4 minute read
INDUSTRY STANDOUTS
Every industry has individuals that elevate the profession by going above and beyond, and the real estate industry is no exception. We have reserved a place in our publication to recognize these trailblazers who epitomize what the industry stands for. These individuals not only exemplify professionalism and leadership within the real estate industry but within the community as a whole. By giving back through time and money, each one of them is helping to build and strengthen the West Michigan community. They are beacons within their field, and we salute them!
Thank you for your hard work, commitment to excellence, and your dedication to continually raising the bar of the West Michigan real estate community.
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Josh May
With over 20 years in the business and 32 million in team volume, Josh and his team use their expertise and industry connections to bolster the community. Josh is passionate about giving back and does so by patronizing local businesses and supporting his favorite nonprofits, Kids Food Basket and Heartside Ministries. Josh is the founder of Grand Rapids Young Professionals which feeds his passion to connect and educate both clients and young professionals. Josh also supports one scholarship annually for a GVSU business student.
Ashley DietchSchaefer
Ashley takes pride in leading a brokerage that excels in superior market knowledge, industry involvement, and being well-connected. Hello Homes GR embodies everything Ashley believes in, for both life and work: passion, culture, honesty, unwavering ethics, attention to detail and, of course, fun! Ashley has the honor of sitting on numerous local, state, and national committees to stay up-to-date on current events and issues and to be a frontline leader and voice for all. Aside from all that, her greatest honor is being a wife and mother.
Rachel Major
In her 6 years in real estate, Rachel has helped more than 325 families! In 2019, Rachel was recognized on the National Association of Realtors 30 under 30 list—and for good reason. She and her team seek opportunities to give back to local businesses and help the community in every transaction they are a part of. Rachel fulfills this mission in part by supporting 311 Youth Housing, a local nonprofit dedicated to developing safe, affordable housing for youth. Additionally, she and her husband have a talent for finding, buying, and beautifying homes in our community.
Wade Monsma
When it comes to hard work and integrity, Wade Monsma sets the bar high.
He is the epitome of a great loan officer, and the pride he takes in his work is unprecedented. One of Treadstone’s longest running employees—Wade has seen it all. He began with Treadstone in 2006 and truly encompasses the values of the company. Detail oriented and diligent, Wade does it right the first time and puts in the extra work to ensure a seamless mortgage process for all of his clients.
After many years in the manufacturing industry, a lay-off encouraged Wade to try something new. A neighbor mentioned possibly getting into the mortgage industry, which seemed off-putting to Wade at first. An incredibly active and hands-on person, Wade was uneasy about taking a desk job. Nonetheless, he entered the financial industry and worked primarily with refinancing. When business began slowing in the early 2000s, Wade applied for a job at Treadstone. After two rounds of interviews, co-owners Kevin Polakovich and Brendan O’Driscoll decided to give Wade an opportunity. While they were wary of his lack of direct experience in home purchasing and sales, they saw his incredible potential. Wade’s work ethic and eagerness to learn, as evidenced by his career in manufacturing, made him difficult to overlook. Fourteen years later, Wade is still originating loans with Treadstone.
For Wade, the best part of the job is the client interaction. He loves the application and closing meetings when he can engage face-to-face with clients and really get to know them. Wade would rather meet in person than send an email any day—these are the connections that make his job meaningful.
Wade is incredibly proud of all of the work that he does. Helping people achieve a dream of theirs is rewarding, and he loves playing a part in that.
Having been with the company since its beginning, Wade is proud of how far Treadstone has come. He loves working for Treadstone because of the integrity and values of the company. Wade believes that these are upheld in large part due to the people who work for Treadstone and explains that the owners have done a great job prioritizing these values and staying true to them every day, even as the company has grown.
Outside of the office, Wade loves staying active and has many fun hobbies. Not one to be caught sitting still, he loves doing anything outdoors—trout fishing, boating, snowmobiling, and dirt biking. In August, you can find him boating on Lake Michigan with his family, and he takes several trips a year into Canada to four-wheel in the wilderness with his wife. Wade has been married for 33 years and has four children and six grandchildren to accompany him on his endeavors! There is never a dull moment with Wade.
