Holt & Associates, LLC

Partner Spotlight

E3 Termite & Pest Control

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!

ATTORNEY - REAL ESTATE

LD Holt & Associates, LLC

LD Holt (251) 937-4111

7581 Spanish Fort Blvd. Spanish Fort, AL 36527 LDholt.com

BUILDER

DR Horton (251) 447-0329 drhorton.com

FLOORING & DESIGN

Prestigious Flooring and Design LLC

Garrett Scarberry (251) 802-0363 prestigiousflooring anddesignllc.com

FOUNDATION REPAIR

MDH Foundation Repair

Shannon Reichart (251) 375-0565

108 5th Street, Daphne, AL 36526 mdhfoundationrepair.com/

GLASS & SHOWER DOORS

The Glass Guru of Mobile Wyatt Gerald (251) 287-1562

220 Portside Blvd. Suite A Mobile, AL 36695 theglassguru.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT/ MAINTENANCE

All Inclusive Maintenance (251) 509-4618 aimremodels.com

HOME INSPECTION

Crum Home Inspections (251) 281-7387

www.crumhome inspections.com

Home Boss Inspection

Riaan du Plessis (251) 230-9595

323 De La Mare Ave, Suite 9 Fairhope, AL 36532

www.HomeBoss Inspection.com

Legendary Home Inspections (251) 367-3196

legendaryhome inspections.com

HOME WARRANTY Home Warranty Inc. (260) 433-4027

homewarrantyinc.com

Old Republic Home Protection

Todd Powell (850) 543-1512 x1

www.ORHP.com

HVAC SERVICES

Don Hembree Heating & Air (251) 259-4664

hembreeac.com

HVAC/PLUMBING

Hansen Heating & Air

Chad Setchell (251) 471-3047

Hansenair.com

INSURANCE AGENCY

Coastal Insurance Group, LLC

Kurt Wielkens (251) 344-9898

3660 Dauphin Street, Suite A Mobile, AL 36608

www.coastalinsgrp.com

Goosehead Insurance (251) 999-6931

wigginsflock.com

Lynne Ernest Insurance, LC (251) 971-3622

LENDER

Airborne Mortgage Group

Kenneth Harter (251) 282-6894

airbornemortgagegroup.com

Holland Mortgage Advisors

Tiffany Bradley (251) 219-4043

HMAmortgage.com

Movement Mortgage

Richard C Hampton (251) 270-4482

4851 Wharf Parkway Suite D-228 Orange Beach, AL 36561 movement.com/ chad.hampton

MOLD AND ODOR REMEDIATION

AdvantaClean

Jimmie Newton (251) 776-4669

25421 Hwy. 181, Suite 103

Daphne, AL 36527

advantaclean.com

MOVING/DELIVERY/ STORAGE

All My Sons Moving & Storage (251) 239-3001

5228 Halls Mill Road, Suite A Mobile, AL 36619 www.allmysons.com/mobile/ index.aspx

Motivated Movers (251) 621-0063

28225 N Main Street Daphne, AL 36526 getmotivatedmovers.com

PEST SOLUTIONS

E3 Termite & Pest Control

Mike Adams (251) 850-7378

20040 Hwy 181 Fairhope, AL 36532

E3pest.com

Proshield Termite & Pest Control

Michael Hayes (251) 776-2362

Southeastern Exterminating (251) 402-0264

PHOTOGRAPHY

Deep South

Focus Photography

Jon Jeffress (251) 421-0517

233 Suzanne Circle Mobile, AL 36608 www.deepsouthfocus.com/

POWER WASHING

Prestige Power Washing

John Lankford (251) 213-8313

14194 Sierra Court Summerdale, AL 36580

ROOFING SERVICES

Professional Roofing & Construction (251) 680-7500 prorc.org

SIGNS & GRAPHICS

Fast Signs

Pauline McKean (251) 279-0747 4668 Airport Blvd. Mobile, AL 36608 fastsigns.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

