Corpus Christi Real Producers - June 2021

CORPUS CHRISTI

C O N N E C T I N G .

E L E VAT I N G .

I N S P I R I N G .

Lisa A Coastal Bend Real Estate Titan

RISING STAR: BRYCE SHIRLEY LEGENDARY LEADER: PHYLLIS LEE

Styled by Julian Gold Photography by David Olds Fotografie

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2 • June 2021

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Corpus Christi Real Producers • 3

TAB LE OF

CONTENTS 05

10

14

Publisher’s Note

Rising Star: Bryce Shirley

Cover Story: Lisa Flores

18

20

24

Informing: Developing a Sustainable Housing Market in Corpus Christi

Legendary Leader: Phyllis Lee

Preferred Partner Spotlight: UNIQUe Service Plumbing, LLC

If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at amanda.carmichael@realproducersmag.com.

DISCLAIMER: Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of The N2 Company d/b/a Real Producers but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the Corpus Christi Real Producers magazine are not endorsed or recommended by The N2 Company or the publisher. Therefore, neither The N2 Company nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies.

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4 • June 2021

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publisher’s note Written by Amanda Carmichael

HOME.

From the many REALTORS® I’ve talked to over the past months, I have discovered how driven and adaptable you are. It’s been awesome to hear your stories about change, and how you embraced and even built upon that change to continue serving customers during a very challenging time.

The mission of Corpus Christi Real Producers is connecting, elevating, and inspiring each other, our clients, and our community.

This is not just a magazine. Corpus Christi Real Producers is a mindset, making a movement!

I’m humbled by so many of you, REALTORS® and Preferred Partners, who’ve offered guidance and made yourselves available to me as I stepped into the market with this venture. I’m forever grateful to all of you for all of your encouragement in the process.

MAKING YOUR HOUSE A

A home is a place where you feel warm and cozy. You have things around you that are special and have meaning, but most of all you are surrounded by people that have a purposeful meaning. A family makes a house a home by living in it. The people are what make it special.

Our social media presence allows the community to be introduced to licensed REALTORS® and our preferred partners; people of proven character and ethics. The magazine will highlight the Coastal Bend’s real estate titans, celebrate a rising star, show how brokers have impacted lives, and reveal what makes our preferred partners so amazing.

When I first discussed launching Corpus Christi Real Producers with our founder, Remington Ramsey, in August 2020, I had some apprehension about starting CCRP during a pandemic and what that might mean for the real estate industry. In typical Texas fashion, real estate professionals in this dynamic market pivoted quite ably. Now I’m excited to be launching the inaugural issue.

Remington once wrote, “This movement has caught fire.” The Real Producers platform has been successful because of its ability to connect the area’s top producing agents with preferred partners, and with each other. There are many other reasons that make RP successful, but at its core, that’s what this is all about.

Elevating the real estate community.

Reputation is everything. Any person, or business, whose name is connected with Corpus Christi Real Producers, has been nominated by their peers and the community. They are people you can trust. They are people you want to partner and work with.

Home is not a place, it’s a feeling. So let’s celebrate the people in our real estate community who are producing real results and impacting lives!

Welcome home to the Corpus Christi Real Producers Family.

Amanda Carmichael Owner & Publisher Corpus Christi Real Producers amanda.carmichael@ realproducersmag.com (361) 816-4495

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6 • June 2021

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MEET THE CORPUS CHRISTI REAL PRODUCERS TEAM

Amanda Carmichael

Ruth Gnirk

Roland Rodriguez

David Olds

Brianna Cortez

Publisher

Copy Editor / Writer

amanda.carmichael@

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(361) 742-0333

Writer

Photographer

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Ruth & Martin Ramos

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If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at amanda.carmichael@realproducersmag.com. .

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Corpus Christi Real Producers • 9

rising star Written by Roland Rodriguez Photography provided by Brianna Cortez Photography

BRYCE SHIRLEY Becoming a real estate agent can be a simple matter of signing up for a short course, and then passing a licensing exam. Becoming a successful real estate agent takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Three years after Bryce Shirley earned his real estate license, his hard work, dedication, and perseverance are paying off.

10 • June 2021

Portland, Texas native Bryce Shirley worked diligently as a 16-year-old, but he had his sights set on something higher than retail. When Bryce was still in high school, a family friend, real estate broker Patti Cass Strain hired Bryce as her assistant at Cass Real Estate.

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“I thought being a real estate agent would be so easy,” Bryce reminisced. “I thought I would just show a few houses, and sell one or two houses a month, and get those $20,000+ commissions.”

