Career Highlights

I started my career in residential real estate in the late 1980s at a boutique realty office in the East Valley.  Initially, I sold re-sale homes, but soon was recruited into new home sales. In 1993, I was the company’s top salesperson and received the new home salesperson of the year in Arizona award (MAME-Merchandising Achievement Marketing award).  I was very happy and making an extremely good living when I was approached to become a Keller Williams Team Leader (sales manager) in Ahwatukee.  I was surprised and somewhat dismayed when I learned that I would have to take a 75 percent pay cut, however, I knew the owners had been approached many times about selling their company and they had always refused.  I realized that Keller Williams must be offering something special to convince them to give up their independence and become a Keller Williams franchise. 

I decided to check it out and visited Keller Williams’ headquarters in Austin, Texas.  When I sat down with co-founder Gary Keller and CEO Mo Andersen, they explained that their philosophy was to promote a real partnership between agents and home buyers and sellers and that they had created an agent-driven company.  I shared with them that I had a real passion for training, coaching and consulting to help real estate agents learn how to achieve maximum efficiency at work while preserving personal time to spend with family and friends.  After our meeting I was skeptical because I had never encountered a real estate company that published and stood behind values that mirrored my own views.  I knew, however, that if the company actually performed as promised and if they provided me with the opportunity to provide coaching/training, it was where I wanted to be.  I took a leap of faith and decided to join the organization.

I never regretted my decision.  Since 1997 when I joined the company, I have successfully launched four local Keller-Williams franchises with my partners – in Scottsdale, Tempe, Ahwatukee and the Antheim area -- which collectively employ more than 650 agents and had more than $2 billion in residential real estate sales in the metro Phoenix area.

Outside of Arizona, I co-own the Northern California and Hawaiian region for Keller Williams International, which currently has more than 28 franchises staffed by 4,000 agents and annual sales of $5 billion+. 

I have been recognized as Keller Williams’ Real Estate Coach of the Year (1999), Team Leader of the Year (1998 and 1999), top Recruiting Market Center (1998) and am an International Charter Faculty Member and Senior Instructor for Keller Williams University.

Community, Civic Involvement

I am passionate about helping children and those less fortunate.  My philanthropic work includes working with the Scottsdale Active 20/30 Club, which was founded to support children’s charities throughout the Valley by hosting special events, such as Nite Flite, a charity golf tournament and tent party.  I truly believe in the club’s motto that “A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.” 

After working closely with this organization and serving as its Sergeant of Arms, I was inspired to create the KWSW Foundation, which allows Keller Williams agents to contribute directly to Valley charities.  The foundation also adopted needy families  and has raised money for St. Mary’s food bank as well as other local charities.   I am thrilled to see our agents embrace the opportunity to provide hope for the less fortunate. 

I also coach my son’s Baseball team and am active in the children’s ministries at Mountain Park Community Church in Ahwatukee.

Greatest Accomplishments

I was adopted when I was nine weeks old and grew up in South Phoenix.  My father, who was a wonderful man, died suddenly of a heart attack the night I delivered my 8^th grade Salutatorian address.  Unfortunately, I saw many of my peers make bad choices that had a negative impact on their lives, and it would have been easy to follow in their footsteps.  However, I determined early on that I wanted to live a life that would make my father and my mother proud.  I accomplished this by surrounding myself with supportive family, friends and the church and by seeking out smarter, successful people who helped me realize what I could accomplish if I set goals and worked hard to attain them.

I am extremely pleased that I have achieved a level of financial freedom that ensures I can take care of my family and can pursue my passions.  However, this accomplishment would not have meant anything if it came at the expense of my personal life.  Nothing is more important than my family, which includes Lori, my wife of 16 years, and my sons Tyler, 4, and Zachary (Zach), 1-1/2.

Another wonderful accomplishment is that I see a world of endless possibilities.  Early in my career I decided that I wanted to be a successful international sales trainer and motivational speaker.  Although many people told me to be more realistic in my expectations, I remained committed to this goal and have achieved what I set out to do.  Through Keller Williams University, I have trained thousands of real estate agents nationally and internationally and feel as if I have been able to help improve the quality of their professional and personal lives.  I teach them how to set goals, develop plans and schedule the time needed to live a balanced and happy life.  I now coach other coaches and team leaders to help them expand existing markets and grow new markets.  I receive more offers to speak around the country than I can handle.  

The biggest complaint I often hear is that there’s not enough time for work, for family or for play.  I practice what I preach:  I work to fund my life’s passions and make the time to enjoy them.   I have a challenging and rewarding career; I am able to experience the milestones and small, treasured moments in my children’s lives; my wife and I enjoy a relationship that has grown stronger over the years and I still have time to spend alone hiking Camelback Mountain and reflecting on the present and future.  At a fairly young age, I have ability to explore non-traditional options such as the possibility of attending a religious seminary to further explore the spiritual and philosophical aspects of life while knowing that my family will be provided for if I choose to move in a new direction. 

My vision for leadership and the success of the Valley’s business community

As an almost native Phoenician – I moved here when I was 3-years-old -- I am committed to helping the Valley evolve as a national business center.  As part of my mission to help business leaders throughout the region identify synergies that can lead to business opportunities, I became a founding member of Abercrombie & Kent Towne Clubs,  which provides business networking opportunities through business and entertainment events and travel with business leaders.

Arizona is experiencing the hottest real estate market ever and the unfortunate behavior of a small percentage of real estate agents has tarnished the reputation of my profession.   I believe that realtors should serve as advocates for the buyers and sellers they represent and that their primary focus should be meeting the needs of their customers.  As the owner and co-owner of several companies, I strive to incorporate integrity into everything I do and to associate with individuals and businesses that share my beliefs.  I try to lead by example and to demonstrate through the people I hire, the training I provide and the business practices I adopt, that success is possible without resorting to short cuts or fraudulent activities. 

Mentors

All of what I am today I owe to my Mom and Dad.  They set a wonderful example – they lived within their means, instilled good values, and dared to dream.  My Mom became a single mother just as I entered high school. She never complained and she didn’t feel sorry for herself -- she also didn’t let me feel sorry for myself.  She taught me that when there’s a job to do, you do it to the best of your ability and she encouraged me to seek support and guidance from others.  Most of all, my parents made me believe that anything was possible and that I should never give up just because achieving a goal was difficult.  My mother has provided excellent advice throughout my life and I often still seek her guidance.

On the professional side, my mentor is Gary Keller, one of the founders of Keller Williams International, respected author and business dynamo.  Gary inspires me through his words and actions, serving as a role model to emulate.  His commitment to developing an ethical organization with a unique business model that not only empowers and rewards real estate agents for their financial performance, but encourages them to focus on personal achievement and having a balanced and happy life has changed the lives of thousands of people.  His investment in training is unmatched in the real estate industry and goes far beyond the standard approaches provided by most corporate training.  He teaches people to aim high when setting goals because small goals tend to place limits on our potential.  One of his favorite quotes is “Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated.  You can’t cross a chasm in two small steps.”  (David Lloyd George, former Prime Minister of England)

Both my parents and Gary have been vital to my success and fulfillment and have helped me shape my philosophy of life.  I believe that life is a journey, not a destination.  You have to love the journey, but to succeed you must have a plan and you need to execute it.