Southern View Media (251) 517-9425 southernviewmedia.com

STAGE & DESIGN

Showhomes, Mobile - Baldwin

Kim Odom (251) 622-5004

82 Plantation Pointe Fairhope, AL 36532

www.showhomes mobilebaldwin.com

TITLE COMPANY

MLJ Escrow (251) 968-5586 www.mljtitle.com

Springdale Title, LLC

Diane Brookerd (251) 270-4500 1501B Highway 98 Daphne, AL 36526 springdaletitle.com

VIDEO PRODUCTION/ DRONE SERVICES

EyeSky Video & Photo, LLC

Stephen Hinds (317) 727-2919

297 Beall Lane Daphne, AL 36526 eyeskyvp.com

VIDEOGRAPHER

Adobe House Media Production

Lew Thomas (251) 454-0004 27940 Bay Branch Drive Daphne, AL 36526 adobehousemp.com

ryan@coastalinsgrp.com

Asia Schnoes Social Media Project Manager

Dave Danielson Contributing Writer

Crystal Barley Publishing Assistant

Lew Thomas, Videographer Adobe House Media Productions

Chistina Head Ad Strategist

Robert Orso Owner/Publisher

Jon Jeffress Photographer

By Robert Orso, Owner

Events, Connections & Followings Events, Connections & Followings

I am repeating this page from last month because this is important information about our mission and your involvement in this community of real estate rockstars.

It is always awesome to be a part of something that is significant and beneficial to you personally and professionally. We find a lot of satisfaction, gratitude and often profit by being a part of a community.

Most of you know that Real Producers is a national franchise with platforms and top Realtor communities in over 120 US markets. Mobile Bay Real Producers launched in this market in April 2020. Since then, we have worked and endeavored to build a close community made up of the top-producing Realtors and your business partners who advertise and support your magazine and social events.

We hosted our most recent private social event on May 1 at the Mercedes-Benz Dealership in Mobile and the feeling of community was extraordinarily strong. You can watch the video recap on our Mobile Bay Real Producers Facebook and on our Instagram Page @MoblieBayRealProducers page to get a sense of how the Top Realtors who attended felt about the event.

The banner that is on the front cover of every issue is “Connecting, Elevating, Inspiring” top Realtors. That is our mission.

Who are the members of the community we build?

The top-producing Realtors in the market. Those Realtors who have not reached top status are also watching and inquiring about how they can be a member. And the business partners who to a large degree gain most of their business from Realtor referrals and want to develop relationships with you top Realtors and increase the number of

enjoy the Real Producers events.

Secondly, I ask you to refer me or introduce me to your best and most trusted service providers (vendors). Some of them you may think are already remarkably busy, but that has nothing to do with anything. It is all about joining the community that supports their businesses.

I want to give my sincere thanks to all of you who have become enthusiastic members of the Mobile Bay Real Producers community. I appreciate your participation and positive feedback. Our community is already big, and I look forward to the excitement and engagement growing stronger.

Three Ways to Connect with the Real Producers Community of Top Performers

Mobile Bay Real Producers Mobile Bay Real Producers FB Mobile Bay Real Producers IG

251.625.4956 | AdobeHouseMP.com

BRINGING YOUR REAL ESTATE LISTINGS TO LIFE

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

Welcome to Real Producers! Some of you may be wondering what this publication is all about, which is why we have created this FAQ page. Here, we will answer the most commonly asked questions from around the country regarding our program. My door is always open to discuss anything regarding this community — this publication is 100% designed to be your voice!

Q: WHO RECEIVES THIS MAGAZINE?

A: The top 300 agents in the Mobile Bay Area. We pulled the MLS numbers (by volume) from Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2021, in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. We cut the list off at number 300, and the distribution was born. For this year’s list, the minimum production level for our group is $7 million in 2021. The list will reset at the end of 2022 for next year and will continue to update annually.

Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BEING FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE?

A: The process is simple. Every feature you see has first been nominated. You can nominate REALTORS®, agents, affiliates, brokers, owners, or even yourself. Office leaders can also nominate real estate agents. We will consider anyone you bring to our attention because we don’t know everyone’s story, and we need your help to learn more.

