RISING STAR
Michelle Bowman
BROKER IN CHARGE
Cynthia Deitz Byrd
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Prewett Pest Control
RISING STAR
Michelle Bowman
BROKER IN CHARGE
Cynthia Deitz Byrd
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Prewett Pest Control
Celebrating ONE YEAR on the Gulf Coast!
Residential & Commercial ROOFING
Roof Repair
Leaks, Re-Roofing, Shingles Replacement, Roof Coatings, Roof Tear-Offs, Storm Damage Repair
New Roofing
Roof Installation, Metal Roofing, Shingles Roofing, Flat Roofing
GUTTERS
Seamless Rain Gutters, Gutter Installation
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
BUSINESS NETWORKING
Mobile Chamber of Commerce
Michael Galvin (251) 431-8628 mobilechamber.com
CLEANING - RESIDENTIAL
J. S. Fresh Start Cleaning Services, LLC (251) 654-5650
DRONE VIDEO/ PHOTOGRAPHER
Adobe House Media Production
Lew Thomas (251) 454-0004
27940 Bay Branch Drive Daphne, AL 36526 adobehousemp.com
FENCING SOLUTIONS
Eastern Shore
Fence Company (251) 604-3018
FLOORING & DESIGN
Prestigious Flooring and Design LLC
Garrett Scarberry (251) 802-0363 prestigiousflooringand designllc.com
FOUNDATION REPAIR
MDH Foundation Repair
Shannon Reichart (251) 375-0565
108 5th Street, Daphne, AL 36526 mdhfoundationrepair.com/
Ox Foundation Repair (815) 703-7727 oxfoundations.com
HOME IMPROVEMENT/ MAINTENANCE
All Inclusive Maintenance (251) 509-4618 aimremodels.com
HOME INSPECTION
Complete Home Inspections, LLC (251) 510-1809 completehome inspectionsllc.com
Knockout Home Inspections (251) 747-1214 knockoutinspections.com
HOME WARRANTY
Home Warranty Inc. (260) 433-4027 homewarrantyinc.com
HVAC SERVICES
Don Hembree Heating & Air (251) 259-4664 hembreeac.com
HVAC/PLUMBING/ ELECTRICIANS
Hansen Super Techs
Brianna Mcadory (251) 850-5322 HansenSuperTechs.com
INSURANCE AGENCY
Goosehead Insurance (251) 999-6931 wigginsflock.com
LENDER
Home Front Lending (251) 509-7791 hflend.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
Lightspeed Restoration
Jimmie Newton (251) 776-4669
25421 Hwy. 181, Suite 103 Suite 103 Daphne, AL 36526 LightspeedRestoration.com
MOVING/DELIVERY/ STORAGE
All My Sons Moving & Storage 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 36527 E3pest.com
Prewett Pest Control (251) 277-1361 prewettpestcontrol.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
Deep South Focus Photography (251) 421-0517 deepsouthfocus.com
REAL ESTATE ORGANIZATIONS
Baldwin Realtors Association (251) 947-3777 baldwinrealtors.com
ROOFING SERVICES
Pelican Roofing And Gutters (251) 725-3375 pelicanroofingal.com
SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Crye Leike
David Stidham (251) 405-2600
229 East 20th Avenue, Suite 1
Gulf Shores, AL 36526 www.alabamabeach vacations.com
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
TITLE COMPANY
Celebration Title Group (251) 689-4948 celebrationtitlegroup.com
VIDEO PRODUCTION/ DRONE SERVICES
EyeSky Video & Photo, LLC
Stephen Hinds (317) 727-2919
297 Beall Lane Daphne, AL 36526 eyeskyvp.com
If you did not attend our last social event on February 1st, on the Causeway at The Original Oyster House, you missed a fun party. Check out the videos and testimonials on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
The Causeway turned out to be a great location for realtors from both Mobile and Baldwin County, so we are back on the Causeway for our next event. This one will be at Ralph & Kacoo’s on June 20th. The event will be held in their newly renovated space at ground level. This is a semi open air space with air conditioning. As usual, great food will be provided and there will be a cash bar.
