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HAR honors the 2018 Rising Stars in Real Estate
HOUSTON — It was a star-studded celebration on Thursday, October 4, as the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) honored winners of its 9th annual Young Professionals Network (YPN) 20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate Awards. The 20 winners were selected out of a highly competitive field of entries and were honored for excellence in sales, leadership and community service.
All of them members of HAR, the honorees represent what the selection committee considered an overall well-rounded Realtor. Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale was the featured speaker at the event – a man who personifies the leadership, community service and production ideals of the YPN 20 Under 40 recipients. McIngvale and HAR Chair Kenya Burrell-VanWormer handed out the awards to the winners.
Here is the complete list of 2018 winners and their bios:
Angela Ojeda – The Ace Team, Realty Solutions
Angela learned from an early age that she wanted to become an entrepreneur. After losing her mother at the age of 10, her grandparents took her in, all while running several successful businesses. With the values and work ethics instilled in her, real estate has become her new-found passion that has opened so many doors of opportunity. After starting The Ace Team three years ago, Angela’s goal is to build a successful team while still giving back to the community, as a team. Since then, The Ace Team has won many awards, but nothing has been more rewarding than finding her passion of helping people achieve The American Dream of homeownership.
Angela Clegg – Realty ONE Group Iconic
After a successful career in new home sales, Angela obtained her real estate license, but not intending it to be a long-term career, since she didn’t consider herself a “salesperson.” Luckily, it did not take long to realize that being a success in real estate is not about selling, but about building relationships, which is where she excels by putting people first and not the transaction. A self-proclaimed real estate “firefighter,” Angela attributes her success to engaging with people and always being present with her clients. Since opening her brokerage in 2011, she has focused on mentoring and supporting her team taking pride in always being accessible to her agents.
Ashley Crum – Intero Real Estate Services
The desire to be an entrepreneur has always run through Ashley’s blood. After leaving the corporate world, she wanted a way to work for herself with unlimited potential as well as the ability to spend more time with her family with the goal of leaving a legacy for her kids. Joining the PR Group gave her the direction she craved. Ashley prides herself in building lasting relationships with her clients as well as giving back to her community. She has been involved in many charity events, an active HLSR committeeman, community service, as well as a committed TREPAC major investor.
Blake Plaster – Heritage Texas Properties
Blake’s passion for real estate was sparked in high school when he helped his parents find their current home. He recalls, “I greatly enjoyed researching listings and attending open houses. From then on, I knew that real estate was a career fit for me!” After graduating from Memorial High School, Blake earned a degree in Communications from the University of Houston, where he was a member of the Undergraduate Real Estate Scholars. Upon graduation, he launched his real estate career and never looked back! Blake is part of the 2018 TRLP class and a major investor for TREPAC.
Brian Schwartz – Better Homes and Gardens – Gary Greene
Real estate is in Brian’s blood, starting with the family’s manufactured home company at the age of 17. With 16 years in real estate, “people often ask me why I stopped being a top-producing agent and went into management. The answer is now I get to make a positive impact on so many more lives!” Brian’s passion is giving back to the community, leading his main charity at Gary Greene along with the HAR YPN Advisory ‘Board Rebuilding Together Houston’. As the proud father of two boys, Ryland (6) and Brantley (3), his favorite thing to do is coach his sons’ baseball team.
Brittany Utterback – Greenwood King Properties
Once Brittany obtained her real estate license, she knew she wanted to work alongside Houston’s most elite real estate brokers and learn from the best in the business. After joining Greenwood King Properties, Brittany was honored as Greenwood King’s “‘Rookie of the Year” and has consistently been recognized as a “Top Producer” at her firm. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and a native Houstonian with a strong local network. With nearly $15 million in sales in 2017, Brittany’s determination, commitment and expertise are the driving the force behind her success.