The reality was that Bryce arrived at the real estate office after a full day at high school, and he would work long into the evening. Patti took Bryce under her wing, and taught him both the brains and heart of real estate so that when he was old enough to obtain his real estate license at age 18, he would be prepared.

I can do this now, where would I be if I kept up with it and made a name for myself in the Coastal Bend in the next 5-15 years?

Then I would be making more than a doctor!”

In his first full year as an 18-year-old real estate agent, Bryce closed on real estate contracts totaling $4.8 million.

He knew, going into this business, that he wouldn’t earn a regular salary. He was prepared to work hard to earn a living. But it took him time to become confident in his own ability so that others could see him as a REALTOR®, not an 18-year-old who didn’t own a home himself.

Though the tasks and the schedule were demanding, Bryce rose to the challenge. “I was always working, and getting more involved with the high production,” Bryce said. “That is when I found out how hard real estate was, and what went on behind the scenes.”

“I think the biggest challenge is getting started. Most people know a lot of REALTORS®. They say, ‘why should I choose you?’ When I first got started, I had a lot of people ask me, ‘who is going to buy a house from an 18-year-old?’” Bryce chuckled, “Later on that year, when they asked, I said ‘37 people bought a house from me this year!’”

Bryce wanted to continue his education after high school, so he enrolled at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Initially, he planned to pursue a career in the medical field. However, he had already built up clientele and had business coming in. Bryce maintained above a 3.5 GPA, but he admits that school was not something he focused on wholeheartedly, so he changed his major.

Bryce acknowledges that it was hard getting started, and encourages new REALTORS® from his own experiences. “The biggest challenge is marketing yourself and getting people to put their trust in you to help them make one of the biggest decisions they will make in their lives,” said Shirley.

Bryce recalled that when he was thinking in terms of a career, he knew he was already established in real estate. “I don’t love school so much, but I think it is because school sometimes takes me away from real estate, and real estate is something I really like doing,” said Shirley.

The first two years in real estate are traditionally the most trying and difficult. Many quit because they simply can’t do enough business to earn a living, and they have no support team.

Bryce admits that he had his moments of doubt during his first few sales. But he learned from his experiences, and his confidence grew as well.

During his first summer out of high school, with a brand new real estate license, things suddenly picked up. “I had about 15 listings on the market. All of them were going under contract. Things were definitely getting better.

I was working with many buyers,” said Bryce.

“I was an 18-year-old, driving my brand-new BMW around town, thinking about all my contracts. I thought, ‘okay, I can live with that.’ If realproducersmag.com

The college senior has made a name for himself in South Texas.

In just three short years, at the tender age of 20, he has sold $10.5 million worth of property. In 2018, he was honored as the San Patricio County Association of REALTORS® Rookie of the Year.

Since that time, he has been awarded the San Patricio County Association of REALTORS® monthly Top Five award 14 times.

For Bryce, business came naturally. He bought his first house at just 18 years old. He has continued investing in real estate, hitting the multi-million-dollar mark in investments when he was just 20.

“I could not have done this without the help of my previous broker, Patti Cass Strain, who gave me confidence and education.

I had almost two years of back-training with her before I became an agent. Because of her, I was able to answer questions on a drop of a dime. If there was a problem, I could answer or find a solution right away because I did my research. I was trained so well by Patti that I can function like a real estate agent who has been in the business for over 20 years. When I started as an agent, I wasn’t starting as a brand-new agent with no training or experience. That hands-on experience has helped me immensely in the past, and it is still helping me now,” said Shirley.

Bryce Shirley doesn’t want to be remembered just because he was successful at such a young age. He feels that an agent’s mindset has a huge impact on how successful he or she is. Bryce is living proof that if you believe in yourself and your abilities, people will overlook the age factor.

Corpus Christi Real Producers • 11

Bryce knows it is hard if you can’t show clients the value that you personally bring to the table. After reflecting back on his first few years in the business, Bryce knows exactly what he would say to new agents. “Forget about making that sale, and really start caring about the client. People like to deal with people who can genuinely show that they care about them.”

Bryce says he is always passionate about being the best representation for his clients. Unfortunately there are agents who will do anything to make a sale. Bryce said, “Sometimes you need to pause that transaction, put the thought of money aside, and put the client’s interest first. That is what you are supposed to do. The clients will remember you even more when you put them first. This business is a lot of word-of-mouth, with people referring friends to agents they respected, or coming back as a repeat customer. They are putting all their life equity and savings into their purchase. You don’t want to put someone’s life in jeopardy because you want to make a little $4,000 or $5,000 commission. You have to be passionate about putting their needs above yours.”