June 20th 4:30 - 7:30
Mobile Bay Real Producers is much more than a magazine. Our quarterly, private social events for our top realtors and advertisers are a big part of what we do, and your attendance and participation are vital to the success of our magazine. If you have been featured or will be featured in the magazine, you especially need to be at this event! The vendors who support your free magazine expect to see you there. You will be able to network with other Real Producers like yourself, improve relationships and start some new ones.
Be on the lookout for your RSVP invitation sent via Eventbrite. Come out and enjoy the company, great food and beverages and door prizes.
By Robert OrsoErick Haffner, Mobile Bay Real Producers Top Agent for June; was born in Birmingham, but spent his formative years in South Florida.
“My father was a manager with Sears at the time and, for over 20 years, was a store opener. When we moved to Florida he had retired and essentially was starting over at the age of 40 to start his own business, becoming a franchise owner.” Haffner said.
Erick completed his high school years at Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach, Florida, where he was immersed in the quintessential south Florida lifestyle.
“I got into surfing when we moved to South Florida and have never stopped for over 43 years; now having a 12-board quiver. It’s somewhat of a love and an addiction.” Erick said.
Haffner was also a well-rounded student academically and a gifted artist; his flair for entrepreneurship was seen at an early age.
“My mother fostered my abilities with art classes. I joined a local art guild and started selling my watercolors and pencil drawings at the age of thirteen. Before that, I was delivering newspapers on my bicycle every morning, before and after school around the age of ten.” he said.
Additionally, during his sophomore year, Haffner became active in work-study.
“Starting in 10th grade I became involved with DECA and worked every day. After lunch, I would leave school to go to a wholesale manufacturing shop that made dive equipment. It was near the beach and occasionally my boss would let me knock off early to go surf. It was a great program.” Erick said.
After graduation, Erick made a beeline to Auburn University without hesitation.
“My father and mother both graduated from Auburn. My mother is from Chambers County and has a great uncle that went there when it was called the East Alabama Male College.” Haffner said.
Erick finished with a B.F.A. specializing in stone carving. Wanting to be closer to the water to pursue his love for surfing, and having a brother in Magnolia Springs, he soon migrated down to lower Alabama. He quickly found employment at Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery, handling repair work on vandalized monuments.
“It was a blessing to work there and helped me expand my artistic capabilities working on a variety of monuments in such a historical area. I worked there until eventually starting a painting business in Baldwin County.” Erick said.
Haffner started turning towards his current career by handling
historic paint restorations on homes, where his attention to authenticity was unparalleled.
“In 2001 I was working a job on Ono Island with my contracting company, and the gentleman who owned the home was Mike Miller, the co-owner of Coldwell Banker South Shore Realty in Orange Beach. I specialized in faux finishes and custom paint work at that time.” Erick said
“I listened to classical music, due to my art background, while working. He found that to be impressive, we started talking, he suggested that I had a great personality for real estate and should consider getting licensed.” he added.
On a personal front (and around the same time) Erick’s life improved when he met his current wife, Adwiti Subba Haffner, at a local beach eatery.
“She is from Darjeeling, India, located in the far northeast foothills of the Himalayas and was an international flight attendant who had retired early. She was visiting
all of her favorite destinations in the United States and, at the time, was renting in Gulf Shores having recently relocated from Pensacola. It was divine intervention guiding my life for me to meet her, and she 100% supported my transition into real estate.” Haffner said.
Tapping into his entrepreneurial background, established from a very young age and honed through decades of small business ownership, Haffner hit the ground running as a new agent with Coldwell Banker South Shore after obtaining his real estate license in late 2002.
IT WAS A BLESSING TO WORK THERE AND HELPED ME EXPAND MY ARTISTIC CAPABILITIES WORKING ON A VARIETY OF MONUMENTS IN SUCH A HISTORICAL AREA. I WORKED THERE UNTIL EVENTUALLY STARTING A PAINTING BUSINESS IN BALDWIN COUNTY.
“I would get a list of owners, then would go back to the office and look up phone numbers. This is long before the Do Not Call Registry; and would do that all during the day. Around four o’clock I would take a one hour nap in the break room in the office and then get up to start ‘Dialing For Dollars’ and calling on own ers from 5 pm to 9 pm. about their properties.
I was having such good conversations it was hard to get off the phone because they had not been updated at that time. Nobody was really doing what I was doing back then.” Erick said.