A nomination currently looks like this: Email us at robert.orso@realproducersmag.com with the subject line “Nomination: (Name of Nominee)” and explain why you are nominating the individual. Maybe the person has an amazing story that we need to tell, or perhaps someone overcame extreme obstacles, is an exceptional leader, has the best customer service, or gives back to the community in a big way. The next step is an interview with us to ensure a good fit, and then we put the wheels in motion for our writer to conduct an interview and for our photographer to schedule a photo shoot.

Q: WHAT IS THE COST TO FEATURE A REALTOR®, AGENT, OR TEAM ?

A: Zero, zilch, zippo, nada, nil. The feature costs nothing, my friends, so nominate away! We are not a pay-to-play model. We share real stories of Real Producers.

Q: WHO ARE THE PREFERRED PARTNERS?

A: Anyone listed as a preferred partner in the front of the magazine is a part of this community and will have an ad in every issue of the magazine, attend our quarterly events, and be a part of our online community. We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. One or many of you have recommended every preferred partner you see in this publication. We won’t even meet with a business that you have not vetted and stamped for approval, in a sense. Our goal is to create a powerhouse network for the REALTORS® and agents in the area and for the best affiliates so we can grow stronger together.

Q: HOW CAN I RECOMMEND A PREFERRED PARTNER?

A: If you have a recommendation for a local business that works with top real estate agents, please let us know. Send an email to robert.orso@realproducersmag.com.

JULIE MENTO & MELISSA MORRISSETTE brokers in charge

OF LLB&B REALTY

By Ron Sivak

Photos by Kayley Robinson, Deep South Focus Photography

PROTECTING CULTURE

Julie Minto and Melissa Morrissette, partners at LLB&B, are the Real Producers’ July 2023 featured Brokers in Charge.

Their firm’s reputation is well respected throughout the region, and the duo is considered valuable resources for input on impactive local real estate issues by entities ranging from the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce to USA’s Mitchell College of Business, and all points in-between.

Their partnership is also a story of friendship, both cut from similar cloth with an interconnected network of family, friends, and mutual interests.

That said, the tale of their first business introduction was that of parallel lives lived mostly apart, until a fateful lunch meeting set up in the early 2000s.

Here is their story from both perspectives.

GROOMED TO LEAD

LLB&B President and Qualifying Broker Julie Minto graduated from St. Paul’s in 1984 and attended Auburn, picking up a degree in Consumer Affairs and graduating in 1988.

After getting married, Julie’s goal was to buy a boutique and continue her apparel career. Upon finding out that she was expecting their first child, she promptly pivoted due to wanting more job flexibility. She obtained her real estate license and placed it with Lane, Lyons, Burton & Bullock (now LLB&B) Inc. Real Estate.

“The principal was an aunt of my husband who brought me into real estate. I’ve been here ever since.” Minto said.

Her rapid rise to success did not go unnoticed by the partners.

“They would always kid me saying,‘One day you will buy the business’ but of course I was skeptical. About halfway through the decade, it became more serious, and I started diving into the details about what went with ownership.” Minto said.

“It was at church where I overheard Melissa say that she was about to take a new pharmaceutical position. I knew she was very successful in her career, and it was at that moment that I asked her to go to lunch with me to recruit her into selling real estate. It was the best sales pitch I ever made.”

CHANGING LANES

Melissa Morissette is the Vice President and Co-Owner of LLB&B and graduated from St. Paul’s in 1979. She then graduated with a B.A. in history in 1983 from Sweet Briar College in Virginia. She initially wanted to practice law and worked at a local firm before changing her mind.

“In 1985 I got married and had my first two children in 1988 and 1990. At the time my mother was a pharmaceutical sales rep and encouraged me to interview for a position. I started out working for a contract pharmaceutical company.” Morissette said.