Strain and Coldwell Banker Pacesetter Steel REALTOR® owner April Magnuson, have made him the person he is today.

Bryce’s initial goal was to make enough money to support himself and the lifestyle that he wanted. He has added the goal of building up a solid reputation so he can draw in bigger clients, and be able to sponsor agents underneath him. He hopes that in 10-15 years he won’t have to work as hard to make a name for himself because people will be coming to him.

The real estate business is tough. There have been many times when Bryce admits he’d rather sit back and not have to spend time marketing and putting himself out there day after day. But knowing that his colleagues have nominated him as the first Corpus Christi Real Producers Rising Star makes him want to push even harder, and inspire others in the real estate business to become multi-million dollar producing agents. “If you are good at it, real estate is kind of like the mafia,” said Bryce.

“Once you are in it, it is hard to get out.”

Bryce has additional advice for future rising stars. “Don’t go to a brokerage that offers you things just to get you on board, but then does not give you any type of training. You need to know how to use your license, and not just have your license and be sponsored by it. You need a highly respectable broker who is willing to train up and give you the education needed to become a top producer.”

“100 percent of nothing is nothing. You need someone to teach you how to complete a transaction, how to keep them together, and how to properly represent your client, because that is where you are going to make the money,” Bryce continued.

“If you join a brick-and-mortar company, they start you off at a 70-30 split. A lot of people think it is foolish to give away 30 percent of their earnings, but six months later the agent working for the reputable broker is receiving leads, the broker is helping them build their business, and working with them on contracts from start to close, and that real estate agent who joined the brick-and-mortar company has already closed $5 million in sales” said Shirley.

“I want to be more remembered as someone who came fresh into the business and hit the ground running to be an active producer who had a high volume of closing transactions. I also want to be remembered as someone who always made friends with all the other agents, and was always taking time out of my busy schedule to help anyone that needed it.” Bryce shared, “When you are an independent contractor, everyone is your ‘competitor,’ but it doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with them and help them succeed too. It all comes around. You never know when you are going to need help.”

Bryce plans to continue to follow his dreams, becoming a broker and owning his own real estate agencies. He humbly and gratefully acknowledged that the love, support, and mentorship of Patti Cass 12 • June 2021

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cover story Written by Ruth Gnirk Photography provided by David Olds Fotografie Styled By Julian Gold

Lisa

Flores Lisa Flores was born and raised on the West side of Corpus Christi, in the Molena neighborhood. While growing up, she looked up to her mother and grandmother. They were strong women who had strong faith. Lisa recalls fondly that they taught her to be right with God, and right with herself.

14 • June 2021

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Most of Lisa’s dad’s side of the family were educators, but Lisa had an entrepreneurial spirit and had dreams of making a life for herself in the financial world. From a young age, Lisa knew she didn’t want to be dependent on others to make her dreams come true. She planned to create financial freedom so that she could experience, and enjoy, her life.

The couple bought their first house three months later, and got married in September. “We feel that because we adopted Jayden, because we said yes, God has had a hand in our lives the whole time.

He is the reason we are the Flores family.

We had our own plans. We were young and unprepared. He changed our lives.”

She and her husband of fifteen years met when they were in junior high together. “My husband is my best friend. We share everything together. We have known each other since we were twelve. We’re buddies,” Lisa laughed. “He’s the first person I want to tell anything to, and vice versa.”

Lisa and Jason now have four children that they are raising in faith, hope, and love.

Kallie is 3, Micah is 9, Lola Ava is 14, and Jayden is 16. The whole family stays very busy, but they love spending time together, at home. They play card games, barbeque, and star gaze. “We love spending time with our kids,” Lisa said. “We try to give them experiences we didn’t have growing up.”

Lisa graduated from West Oso High School as salutatorian in 2000. She went to college in Colorado for her freshman year, and then came back to Corpus Christi to finish earning her degree. Lisa was highly motivated for success, and she earned her financial degree in just three years. But then she was unable to find employment in her new field because of her lack of experience.

Still, Lisa held on to hope. Rather than becoming discouraged, Lisa completed her alternative teaching course, and began teaching. But even in her first year, Lisa knew she didn’t want to do this for the rest of her life.

She dreamed of more, and was not afraid to work for it.

“My Mom always told me, ‘You’re not conceited, you’re convinced,’” Lisa recalled. “I have always felt I was made for greatness, and that I was going to do big things. I’ve always worked toward being better every day; every year. It’s a process. And that’s what has gotten me to where I’m at.”