Fast forward to today and Haffner has been the top producer, brokerage wide, at his former firm, as well as top agent in his current role as an Associate Broker with Realty Executives Gulf Coast, for 15 out of his past twenty years as a real estate pro fessional. The other five years has seen him in second place with a few outliers in third. Collectively, Erick has closed upwards of a quarter billion dollars in his career, a $250 million dollar benchmark.
Balancing out his business life with a robust personal life, Erick is the proud father to a gifted daughter, Kaysheri Haffner, who has recently finished up her freshman year at the University of Florida studying pre-law as well as working on her first novel.
Haffner also still taps into his artistic side by creating beautiful religious art called Rangoli for the Hindu Festival of Lights (Diwali), heading up a household that prac tices dual religions.
Still an avid surfer, Erick also adroitly keeps waterproof business cards tucked away in his wetsuit for potential buyers or sellers he may meet at the local beaches.
For those inspired by Haffner’s eclectic story of stellar success by following his own unique path, insightful nuggets were provided. “This career is a marathon not a sprint. Find your niche, believe in your product, work harder than you’ve ever imag ined and you’ll find success.”
For questions or comments about this article, contact Erick at (251) 942-5744 or erickhaffner@gmail.com
RRusty Prewett, the owner of Prewett Pest Control and Mobile Bay Real Producers June Spotlight Vendor, was born and raised in Atmore and has strong family connections to lower Alabama.
“Growing up, Atmore was about an hour from Mobile or Pensacola, and so we had to drive pretty far to get to a larger town.” Prewett said.
Rusty was a well-rounded student growing up, making good grades and active in sports with a special affinity for basketball.
“We grew up in a basketball family. My older brother was a talented basketball player, went on to play in junior college and currently is an assistant on Bruce Pearl’s staff at Auburn.” Prewett said.
After graduation, Rusty attended Auburn due to strong family connections to the university.
“I studied marketing at Auburn and wanted to go into sales. My mother was in medical sales and growing up, we rode along with her on appointments. She was always listening to motivational CDs in the car such as Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy and it was very influential.” Prewett said.
After getting his degree, Rusty moved to Birmingham and eventually wound up working for the Hoover Chamber of Commerce, where another pivotal moment moved him towards the path of entrepreneurship.
“One day I was calling on Mark Yarbrough, the owner of Yarbrough Real Estate School in Birmingham, trying to recruit him to join the Hoover Chamber. He tells me about this book ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ by Robert Kiyosaki and, of course, I had never heard of it. He went on to explain its principles and I was blown away by the ideas behind it.” Prewett said.
“After that meeting I went out, bought and finished it faster than any book read in my entire life. I then called my younger brother Travis and told him to read it. A week later he calls me back stating that we need to start our own business.” he continued.
Not long after, the two brothers established R&T Properties in 2004, buying distressed properties to rehab and flip for profit.
“That really was the starting point on working for myself. We soon connected with a realtor in Birmingham who was pivotal in learning about sales and real estate. However, when the economy tanked and the Great Recession hit, it opened my eyes to my exposure in that industry. It was at that time that I really started thinking about owning a business, instead of just being a dealmaker.” Rusty said.
In 2009, Prewett found an opportunity that checked the boxes for what he was looking in a successful
“My brother and I had this friend who had an Allstate business, and he was at a point of wanting to sell his agency. I was intrigued and could not understand why he wanted to sell a business that was providing reoccurring revenue. I never thought of getting into insurance prior, but it seemed to be
recession proof since people need to have insurance coverage, so I bought the business.” Rusty said.
To accelerate the growth of his new acquisition, Prewett shrewdly sought out high producers in the industry who could provide advice on best practices.
“Somebody has to have cracked the code on how to have a top insurance agency. I researched the names of several very successful Allstate agents and just started picking up the phone and calling, asking to take them out to lunch to get advice on how to run a successful agency.” Rusty said.
“It shortened my learning curve tremendously. Having the mentality of reaching out and being vulnerable is an experience that I’ve also used in our pest control business. People at the top of their game like to share and pay it forward. You’ve just got to go out and ask.” he added.