As time progressed, Melissa successfully moved up the ladder, working for different companies while moving into management. She eventually felt the need to step back and spend more time with her family.

“In the early 2000’s my travel schedule expanded. I was at church when my current business partner, Julie Minto, asked me to have lunch and pitched me on buying a real estate company with her, even though I did not have a real estate license at the time.” Melissa said.

“When I got into real estate, I knew nothing about it and was completely blind about how things worked. It was a leap of faith. In retrospect, the fact that I had worked at a law firm put me at ease with the decision. Having had both legal and sales experience, it was the perfect combination to be successful in real estate.” she added.

NEW DIRECTIONS

After officially joining forces and buying the company in late 2003, Julie and Melissa quickly combined their talents to elevate LLB&B to next-level success.

“Coming in from corporate America, I looked at the book of business that LLB&B had. All our eggs were in this one basket when there were a lot of places to sell.” Melissa said.

“We worked very hard on trying to expand our business model, while not giving up the Spring Hill market. I think that we’ve been very successful in doing that,” she added.

Both partners feel strongly about being good stewards of the community. Their active involvement ascends to the national level.

Melissa was President of the Mobile Area Association of Realtors in 2010 and Realtor of the Year in 2011. She serves on several boards, including Leadership Alabama, the South Alabama Center for Business Analytics, Real Estate and Economic

Development, the Mitchell College of Business Executive Advisory Board, the Industrial Development Board, and the Industrial Park Board.

Julie served in various roles on the local, state, and national levels of the REALTOR Association including, President of the Alabama REALTORS in 2015. As the REALTOR Party Member Involvement Liaison for the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), she promoted realtor advocacy nationwide.

“In 2018, I was asked to be the liaison for the Realtor Party Member Involvement Committee, which involves going across the country

and speaking at associations about the REALTOR party and advocacy in general. Today I enjoy serving on the NAR Board of Directors” Minto said.

Moving forward into 2023 and beyond, the partners want to keep their company’s level of excellence while continuing to grow.

“I think protecting our culture is particularly important. We try to be as helpful to our agents as we can, while also striving to give the best service possible to our clients.” Melissa said.

“Having been doing this for 30-plus years, I will tell you that when I started, 1 out of 100 transactions was hard. Today, 1 out of 100 is easy. Working through all the intricacies of that is critical to us.” Julie said.

When asked about any advice they would give to those willing to follow their career path, Melissa offered insight from the viewpoint of one who made a wholesale career change.

“I would tell people that it’s a lot harder than you might think it is. Selling a house isn’t the most difficult part, putting the puzzle pieces together between the sale and the closing table can be very challenging. Be willing to work, learn as much as you can from the start and continue to learn as you develop.”

I think protecting our culture is particularly important. We try to be as helpful to our agents as we can, while also striving to give the best service possible to our clients.

Mercedes-Benz

social event photos OF MOBILE

event sponsors recognition

WE COULDN’T HAVE MET WITHOUT YOU

I, along with all the Realtors who attended our Social Event at Mercedes-Benz of Mobile on Monday, May 1st want to thank all our event sponsors for this great event!

Many thanks to Jim Sullivan, the General Manager of MercedesBenz of Mobile for opening his gorgeous facility for this event. I think everyone there was salivating over the vehicles in the showroom and the atmosphere was outstanding.

Our Lead Sponsor was Mike Adams, owner of E3 Termite & Pest Control. Mike continues to be a faithful sponsor and he appreci ates and values his relationships with some of the top real estate

Supporting Sponsors were Beau Crum of Crum Home Inspections, Shannon Reichart of MDH Foundation Repair, Tessa Wiggins of Goosehead Insurance and Jerry Jackson of Professional Roofing & Construction. These businesses also value building relationships with the Top Realtors within the Mobile Bay Real Producers platform.

KASEY

HARRIS

BRETT ROBINSON REAL ESTATE

READ THE ROOM

real producer

By Ron Sivak

by Kayley Robinson

Real Producers July 2023 Top Agent, Kasey Harris, hails from Florida but has made a home for himself in South Baldwin County since the late 2000s.