Lisa and Jason had planned to travel after she graduated from college. Jason worked in the oil field, so they planned to have an adventurous life of travel together before they settled down. But a family member had a baby and was unable to continue parenting him. Lisa and Jason stepped forward in faith, with hope, in love, and said they would adopt Jayden.

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Lisa knew she couldn’t get to where she and Jason wanted to be, or fulfill their goals in life while staying in the field of education.

She had been exposed to the fascinating and fast-paced world of real estate through a part-time job she’d had in college, working for a mortgage company.

Lisa and Jason had goals. They wanted to start living life, not just make a living.

During Lisa’s second year of teaching, she stirred up her hope and enrolled in an evening class. For four months, she taught students all day, and then attended evening class to earn her real estate license. It was exhausting, but she was spurred on by her faith and hope, and the love of Jason and their children.

For ten years, Lisa taught school all day and focused on real estate until bedtime.

“Sometimes we do what we have to do to make it,” Lisa reminisced. She was the committed wife of a traveling oilfield worker, and a mother, trying to live out her faith and keep sight of hope for the ones she loved. It was hard working two jobs, but Lisa said, “I knew this was just a step to get me to the next level.”

Lisa started her real estate career in September 2008, just as the stock market

crashed. She sold one house her first year. But her faith was not diminished by the difficulty, and her hope was not extinguished by what was happening.

Lisa shares her story with new agents and tells them one key is consistency.

“It’s working at it every day. It doesn’t come easy, or everyone would do it.

Just stay at it if it’s something you love and enjoy, and are passionate about. We all start somewhere; just keep going. I’ve lived it. I know.”

Although she was working for a nationally known company, Lisa felt she didn’t fit in. She was much younger than the other REALTORS®, but it went deeper than that. “When I first started, no one helped me,” Lisa shared. “I was surrounded by top producers, but I felt alone.” Real estate is a very competitive field.

Agents don’t typically share what they have learned with others.

Lisa purposed in her heart to remain morally and ethically correct, and to help others succeed as well. She stated, “That is why God has blessed me.”

As she interacted with other agents and grew from her experiences, Lisa tried working for an independent broker and then for several other nationally recognized real estate companies.

Her longest experience was working six years for a broker based in Dallas. Although she was making 100% commission, she was on her own. Then she heard about EXP, and that’s when her life took another turn.

Corpus Christi Real Producers • 15

Lisa continued teaching and pursuing real estate after school. She used so much energy on other people’s children that it was depleting her of the time and energy that she needed and wanted to spend with her own family. And teaching kept her from fully working the job she truly enjoyed.

“Being a teacher is a great responsibility. But there is a lot of heartache in teaching. When you’re so invested, it can be draining,” Lisa explained. “You can only do so much, because it’s not all you.”

Lisa started listening to training sessions through the app on her phone during her lunch break, and on car rides. She began hearing about and seeing other agents’ success, and all the resources available, and she was stunned. Lisa said that when she joined EXP, “it was a totally different culture of real estate, because of the collaboration and support of others.” She also learned to make the most of the business model, which allows agents to create extra streams of income.

Lisa had been mentally ready for a change, but not financially ready. She had heard that through the virtual, cloud-based company EXP, everything could be done through the agent’s phone or laptop.

This stirred up Lisa’s faith. As she started researching, her hope began growing. “I knew this was where I was supposed to be. So I went all in. No turning back,” she recalls.

After her first year with EXP, Lisa was able to leave her teaching job and work her real estate business full time. She no longer had the struggle with work-life balance. Lisa had missed out on making memories with her two oldest children because she was working two jobs.

“

IT’S WORKING AT IT EVERY DAY. IT DOESN’T COME EASY, OR EVERYONE WOULD DO IT. Lisa smiled as she recalled the tears of joy from her first grade daughter Micah, the day Lisa surprised her by bringing Micah a special lunch at school. Lisa now has the time and resources to be with her children and attend their events. “I love my children, and I work hard so they can have the life I didn’t,” Lisa said.

Jason had worked in the oil field for 18 years, traveling much of the time. Last February they were able to bring their family back together when Jason earned his real estate license. Together they closed over $14M in volume this past year. And this year is looking even better.

16 • June 2021

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A majority of her business now is referral business from satisfied home buyers. “You get out what you put in,” shared Lisa. “I took the time and invested in myself. I learned other ideas; I learned from top producers from other States. It gave me a different perspective and a fresh start.”

One way in which Lisa expands her horizons is by listening to motivational speakers. Lisa laughed while she shared that she listens to them so much, “My kids even send me clips of motivational speakers!”

