GOPI KANCHERLA

I am Gopi Kancherla, originally from the southern part of India. I moved to the USA to pursue higher education and received my master’s in mechanical engineering. After graduation, I worked in the auto industry as a mechanical engineer for eight years before moving to Peoria, Illinois, in search of better job opportunities. I started working for a local company in September 2008 and have had a successful 14-year career in engineering (I am a dual career Realtor). In addition to my passion for learning, I have always been interested in the business side of things. This led me to pursue and earn an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in May 2014.

On a personal note, I have been married to Swapna for nearly 20 years and we have two daughters, Thanvi and Pranavi. We currently live in Dunlap, Illinois, where we built a custom home in 2015. This experience sparked my passion for real estate, and I began helping friends who were going through the custombuilding process. It occurred to me that I could turn this passion into a career as a real estate agent, so I obtained my license in August 2017 and joined Keller Williams of Peoria.

My first sale as a buyer’s agent was in October of that year, and I sold my first listing in August 2018. Carolyn Catton, who is now my Managing Broker and mentor at Realty Executives Acclaimed, represented the buyers on the transaction. She has been in touch with me ever since. After four years with Keller Williams, I decided to switch to Realty Executives Acclaimed due to their more favorable compensation model.

I have had a successful year with Realty Executives Acclaimed, largely thanks to Carolyn’s excellent support and my belief in empowering my clients with information. I always share both the positives and negatives of a property and let my clients make their own decisions rather than trying to influence them. Most of my business has come from referrals and word-of-mouth from past clients, friends, and family. I have not focused heavily on marketing and promoting my business. Overall, I believe that providing clients with information and allowing them to make informed decisions is key to success in real estate.

BRANDON THOMPSON REALTY EXECUTIVES ASSOCIATES

I have always been passionate about baseball. I played it throughout my life until a shoulder injury ended my college career. However, my sports background has instilled in me a drive to not only succeed, but to excel in everything I do, including real estate.

In college, I met my wife Allie, who has been an invaluable supporter in my journey to become a full-time real estate agent. When I decided to pursue real estate, we were both young and starting from scratch in Knoxville, Tennessee. I grew up just north of Chattanooga, so I was starting my real estate journey with zero connections in the industry. I was unsure of where to begin. One broker recommended that I speak with Justin Bailey, and after doing so, I knew that Realty Executives was the right fit for me.

Despite not knowing anyone in the office, I was immediately struck by the close-knit community and the support everyone offered each other in their pursuit of success, which reminded me of the sports world I had come from. Realty Executives has an excellent reputation, which is due in large part to the hardworking and dedicated agents who consistently provide top-notch service to their clients.

When I first started out, all I had to offer was the Realty Executives name and the resources it provided me. But my clients placed their trust in me, and Realty Executives has enabled me to assist them with buying and selling properties all over the country.

As a newer agent, I have been fortunate to build a thriving business at Realty Executives, thanks to the positive and supportive atmosphere, the successful mindset of my colleagues, and the accountability we all have to each other and our clients. I have been blessed with wonderful clients who have supported me through referrals and word-of-mouth marketing, and I have had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients, including seasoned investors, first-time home buyers, those looking to sell, and those searching for their forever home. I am excited for the future and look forward to meeting all the people I will have the chance to represent as a member of the Realty Executives team.