Harris began working for his father’s construction company during the backside of the Great Recession circa 2008.

“My dad ended up wanting to regrow his company again after the crash in 2008. He said that if I wanted to learn firsthand training towards running a business, I was welcome to come work for him.” Kasey said.

“He started off building homes on the waterfront and in golf course communities. After Pelican Plaza was built next to Craft Farms he really started to focus on that community and became the predominant builder in that area.” Kasey said.

“He saw the writing on the wall in 2006, that there was unsustainable growth before the onset of the last recession. He sold off his properties to other developers and played the waiting game. He was also one of the first ones in our area to start building spec homes during the recovery, and that is when I came back to help around 2009.” he said.

Photos

Deep South Focus Photography

Kasey’s initial duties started out with handling trim work, installing window sliders and doors, and becoming proficient at managing subcontractors.

“Eventually I started trying to figure out how to branch off and do my own thing. I did not realize how much I liked real estate sales until transitioning into it.” Harris said.

In 2011 Kasey started out with RE/MAX. In 2012 he moved over to Brett/Robinson where he has remained to this day.

“I decided to transition to Brett/Robinson because I was a new agent that didn’t grow up in the area. Their office offered a strong lead-generating program. After my 3rd year overall in real estate, I made it into the top 5% of realtors in Baldwin County.” Harris said.

Kasey soon developed an affinity for condominium sales and strove to continuously hone his craft.

“Since Brett/Robinson also has the development company that built the Phoenix Condos I was privy to information before it became common knowledge. This allows me to get my investors in these projects early and for a great price. Those investors would typically be so happy about the return on their investment that they would tell their friends, and this became a great lead generator for me.” Harris said.

“One thing that was also beneficial as a new agent was doing open houses. I would do extensive research before the open house to make sure I knew the best deals and options on the market at that time. If I was at a condo, I would create a cash flow to show anyone who walked in that the unit could be a great investment as well as a 2nd home.” he added.

I think one of my keys to success is that I really love what I do, whether it’s finding a client an amazing deal on an investment property or getting to see a family’s face after helping them find their dream home. I truly enjoy it and a lot of clients end up becoming great friends.

I LOVE WORKING WITH PEOPLE.

Later, Kasey partnered with his wife Laura as a very successful husband-and-wife real estate team.

The couple originally met in 2011 while both worked for RE/MAX. Kasey eventually left while Laura remained. Their paths crossed again a few years after through mutual friends, and they soon married. Their professional union started in 2017.

“We now have been working together for six years, and have two precious boys, 5 and 2 years old. We enjoy traveling and being outdoors any chance we get. I also enjoy playing golf and fishing in my spare time.” Kasey said.

“Laura oversees all the logistics and paperwork while I am out in the field showing properties and negotiating. We work together well. In our highest ranking, many of the groups below us were big teams while it has always been just the two of us.” Harris said.

Kasey has consistently been a top producer at Brett/ Robinson since joining them eleven years ago.

“I think one of my keys to success is that I really love what I do, whether it’s finding a client an amazing deal on an investment property or getting to see a family’s face after helping them find their dream home. I truly enjoy it and a lot of clients end up becoming great friends. I love working with people.” He continued.

Some of Kasey’s best years show impressive results.

In 2019 he sold over $26,000,000 in residential real estate, ranking him in the top ten out of all the agents in Baldwin County.

In 2021 he hit $56,913,300 in residential real estate sales, ranking him 5th out of all the agents and teams in Baldwin County. He was Brett/Robinson’s top-producing agent that year.

In 2022 he sold $25,896,000 in residential real estate, ranking him 33rd out of all agents in Baldwin County, once again Brett/Robinson’s top-producing agent that year.

“When I was first exposed to real estate it was on the home-building side. I think spending several years learning about construction gave me a great foundation for my real estate career.” Harris said.