Prewett developed and grew his insurance business tremendously over the years, making it one of the largest offices in the southeast before selling in 2023. In true finger-on-the-pulse fashion, however, Rusty started recognizing changes in his industry over the years that precipitated his move into another arena.
“I felt like technology had progressed so fast in insurance that it had gotten to the point of taking away large parts of market share from agents and would continue. I saw the writing on the wall and decided to pivot.” Prewett said.
Looking for another business sector that was recession resistant, provided recurring revenue and was scalable, pest control checked off all of the requisite boxes for Rusty. In 2019, he officially made the announcement to his immediate family about venturing into pest control.
“We served our first customer in July of 2020 in Auburn, essentially opening the company during a global pandemic. People stayed home a lot and saw bug activity, so our phones rang a lot. I was very fortunate to get in at that time, in hindsight.” Rusty said.
Prewett Pest Control picked up their Robertsdale location in 2021, promptly relocated to Fairhope, and sales have tripled since the
acquisition. Rusty attributes growth to his unique business model.
“We’re focused on modernizing the experience for the customer. We communicate digitally through texts and phone calls, and also set up monthly billing to make it easy. We also provide year around protection with our normal service intervals, to come out and treat homes. In between services, if we get a call, we will be out there the same day or the next day to take care of it free of charge.” Rusty said.
“To date, our reviews on Google have been unbelievable. Some customers write novels about our service and I try to read every single one of them. In three years, we’ve gotten over 1,100 five-star reviews from local people leaving legitimate feedback. I’m very grateful and proud of that.” he concluded.
For more information about Prewett Pest Control, call (251) 277- 1361 or email them at prewettpestcontrol.com
There’s that magic moment when a family receives their new set of keys and they make their way home to enter the door of the place that has just officially
And one of the most amazing parts of it all is the fact that you have played a central role in helping
That’s the same spirit of satisfaction that Michelle Bowman has for her work with her clients. As a REALTOR® with Elite Real Estate Solutions in Daphne, Michelle enjoys the process of getting her clients across new thresholds in their lives.
“Whether it’s a family purchasing their dream home or a couple making their first purchase, it is a special time. It’s one of the largest decisions they will make in their lives,” she explains. “I really like communicating with them through each and every step, so they aren’t left in the dark about what’s happening.”
Truly, Michelle works with an emphasis on the
“I treat them the way I want to be treated,” Michelle says. “No one likes to put a call in and then not hear back for a couple days. So I am always responsive.”
Michelle grew up in Daphne. As she came of age and created career success outside of real estate, she owned her own boutique in Daphne for 10 years. She also served as a Delta Flight Attendant.
In time, she decided to sell her business and earn her real estate license in 2021, which had always been a dream of hers.
She remembers the elements of her work that helped her make a successful transition into the business.
“Consistency and communication are the keys,” she emphasizes. “If you keep following up with people, it will come. You have to work hard to become successful.”
Michelle is fueled in her drive by helping people, and by assisting them in reaching the finish line.
Michelle treasures time with her family, including her husband, Matt, and their children—their son, Sidney, and their daughter, Kathryn.
In her free time, one of Michelle’s favorite pastimes is enjoying Mobile Bay sunsets. She also likes taking walks with their dogs, playing tennis, along with yoga and watching her children compete in soccer.
GIVING BACK
She also likes to stay engaged in supporting the needs of the community. One of her favorite efforts is being part of her brokerage’s combined efforts—Elite Gives Back. In fact, she serves on the committee for the organization at the brokerage.
While success in real estate (like other industries) is never a given, Michelle points out that there are some basic steps that new members of the industry can take to improve their chances of success.
IT IS VERY REWARDING TO SEE THE REPEAT CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE COME BACK. I’M HONORED BECAUSE I DID A GREAT JOB FOR THEM.
It’s often said that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care about them.
That certainly describes the selfless approach that Michelle takes each day with the people she works with.
“It is very rewarding to see the repeat customers who have come back. I’m honored because I did a great job for them,” Michelle says. “It’s very
“One of the primary steps is follow-up. When you follow through and honor your commitments, it makes a difference,” she says. “Also, don’t stop. Keep going and, in the process, keep your head up.”
important to me that those I serve know that I’m here for them … to look out for their best interests each step of the way.”