Lisa challenges other agents to keep learning, keep transforming, and stay connected. She encouraged, “Take advantage of opportunities and events, and training!”

Lisa specializes in first time home buyers, and she continuously seeks to educate her clients throughout

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the real estate process. “I strive to ensure that my clients know what’s going on, what’s next, and what to expect,” shared Lisa. She explained that when clients feel they understand the process, and the reason behind it, they will feel empowered instead of overwhelmed with each new phase. This will help them feel confident and hope-filled as they achieve the ultimate goal of getting to the closing table.

Lisa loves that she and Jason can be active role models in their children’s lives.

“I tell our kids, ‘Life is hard. Everything is not going to go your way. Just be positive and keep going. Trust that God is with you, and everything will work out.”

“We create everything,” Lisa said with passion in her voice. “We have to initiate our blessings. So step forward and have faith. Believe in yourself. Have confidence.” She also encourages agents to be compassionate with buyers and sellers during the process. “A real estate

transaction is a time in a person’s life when they are transitioning.

There’s emotion. Be considerate of that. It can be hard.”

“I know what it’s like to be there at the bottom,” recalled Lisa. “I was just starting, and nobody helped me. That is why I’m a mentor now. We all need help.

We all start somewhere, and it’s ok to start over. It’s ok to fail.

Just get back up and keep dreaming. Keep going after it. Don’t give up. It will come.”

Lisa’s story started, and continues, with faith, hope, and love.

She said, “I want to go to the top. Who is coming with me?! If you’re not successful, then I’m not successful. My job is to help you.

Don’t be afraid to ask. We’re all still learning.”

Corpus Christi Real Producers • 17

informing Written by Amanda Carmichael

DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE HOUSING MARKET IN CORPUS CHRISTI

As members of the greater Corpus Christi community, and specifically of the real estate community, we want to see growth and improvement. We want to help facilitate positive change that will not only benefit us here and now, but that will position the next generation to be even more successful than we are.

The Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation (CCREDC) team, led by President and CEO Iain Vasey, is in the business of growing our economy. The Corpus Christi Regional EDC is a partnership between public and private members.

Rather than fostering competition, this collaboration helps to ensure that the goals of both the public and the private sectors are met so that Corpus Christi can thrive, not just survive. “Our job is jobs,” Vasey said. “The biggest differentiator in everything from health to housing to educational outcomes for a family is the presence of a well-paid job with benefits.”

Vasey explained that to sustain our economy and ensure our community’s continuing growth, Corpus has to attract responsible corporate investors who will create great jobs. Investment 18 • June 2021

creates tax revenues, while the introduction of new businesses brings new positions with new pay scales and benefits.

The CCREDC is constantly championing to attract greater investment and better jobs to Corpus.

However, the skilled workers who will be attracted to move into our area need to have an appealing and interesting place to live. This is where Vasey and his team appeal to you, the top 300 Real Producers in The Coastal Bend.

Vasey reported that the long-term trend in Corpus Christi is an increase in high-paying jobs, which necessitates the need for more housing options.

He cautions that if the current job-increase-toavailable-housing ratio continues, Corpus Christi will be short up to 5,900 housing units within the next three to five years. That is causing the rapid increases in home sale prices. There is just not enough product on the market. @realproducers

Vasey’s message is sobering and empowering. “The real estate community is a significant player in economic development in this region, and housing will become a significant limiting factor if the shortage is not solved.”

“The high-paying jobs are coming,” said Vasey. “We need more skilled workers, and we need developers to build homes that are affordable for working families.”

He explained that currently in the Coastal Bend, the median family income is around $60,000. That means that to enjoy life and have affordable house payments, the average price for a home should be around $200,000. Yet that is not the cost of the average home for sale in Corpus Christi, where median home sales prices exceeds $230,000.

The real estate community needs to be informed and proactive about housing trends. Vasey urges us to take leadership, keeping pressure on officials to promote business-friendly policies, as we are in growth management mode. He also stresses the importance of promoting educational policies and programs that encourage students to focus on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math). That way the young adults of our community can be the ones stepping into these new upcoming jobs with great benefits.

Sarah Tindall, Corpus Christi Regional EDC Vice President of Marketing and Investor relations encouraged readers to utilize their recruitment tool, explorethecoastalbend.com, which showcases all the neighborhoods and cities in the region with current listings, amenities maps, and information about schools. Tindall explained that the CCREDC uses the website to attract talent who may be considering living in the Coastal Bend region.

How you can personally make a positive impact on the economic development in the Coastal Bend: Educate potential buyers so they don’t overextend themselves financially.