Chanel Raesis – CB&A REALTORS®
As a 35-year Houston resident, Chanel has seen many changes to the city and its surrounding communities. But what hasn’t changed in her 10-plus years in the industry is her dedication to clients. Balancing being a wife and a mom of two brings its own set of challenges, which Chanel handles with confidence and ease, and she manages her clients just as skillfully. Sitting on the YPN and Professional Development advisory groups with the Houston Association of Realtors®, Chanel understands the role teamwork plays in her success. That’s why she serves as a mentor for up-and-coming agents and is committed to the community she calls home.
Donicia Whitman – Whitman Real Estate Group LLC
Donicia is a walking, talking example of the adage, do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Never one to take the passive approach, Donicia thrives on continual education, innovative thinking, and challenging the status quo. In 2001, she decided to form an independent brokerage so she could create her own mark on the real estate industry and her community. She leads her team with a simple daily mantra: give freely, expect nothing. This mindset is what drives the culture at her brokerage as it keeps focus on providing value, quality services, and a great customer experience above all else.
Emmy Rhoades – Realty World Uptown
Emmy, co-owner of Realty World Uptown, is a supermom from the Philippines who has a can-do attitude and is a strong woman that loves, forgives, walks away, lets go, tries again and perseveres – no matter what life throws at her. Happily married with five beautiful children, Emmy believes that motherhood has been the greatest joy and blessing in her life. Before taking on a challenging real estate career in 2016, she spent most of her time engaged with her children’s activities such as scholastics, arts and health activities. Emmy loves what she does, especially when she puts the smile on her clients’ faces.
Erica Stietenroth – eXp Realty
Four years ago, Erica dissolved her technology company to pursue real estate. Financial struggles in late 2016 had her contemplating leaving the industry. Instead, she dug in and, despite setbacks from Hurricane Harvey, closed 2017 with 29 transactions. She hired a coach, a transaction coordinator and will surpass her goal of 40 transactions for 2018. Erica recently launched a company, The Integrated Agent, providing materials and training to other agents. Erica volunteers on her HOA and PTO boards and at her church. She is married, has two daughters and has a Master’s degree from Texas A&M.
Erin Dominy – Kelly Simon Properties
After receiving her degree in Social Work, Erin spent many years working within the court system’s Family Protective Services, testifying and fighting for the rights of children in CPS custody. Standing up for the rights of those in dangerous and high-risk situations, acting in their best interest was her passion. These experiences have given Erin the perfect combination of drive, commitment, fight and compassion for others. After transitioning to real estate, she received the Top Producer award in her first year as a full-time agent! Erin is very thankful for her great deal of success, and is planning to grow and continue to rise with the same sets of ethics and love for all of her clients.
Jennifer Vickers – Kelly Simon Properties
Nearly two decades after Jennifer started her career swinging a hammer on a Houston Habitat for Humanity job site, she continues to put fundamental construction knowledge, expertise in marketing and visibility, project coordination, financial savvy and her life-long love of learning to work for her real estate clients. A top-producer from her first year in business, Jennifer is the proud recipient of MCNE and GRI designations. When she’s not providing “white-glove” service for Houstonians on the move, Jennifer is an enthusiastic volunteer with the Timbergrove Manor Civic Club, Friends of West 11th Street Park, Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce and an array of other local organizations.
Kelsey Mcgaughey – Intero Real Estate Services
Kelsey learned grit at a young age, overcoming unexpected tragedies and life obstacles. She’s taken tragedy and turned it into a triumph. After finding the right team at The PR Group, Kelsey has excelled in real estate, crushing her volume goals by 300%. Kelsey has a big heart, the way she handles each transaction shows it. Giving back is a major key in her life. She’s involved in the YPN Advisory group, a TREPAC Major Investor, RPM where she fosters dogs. Kelsey also gives back to the recovery community as well as various charities held through her participation in a local motorcycle club.