With integrity, commitment and drive, Michelle Bowman works with pride … with the knowledge that her efforts have a direct impact on clients crossing new thresholds. FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ARTICLE, CONTACT MICHELLE AT (251) 753-4232 OR MICHELLE.EASTERNSHORE@GMAIL.COM
If there’s one thing you can count on in a “typical” real estate transaction, it’s that there will likely be something along the way that will arise that tests your experience and expertise.
That’s one of the elements that drives Cynthia Deitz Byrd in what she does each day.
As Owner/Broker of Ty Irby Realty & Development Co.,
Cynthia enjoys rising to the challenge on behalf of those she serves.
“When my Boys were younger, I was always involved in the school, and the administration would call on me for career day. I enjoyed talking with kids about what it was like to be a REALTOR®,” Cynthia says.
“I said the thing I liked most, was that I never did the same thing twice. There was something different about each day. I like living on the edge … on the spur of the moment. It’s fun diving in and making things work. I like challenges.”
A New Path Opens
Cynthia earned her real estate license in 1987. But, as she remembers, it was never a foregone conclusion that she would get into the profession.
“I had never thought about working in real estate. I worked as an Allergy Technician for 10 years,” she says. “When I was helping my little brother sell products for a school fundraiser, I wouldn’t take no for an answer, and through that process, a lady at work, Jeanette Brown told me that I missed my calling and that I should sell real estate.”
So, Cynthia attended Spring Hill College and earned her license while continuing to work at the clinic.
It’s a marathon. You have to persevere. You have to keep on keeping on.
When I had my interviews, a lot of real estate companies didn’t want part-time agents. However, Marie McConnell said she was fine with that, hired me and gave me that chance. So I placed my license with ERA Marie McConnell Realty.”
“I did real estate before work, on lunch, after work and on the weekends. I worked two jobs for six-and-a-half years,” Cynthia says.
“The supervisor at the clinic said your customers can’t call you at work. I prayed about it and I quit that job, and never looked back.”
Gaining Ground
She remembers learning, growing and taking every chance she could to apply herself and move forward.
“Marie McConnell taught me that people have to tell you no seven times before they meant it. I had a log book and I would go to For-Sale-By-Owner properties periodically and ask if they were ready to list. I started from there and went on,” Cynthia explains.
“Along the way, we did cold calling. Things were different then. We would get the phone book out and call people. I had Barbara
Higgins and Donna Whiston who helped me and answered questions that I had.”
In time, Cynthia had an opportunity to take the next steps forward in her business. She worked alongside Ty Irby at ERA.
“He got his license a little before me. He always got top agent. He and I were both into horses. He had Tennessee Walkers and was a trainer,” she remembers. “My husband and I visited him and became really good friends. I started doing horse shows also.”
In time, Ty decided to open his own brokerage. It wasn’t long before Cynthia joined him. In time, Cynthia became Owner/Broker. Today, she’s proud to lead a team of five.
Family Fulfillment
Away from work, Cynthia treasures her time with
family. She loves being with her husband Gary, and their two sons Tanner and Briggs, as well as the rest of her family and friends. She enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors and has a particular fondness for animals – especially her two dogs.
Cynthia and Gary are active members of their church.
Cynthia enjoys assisting her brother with his annual Alabama Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries fundraiser, as well as other fundraisers at her local church for mission trips and other various needs.
Clearing the Way Forward
As she continues looking for opportunities to serve those around her, she also offers helpful advice for others who are getting their own start in the business.
“One thing I would say to a new agent of the business is to remind them that that this isn’t an instant business. You have to persevere. You have to keep on keeping on. It’s a marathon,” Cynthia says.
Congratulations to Cynthia for leading the way for her clients, team members and community each day. In the process, she looks for opportunities to pitch in, rise to the challenge and find a solution that works for all involved.
For questions or comments about this article, contact Cynthia (251) 402-2143 or cynthia@tyirbyrealty.com
“When you’re really young you don’t have a lot of those previous business relationships. Without that, it takes a minute to get your sphere of influence. Just don’t give up. Don’t take no for an answer. It’s a building business. You have to build it to be successful. Plus, I always say if I take care of my people, God always takes care of me.”
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.