Support and encourage the next generation in pursuing STEM subjects and enrollment in trade schools.

Support sustainable economic development policies through positive involvement in local and State government.

Follow CCREDC.com and become an active member!

Discover the CCREDC’s recruitment tool which showcases regional neighborhoods and cities: explorethecoastalbend.com

realproducersmag.com

Corpus Christi Real Producers • 19

Phyllis Lee Celebrating 50 Years Of Embracing Change

Phyllis Lee learned long ago to embrace change, and that is what has helped her to become the oldest, and most experienced, real estate broker in Texas. She has been actively involved in real estate for 50 years, and she just rebranded herself early this year: Lee Real Estate, Inc. Phyllis doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon.

“You might be surprised,” Phyllis said with a laugh, “but I actually had no desire to be a REALTOR®, at first.

That was Gerald’s idea.”

legendary leader Written by Ruth Gnirk Photography provided by David Olds Fotografie

20 • June 2021

@realproducers

Phyllis and Gerald had been high school sweethearts. They were married in the fall of 1951 and had two wonderful years together before Gerald was deployed. Phyllis reminisced that although she was proud of her Navy husband, it was hard to be apart during his 11 months of active duty overseas. They were only able to talk on the phone once during his deployment.

After Gerald was honorably discharged from the Navy, the couple was glad to be reunited.

They had two sons, and settled into a comfortable routine. Phyllis served as a substitute teacher, and gave private art lessons to middle school girls.

not lived in their houses long enough to build up equity. Phyllis did not want to see anyone lose money on their investment, so she created a property management company, renting the houses until the owners could sell their properties for a profit.

There are some changes that Phyllis has intentionally rejected. She has not, and will not, give up her ethics, her morals, or her values. “People want to trust you,” explained Phyllis passionately. “It’s not about houses, it’s all about relationships. Selling isn’t the end. I am making lasting

friendships.” Even today, people stop her in stores and tell her that they still remember the positive experience they had when she sold them a house decades ago.

Throughout her 50 years in real estate, Phyllis has noticed a change in the pace of home ownership. People now move approximately every seven or eight years. This is where repeat business and referrals come into the picture. Most people want to make important life transitions with the help of people that they trust. And people trust Phyllis Lee.

Some lean financial times inspired Gerald to become licensed as a REALTOR®, but he wanted his sweetheart to join him in his new adventure. He dreamed of them selling homes together, instead of having separate careers.

Embracing this new change, Phyllis and Gerald attended training together, and were both licensed as REALTORS® by January 1971.

“Gerald sold his first house, and he decided that was enough,” Phyllis recalled. “But not me. I was hooked!”

Phyllis worked hard as a real estate agent for six years. She recalled how different it was from real estate today. She started her career waiting for prospective clients at new construction sites, pen and paper in hand. If someone drove by and was interested in the house, Phyllis would talk to them. If the family felt that particular house wasn’t the right fit for them, Phyllis would show her prospective clients every other available other house in the area.

Phyllis continued learning, growing, and embracing change. In her last year as an agent, she personally closed 58 transactions. Then a friend invited her to become a partner in a brokerage, and she embraced that change too. She now has just under 20 agents, and a quarter of them have been working with her for two decades.

One of the biggest personal changes that Phyllis embraced was Gerald’s transition into construction. “He built over 400 homes, and I sold them,” she recalled. Many were sold to fellow Navy families during a sudden boom.

Within a short period of time, there was a change in naval assignments, and many of Phyllis’ clients and friends needed to move. However, they had realproducersmag.com

Corpus Christi Real Producers • 21

For Phyllis, the biggest and best change in real estate is the advent of the computer. “Most customers have looked up houses before they even speak to an agent,” shared Phyllis. She has noticed that serious buyers and sellers also use the computer to research the ethics of a brokerage or agent as well.

There were several beneficial changes and major milestones that have occurred over the past five decades. “In the beginning,” Phyllis said with a shake of her head, “brokerages received San Patricio listings once a week. You can only imagine how much better things were when we got a fax machine! Then we got a small Apple computer.” She paused, and laughed. “And contracts used to be only one page long!”

Phyllis recalls several very difficult changes in real estate in the past 50 years as well. During one period, the interest rates were over 17%. The 2008 Recession also wreaked havoc on the real estate community. As she was recovering from those losses, the interior of her building caught fire in 2010. Phyllis proudly displays a badly burned, but carefully salvaged, dollar bill as a reminder that beauty can come from ashes.

It is important to Phyllis to improve her community.