Kiesha Nicole Curtis – Realty Kings Properties
Kiesha started in real estate in 2007, when the market was at a low, so she quickly learned that she needed to lean on her strengths. A background in counseling, social work and education may not be the normal resume of a realtor®, but Kiesha attributes this combination to her success. “I use my experiences as wife, parent, community leader, renter, confused homebuyer and seller, to connect with my clients, develop a plan to serve and deliver an experience that they’ll never forget!” There’s no “one-size-fits all” in real estate; I customize my service for each client. Kiesha also enjoys serving her community through volunteerism and as a newly-elected public official in Brazoria County.
Marita Corkill – RE/MAX Space Center
Marita has been intrigued with real estate since junior high school. A master at multitasking, she doubled up her last year of college at Texas State University acquiring her real estate license through correspondence at Texas A&M. After college, Marita immediately jumped into real estate at the age of 23, finding creative and inexpensive ways to promote her career, market and sell homes, while doubling her sales almost every year. Twelve years later, a top producer, wife and mother of four young kids, multitasking is still her biggest asset. Inducted in the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, Marita loves to give back, every transaction she contributes a portion of her commission to Children’s Miracle Network, recently raising $40K in one evening!
Michael G. Davis – Brooks & Davis Real Estate Firm
Michael is the co-founder and current CEO of Brooks & Davis Real Estate Firm LLC. Under his leadership, the firm has grown from a company of two individuals to upwards of 80-plus licensed salespeople and staff. He operates with uncompromising standards and the absolute finest professionalism; quickly responding to the needs of his clients with the hopes of building special life-long relationships after the sale. Michael also facilitates the company’s training protocol which involves weekly video based business & training sessions called Create Your New Life and their 15-month coaching and developmental program called the Agent Development Institute.
Ryan Birdsong – Birdsong Real Estate
Since Ryan grew up in the family real estate business, it was only natural that he obtained his real estate license at age 18. Having grown up in his local market, he puts his personal knowledge of the area to work for the benefit of each and every client. Ryan learned from his father, who is a 40-year real estate veteran. Ryan joined the Birdsong Real Estate team shortly after college and later purchased the company in 2017. He resides in Lake Jackson with his wife Courtney, 3-year old son Beau, and one-year-old daughter Ann-Elizabeth.
Susana Arpe – John Daugherty, REALTORS®
As John Daugherty Realtors®’ newest sales manager, Susana first began as a buyer’s agent and then became the director of Krueger Real Estate’s first listing team, doing over $10 million in production last year. She then went to help shape development and other programs within the brokerage. Previously a 4th grade teacher, Susana holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, an experience she brings with her in coaching agents. This year, Susana participated in TRLP, Ft Bend Paal committee, and obtained TREC approval to instruct CE courses. A Texas A&M graduate, her free time is spent with her 5-year old twin boys and their debonair dog, Bruce Wayne.
Tiffany Fuller – CB&A REALTORS®
Serving others with heart has always been a true passion of mine from the work I do within the community as a volunteer serving several organizations in leadership roles to my career in real estate where I #buyandsellwithheart within my hometown and surrounding areas! My career has afforded me the opportunity in the last three years to take that passion along with determination, heart filled prayers and hard work to become a top producer within CB&A Realtors®. It is about the journey for me and the ability to be able to not only provide for my family, but help others achieve their goals and dreams along the way with heart.
Zach Richmond – Richmond Realty Group- RE/MAX – The Woodlands and Spring
A Woodlands native, Zach attended John Cooper School and graduated from Baylor University. In November 2016, Zach and his mother-in-law formed Richmond Realty Group-RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring. His honors include Woodlands Chamber of Commerce Diplomat of the Year 2016 & 2017, Houston Real Producer’s 2017 Rising Star and reviewit Magazine’s 2017 Montgomery County Do-Gooder. Guided by the core principles of: Serving to the Best of our God-Given Ability, Exceeding Expectations Always & Giving Time and Resources Back to the Community, Richmond Realty Group helped raise $100,000 for Montgomery County Youth Services in the past 12 months.
Source: David Mendel, Houston Association of REALTORS®
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