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20 April 2022 | prestonhollowpeople.com Supply Chain Challenges Prompt Creation of Trucking Academy Preston Hollow couple aims to recruit more women, people of color into the industry
By Emilea McCutchan
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Preston Hollow husband-andwife trucking duo Austin Carter and Sierra Nicole have seen the brunt of ongoing supply chain woes and are opening a trade school to combat it.
Carter, a trucking veteran of seven years, sees a truck driver shortage contributing to the problem. The pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing shortage, and new regulations have made it challenging to obtain the proper certifications to move freight, he said.
“A lot of people, especially in California, [can’t] even get into the ports unless they have certain certifications to be in a port [and] to be able to get freight,” said Carter. “[Due] to that right there, we’re really suffering.”
That means shipping delays and barren store shelves, Nicole added.
They are starting Elite Trade Academy to bring more people into the trucking industry.
The academy will operate as a four-week program where students spend two weeks studying online to attain their permit before learning how to shift and maneuver in an actual semi-truck. Students would then take a test to achieve their Commercial Driving License.
So far, they have helped students with online classes but are still putting the funding together to attain the physical elements of the school, such as the semi-truck.
Sierra Nicole and Austin Carter (COURTESY PHOTO)
“It is our mission to be able to get more drivers out,” Carter said. They are especially focused on introducing more people of color to trucking, he said. “We’re [also] trying to get more women inside the trucking industry because they make up about 40% of the workforce, but in trucking, it’s about 7%.”
Nicole also wants to target ex-felons, people in low-income communities, and adults who have aged out of the foster care system. The academy has given scholarships to people within these demographics, she said.
They also hope to show how trucking is a good career opportunity. For Carter and Nicole, a career in trucking has provided for their family for seven years.
“The fact that [Carter] was able to [learn] a trade, have a good career, and provide for our family [is] what really sparked [Elite Trade Academy],” Nicole said.
They want to give that same opportunity to others.
“Having a career in trucking [is] not just a career,” said Nicole, “but it’s a lifestyle.”
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Resort Style Living!
4833 Walnut Hill Lane
$4,549,000 5 Bed / 6.2 Bath / 1.006 Acres
Doris Jacobs
214.537.3399 doris.jacobs@alliebeth.com
Susan Baldwin’s Market Insight
Tenacity, patience and excellent negotiation skills are all key to navigating in today’s market. We work to connect you with the right home and then come in strong to win the transaction. Buyers need to be ready to act fast and be flexible.
Susan Baldwin
214.763.1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com
Cocotos-Scott Group’s Market Insight
The Dallas housing market took a big leap in 2021 with a 13% increase in median home prices. The number of buyers relocating to the area continues to increase with more demand expected in 2022. We expect the market to remain strong with properties selling both on and off the market.
Kimberly Cocotos and Kristen Scott
University Park Estate
7243 Baxtershire Drive
Marc Ching
214.728.4069 marc.ching@alliebeth.com
Designed to Perfection
5138 Deloache Avenue
$10,995,000 6 Bed / 7.2 Bath / 11,185 Sq.Ft.
Alex Perry
214.926.0158 alex.perry@alliebeth.com
University Park Estate
3005 Rosedale Avenue
Susan Bradley
214.674.5518 susan.bradley@alliebeth.com
Hear from My Clients
Clarke found an off market property for us before listing ours which meant everything to us. Winning out in multiple offers and managing both unique closings was a credit to her knowledge and ability in this crazy market.
— JL, Preston Hollow Client
7327 Lane Park Court — SOLD
$974,900 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath / 3,190 Sq. Ft.
3901 Shenandoah Street — CONTRACT PENDING
$7,500,000 4 Bed / 4.4 Bath / 8,814 Sq.Ft..
Beth Parks & Kelley Winsor
214.444.4176 | beth.parks@alliebeth.com
Sue Berk is one-half of the husband and wife team of Berk Walters Homes. With her husband, Brad Walters, the company builds new construction luxury houses in the Dallas area — especially the Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Devonshire, Midway Hollow, and the Bird Streets.
How long have you been in real estate, and what led you to this career?
On and off for 30 years. I started my career in marketing and advertising for Fortune 500 companies. I got into real estate in a roundabout way. I was working at Texas Instruments and had just bought my first condo in North Dallas. I wanted to renovate it and could not get a contractor to do the work. The engineers at TI told me, “Do it yourself!” Some of them helped me out by showing me how to change out a light fixture, and I also learned how to tile by myself. I ended up renovating the entire condo myself in my spare time (paint, tile, wallpaper, etc.). I was featured on The Discovery Channel on a show called Interior Motives. I love being creative, and custom home building allows me to combine creativity, project management, and finance. It is the perfect career for me.
Now that you’ve been a real estate professional for a while, if you could go back in time and give yourself any advice, what would it be?
Buy houses/lots in Midway Hollow and especially The Bird Streets! They were so cheap 20 years ago!
What is the best thing about being a builder?
I love so many things about being a builder. Seeing my vision come to life. Picking out all the tile, paint, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, and more. That is my favorite part — being creative. But I also enjoy working with so many of my subcontractors. They are good people, mostly Hispanic, and it’s satisfying to see them do good work. They really are masters at their craft. I only wish Seeing my vision I spoke Spanish!
come to life. Picking What is your out all the tile, outlook on the Dallas market?
paint, light fixtures, I honestplumbing fixtures, ly do not see it slowing down. and more. That is I sort of wish it my favorite part — would because the traffic from being creative. all the new peoSue Berk ple moving here is insane. And it’s also getting more and more expensive to find lots and to pay for raw material and labor. But it is an exciting time to be a builder in the Metroplex. I love coming up with new designs and new ideas. Dallas is very cutting edge when it comes to new construction and design.
Can you give us a fun fact about yourself?
I grew up in South Africa, and I lived in Israel for a year during my junior year of college. So, I consider myself an immigrant, although most people do not realize it because I have an American accent. I believe that travel is the most important thing anyone can do — to learn about other cultures so you can understand their point of view. – Compiled by Bethany Erickson
9727 Audubon Place
(PHOTOS: COURTESY EBBY HALLIDAY REALTORS)
Originally designed by Robbie Fusch, then reimagined and transformed in 2020 by the current owner, this stunning home includes an addition that clocks in at more than 7,000 square feet. The commanding 1.3-acre gated estate in the heart of Old Preston Hollow comprises an 18,769 square foot main house with seven bedrooms, 10 full and four half-baths, seven fireplaces, four kitchens, a media room, tasting room with chilled wine storage for approximately 1,000 bottles, an exercise/ spa/beauty room, billiard room, a catering kitchen with commercial appliances, and much more. The square footage excludes the 2,026 square-foot climate-controlled auto collector’s showroom with custom lighting. Overlooking a Bachman Creek tributary, the new infinity-edge pool with sunken fire pit rivals any 5-star resort. Just a few of the additional amenities include light-andbright living spaces, Venetian plaster walls, Lutron Smart Home system, a backup generator, elevator, and central vacuum system.
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