She has been President of the Navy League, President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Board of REALTORS®, and REALTOR® of the Year. Three years ago, a local group created the Phyllis Lee Scholarship, to honor her legacy of character and positive change.

As a child, it was Phyllis’ dream to be an opera singer. She took voice lessons when she was 8 and showed a lot of talent. However, when she was 9, the US entered WWII and her father’s work in the military required relocation. Phyllis was able to sing in the Oklahoma City Chorus, and later in life she sang with the Sweet Adelines.

Looking back, Phyllis said singing was her passion, but “teaching has been my privilege, and honor, and blessing.”

She reminisced about her entire third grade class being asked to help teach and encourage first graders. As a young adult, Phyllis used her artistic talent to teach middle school girls. Now she teaches and mentors new REALTORS®.

She also enjoys having the freedom to travel. Her favorite places to visit are Austria and Germany. Phyllis is thankful that she and Gerald have embraced change and have created so many wonderful memories together. She is also grateful that he still drives to her office each day so they can share lunch together. What a beautiful picture of holding on to what is great, while embracing change.

22 • June 2021

@realproducers

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Corpus Christi Real Producers • 23

preferred partner spotlight

UNIQUe

Service Plumbing, LLC The Greatest Ability is AVAILABILITY Written by Ruth Gnirk • Photography by Brianna Cortez Photography

24 • June 2021

@realproducers

P

art of the mission of Robert and Mary Cantu is hidden in plain sight within their UNIQUe logo. While most of the letters are large, the last one is small. This word picture represents the Cantu’s local, family-owned company. They have

no plans to become a plumbing giant, because personally providing excellent service is one of their core values. The Cantus do not want realtors to choose UNIQUe instead of another company; they want realtors to choose UNIQUe in addition to other companies.

Robert and Mary are unified in their deep desire to stay UNIQUe. They plan to remain big enough to be able to provide much-needed services to the real estate community in a timely manner, with a spirit of excellence. But it is equally important that UNIQUe stays small enough that Robert and Mary can be hands-on.

UNIQUe Service Plumbing, LLC strives to always be available to perform leak tests, and if needed, to also provide isolation testing, repairs or re-routes, and other things on home inspection report lists. “We are just one piece of the puzzle,” explained Mary. “We want to stay small in order to give that personal touch. But with our size, we can’t handle all the plumbing needs in this area. The fact that there are other trustworthy plumbers in town allows us to continue giving great, personalized customer service.”

UNIQUe Service Plumbing has added services based on requests from realtors. They provide leak testing for the building drain system (the drain system under the house), for water lines (which feed incoming water for sinks and refill the water in toilet bowls), and for gas lines. UNIQUe offers camera inspections of yard lines, and it is their practice to give clients a video recording of EVERY failed building drain leak test. UNIQUe is very intentional about maintaining their reputation for providing the most accurate results on the first test.

realproducersmag.com

If leak testing indicates a need for further investigation, UNIQUe also provides isolation testing, and repairs or re-routes. Realtors, buyers, and sellers can feel confident and comforted, because UNIQUE is there for them, “From step one, all the way through to the resolution of any potential issues that may be discovered,” reassured Robert.

Robert and Mary believe it is the responsibility and privilege of the expert to create and maintain a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The Cantus know that a house is both the biggest asset and the biggest expense their customers possess. Thus, they strive to ensure that UNIQUe consistently provides both information and protection for buyers, sellers, and realtors. Mary explained that part of the mission of UNIQUe Service Plumbing is, “helping home buyers make wise negotiations for greater longevity with fewer problems.” There is nothing to fear, regardless of the findings from any leak test. “There is a solution to every problem,” said Robert.

“It’s just plumbing!”

We want to stay small in order to give that personal touch.

It all started two decades ago when Robert was invited to assist his former coach’s husband, who was a plumber by trade. The man’s patient teaching, coupled with the opportunity for Robert to receive hands-on training, sparked an interest and then a passion inside of Robert. He became an official plumber’s apprentice.

Initially, Robert’s goal was to be a responsible provider for his growing family. He accepted a position at a large home improvement store, and soon was promoted to a position of responsibility within the plumbing department.

Around the same time, his wife Mary started working for a local plumber, placing orders and taking care of inventory.

Mary developed a genuine interest in plumbing, asking questions and learning more about plumbing and service excellence every day. Both Robert and Mary applied themselves diligently and kept their attitudes teachable.

They had become strong people of faith, and they wanted no more than 40-hour work weeks. The Cantus longed for more time together, and more opportunities to enjoy moments and make memories.