“Another factor that contributes to my success is that I enjoy working with some of the harder deals where you really need to get creative and start thinking way outside of

the box. That allows me to find a win-win situation for a buyer and seller when it does not look like one exists.” he continued.

When asked about advice to give those with a desire to dive into the business, regardless of age or experience, Harris was helpful.

“First, save up your funds before starting. Second, become good at whatever area you want to specialize in to be valuable. Finally, try to notice the little things, because sometimes you may have to read the room. If you can figure that out, it will allow you to point your clients in the right direction.”

For questions or comments about this article, contact Kasey at (251) 424-3736 or kharrisproperties@gmail.com

I enjoy working with some of the harder deals where you really need to get creative and start thinking way outside of the box.

By Ron Sivak

LD Holt LD Holt& Associates

A Trail

LD Holt with LD Holt & Associates has always seemed to be a trailblazer. He’s left behind memorable paths for others to remember if perhaps not follow.

Born in 1948, LD grew up in Lovington, New Mexico, and first made a name for himself traversing the southwest, with the support of his parents, as a 13-year-old evangelist in the early 1960s.

This was somewhat unheard of at the time. “I felt a very strong impression that I needed to be involved in Christian ministry.

We were Assembly of God, and five days after my 13th birthday, I preached my first message in my home church. Two days later, I preached a message at another Church of God in Lea County, the southeasternmost county of New Mexico. I was well received by people from the ages of 15 to the age of 85.” Holt said.

Making a lasting impression, LD recently met a man from Bay Minette whose father, as a youngster, had heard many of those sermons from over six decades prior.

“One pastor in Eunice, New Mexico would invite me to his church twice a year. I recently met a man who told me that his dad, as a youngster, was taken to one of my sermons and was part of my congregation.” Holt explained.

After graduating high school, Holt attended Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee, considered one of the premium schools in the country for Christian studies.

“Between my first and second year in college, I got married. After the second year, I was invited by a supervisory pastor, while I was on staff with another church and attending college, to start a new church in the Chattanooga Valley area just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. So, at the age of 19, I started doing the groundwork for the Chattanooga Valley Church of God and went on to set up the church property and build the church building.” LD said.

He went on to say that, at the time, church employment was a bi-vocational position and had to pick up other work to supplement their income.

“Pastors then, and still today, oftentimes will have other jobs. They made their living secularly while at the same time pastoring a church as well as being aided financially by other churches. Around this time, I got a license and began to sell life insurance.” Holt said.

“Following four years at Chattanooga Valley, I took a church called Swilly Hill Church of God just south of Valdosta. And from that point on, I pastored several churches, built a couple of churches and over the next 20 years, set up a pastoral career throughout the years of upbringing for my children, two daughters named Lisa and LaRie.” Holt said.

After roughly 31 years of evangelical involvement, initially as a teenage crusader and later as a full-time head pastor at numerous churches in Tennessee and Georgia, LD pivoted due to circumstances, carving out new and a notably different trail.

Photos by Lisa Johnson Deep South Focus Photography

“For reasons I couldn’t explain, I just had a very strong sense that life was beginning to make some changes. After a year of meditating on it, in January of 1992 I resigned from the pastorate.” Holt said.

“At that time, I did not expect what was going to happen after we had left the pastorate and I conducted my insurance business. My first wife left me, and I had to start my life again at the age of 44. I moved from Thomasville to Valdosta, Georgia, and graduated from Valdosta State with a Political Science degree in 1994 while also running my insurance company.”

After remarrying, in January of 1994, Holt promptly moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, and enrolled in Stetson University’s College to Law pursue a degree. LD earned his J.D. in 1998.

“We decided to go to Baldwin County, Alabama where my wife’s brother was chief of police in Bay Minette, and it was not too far from my daughter’s and grandchildren’s. After getting my Alabama license I met local attorney Steven Tunstall and he agreed to mentor me and show me how to open and run a law practice.”

Holt’s very first local office was near the former Mobile Press Register building in downtown Mobile. A few years later, he moved his office to Baldwin County due to his mother moving to the area.

“I wanted my office near my mother in case she needed help. We opened in Bay Minette in 2002 and were there until 2017 when we moved to our current location in Spanish Fort.” LD said.

Holt’s law practice taps heavily into his insurance background, and he has become a highly valuable local resource in real estate.

“Because of my experience in insurance, we help estates, planning, management and probate. It became natural to oversee work in probate and estate planning. When people build businesses, they

often must eventually pass them along to family members. We help the preservation of assets today and for the legacy of tomorrow.” Holt said.

“Our second office, Legacy Law Firm, serves strictly as a fiduciary for trusts and estates. If somebody needs a third party that they can trust to manage their estate, and their family can’t or isn’t available, we can manage the estate until it is distributed,” he added.

Holt said that his practice is still growing. “We are bringing on more people and interviewing other younger lawyers. I have an appointment to take a week off in June of 2038. That’s the same month my birth certificate turns 90. By then I may slow down and let some well-trained young bucks continue to help people.”

When asked how he could have two robust, yet seemingly opposite, careers in one lifetime, Holt’s response reflected his razor-sharp mind.

“I simply tell them it’s the same business. I would stand up for them in court as a pastor and, when they needed, I will pray for them as an attorney.”

We help the preservation of assets today and for the legacy of tomorrow.

SUPPORTING THEIR SUCCESS

By Dave Danielson

Melinda

Nagy

The leaders who make an impact in the lives of others seem to share a very powerful trait … the willingness and ability to lift others closer to their own goals.

That’s a trait that describes Melinda Nagy.

As Associate Broker on the Bob Shallow Team with RE/ MAX Paradise, Melinda has a strong drive to support the success of those around her.

“I don’t like to stand in front of people. I have a strength that I have been blessed with. I like standing behind people,” Melinda says.

“I know I can stand behind them to make it happen. They have their own hopes and dreams. I am strong enough to be in the background to support them in their dreams.”

New Land.

Realized Opportunities. Melinda was born in a village in Transylvania and raised in Romania. She has vivid memories of her time in Eastern Europe.

“At the time I was growing up, it was a communist country but I was born to Hungarian nationals and that is where my background is,” Melinda says.

“I was born pretty privileged. But in time we lost everything, and we became very poor from my teenage years on. But one area of emphasis that was always very encouraged and important in my family was education.”

First Steps

As she came of age, Melinda earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology and her MBA in business.

Photos by Lew Thomas

Adobe House Media Productions

realtor on the rise

“Early on I knew I wanted to travel and live in a western country,” she says. “That’s what eventually led me to America 17 years ago in 2006.”

Melinda settled in Alabama … for a time, owning her own business in Gulf Shores. Eventually, Melinda became acquainted with Bob Shallow, who encouraged her to join his team. So in 2019, she earned her license.

Powered by Purpose

Melinda works with a strong sense of purpose for her clients. There’s more that guides her footsteps, as well.

“I want to represent the Eastern European community … for those children there who, like me, grew up without running water,” Melinda says.

“The only difference is that I dreamt bigger than them and that landed me here.”

Those dreams were fostered at an early age by her parents — Melinda and Erno, as well as her grandmother, Eszter.

“I can remember my father pulling me in front of the mirror. He would tell me that I was special. That kind of belief was very important, knowing that my older family members knew that I could achieve what I set my mind to,” she says with a spark.

“I have that internal voice that says you will not fail because you are special. They weren’t able to give me material things but they gave me something much more valuable.”

Melinda speaks five languages. She speaks in terms that support her clients and their needs. As a result, she continues to build her record of achievement.

Wonderful Life

Family is central to Melinda’s life. She treasures time with her husband, Rodrigo, and their four children — Giulia, Raphael, Francesca and Mila.

In their free time, Melinda and her family enjoy traveling whenever they can.

“We like to experience other cultures and people,” she says. “It’s important to me to teach our children to be very accepting and excited about other people.”

Another one of Melinda’s favorite activities is reading. In fact, she has read hundreds of books. In addition, she has a heart for helping. She supports the efforts of the Gourmet World Market, which is owned by her dear friends who are Ukrainian.

“They conduct fundraisers for the soldiers on the front lines and the people who live there. I find that inspiring,” she says. “You cannot come to this country and completely forget who you are. We are proud Americans and very grateful for this country but we don’t forget that we are Eastern Europeans. Their fight is our fight, too.”

It’s the same determined spirit she puts to work lifting those around her toward their dreams.

“What I do is driven by their needs. Their lives and the decisions they make toward their goals are things that I take very seriously.”

For questions or comments about this article, contact Melinda at (251) 269-3735 or m.nagy@alabama paradise.com

I HAVE THAT INTERNAL VOICE THAT SAYS YOU WILL NOT FAIL BECAUSE YOU ARE SPECIAL.

“Very few people have taken the time to educate the general public about termites. Education is such a big part of what we do with our real estate partners and clients. Our team is outstanding. They are loyal, hardworking and they are terrific at informing clients and making sure that they are happy.”

Relentless Results

The team is relentless in delivering its winning brand of termite and pest protection to homes across the area — stretching throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties.

“Our treatment methods are extensive,” Mike emphasizes. “Instead of doing just one treatment, we do three, four or even five treatments with every home to make sure that it is pest-protected.”

Above-and-Beyond Protection

Those who have the chance to work with Mike and his team appreciate that the process is very seamless. An initial call to the office puts the wheels in motion.

From there, the property in question is inspected, a free estimate is provided and the work is carried out. But that’s still not the end of the picture.

As he says, “Once we start with someone, we are there with them every step of

By Dave Danielson

Mike Adams

partner spotlight & E3 Termite & Pest Control

Necessity is the mother of invention. And it seems that it was destined for Owner Mike Adams to be in his current role — protecting the region’s homes from termites and pests with his team at E3 Termite and Pest Control.

He smiles as he remembers the way it all got started.

“I had someone challenge me to see if we could find a way to protect homes that use spray foam

insulation, a substance that is especially susceptible to termites,” he recalls.

Coming Up with the Answers

Mike used his 30-plus years of experience to come up with the solution. But that was just the start of his business four years ago.

As he says, “In addition to coming up with special treatment to protect homes from termites, we also evolved into a couple other

construction areas, including coming up with unique treatment methods for homes with stucco walls as well as those on pilings.”

Mike’s passion for his work is contagious. In a few short years, E3 Termite and Pest Control has grown to include a professional team of 10 employees.

“One of my favorite things is to train my employees to go out and deliver these solutions to our clients,” Mike says.

Photos by Lew Thomas, Adobe House Media Productions

the way through the closing to make sure that everything goes smoothly with their termite control at their home.”

Family Highlights

Away from work, Mike looks forward to time spent with his wife, Alison. He enjoys sharing the same path in life and business with her.

“I had been in the business about six months when she started with me. That was very important. She is so good at the organizational

and administrative side of the business,” Mike smiles. “It is a fantastic partnership. We spend 24 hours a day together and we just celebrated 22 years of marriage.”

In their free time away from work, Mike and Alison enjoy spending time with family and camping. They live on the lake and enjoy fishing and biking.

Exceptional Results

Truly, Mike and his team serve as a prime example of what it means to go above and beyond.

“I make sure that everyone I work with knows that I genuinely care. They can always get in touch with me. I make myself readily available,” he says. “We have more than 1,400 customers. I am involved with every project that we do.”

At the same time, Mike adds other elements to make working with his team as easy as possible, including offering his REALTOR® partners a 20 percent discount.

As he says, “I always strive to put together the best pricing possible to help support the deal.”

The future holds continued promise and growth.

“God built this company. Not me. We take care of our customers and employees,” Mike says.

“No one is a number. Everyone is somebody and we are going to take care of them.”

That’s what it looks like when you provide aboveand-beyond protection.

One of my favorite things is to train my employees to go out and deliver these solutions to our clients.