Corpus Christi Real Producers • 25

1

3

2

1

BETO “GREEN ARROW”

4

2

Service Technician “I’m one of Corpus Christi’s own, born and raised ready to help.”

3

DEVON “DEV-O” Service Technician “I like handling the dirty work, so you don’t have to!”

26 • June 2021

JACINTO “JJ” “AQUAMAN” Service Technician “When I’m on the clock, I’m ready to rock!”

4

RAQUEL Office Manager and licensed plumbing apprentice “Serving others is a priority! It’s awesome when clients express how happy they are with the work that was done.”

@realproducers

6

8

5

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MARY CANTÚ Co-owner and licensed plumbing apprentice “Building relationships is important to me. I love people. And I genuinely want the best for everyone.”

8

6

ROBERT CANTÚ

7

Owner and Responsible Master Plumber “I know you have many choices when it comes to choosing a plumbing company to service you, so I never take for granted that you chose us.”

CHEYENNE “CHAI-T” “CHEY” Secretary “I want your leak test of the building drains to pass as much as you do! I genuinely enjoy the relationships I’ve been able to make with our customers.”

realproducersmag.com

9

9

BRANDON Service Technician “I want customers to know that we may not spend much time together, but to me they are family. It’s the people that make this job so wonderful.”

EMERYSS Support System “I am glad we get to provide disaster relief together. I enjoy spending time with my family.”

Corpus Christi Real Producers • 27

Motivated by love for his family, Robert declined a store manager position. His priorities had shifted, and the promotion would have resulted in even less time with his family. Robert began working for the same plumbing company at which Mary managed orders and inventory. This allowed the couple to interact occasionally during the work day, and to create shared experiences. Their plumbing conversations deepened their unity as well as their individual passion for helping others.

Robert had gained a plumbing tradesman license, along with great knowledge and experience in the eight years that he had been out of school. Then he applied himself educationally, and earned his plumbing journeyman’s license. After working as a journeyman plumber for four years, Robert passed his Master Plumber test, and became a licensed Responsible Master Plumber.

He and Mary and their children had been serving in a faith-based 28 • June 2021

volunteer program since 2017, and had found their true passion: working together as a family to provide disaster relief. The desire to have a flexible schedule and generate income to fund their volunteer trips motivated Robert to start his own business: UNIQUe Service Plumbing, LLC. Robert said he does not want to be like an oak tree, blocking the light so nothing can grow underneath.

Instead, he wants to be like a bamboo stalk, tall and strong, leaving plenty of room for others to grow too. Mary, who has her plumbing apprentice license, plans to continue learning and testing to become a Responsible Master Plumber herself. Their son is a current member of the service team, and one of their daughters works for them as well.

Raquel, one of their office staff, has her apprentice card. The Cantus believe it is important for all of the office staff to have experience in leak testing, isolation testing, and repairs

and re-routes, as well as best plumbing practices, so that they can better assist customers who call with questions.

UNIQUe Service Plumbing, LLC stays busy, but not overloaded. Robert explained that UNIQUe has set crews always available to provide leak tests, and they love to collaborate with other local, professional, licensed plumbers in town. Sharing knowledge ensures that every client receives the highest quality of service possible. UNIQUe focuses on finding the right solution for each client, and they are glad to assist licensed plumbing colleagues.

Robert and Mary strive to live with character and integrity as people, as parents, as professionals, and as productive members of their community. They bring this same wise and compassionate mindset into each interaction with others. Simply put, they are unique and available, providing the plumbing services needed by real estate professionals and their clients.

This is the legacy of UNIQUe Service Plumbing, LLC. @realproducers

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FAQ

Q: WHO RECEIVES THIS MAGAZINE? A: The top 300 agents in The Coastal Bend

based off MLS production will receive it FREE of charge. If you’ve received this publication in the mail - Congratulations and welcome to the cream of the crop!

Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BEING FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE?

About the Magazine We realize that Real Producers is a new concept here in The Coastal Bend, and some of you may be wondering what it’s all about. That is why we have created an “FAQs About This Magazine” page. My door is always open to discuss anything regarding this community – this publication is 100 percent designed to be your voice!

Q: WHO IS REAL PRODUCERS? A: There’s your average magazine --

the one anybody can grab on their way out of the grocery store -- and then there’s Real Producers. We’re telling the true stories of real estate titans of the Coastal Bend.

The mission of Real Producers is simple. We are here to elevate the culture between REALTORS® and those who serve the real estate industry locally.

A: It’s really simple – every feature you see has first been nominated. You can nominate other REALTORS®, affiliates, brokers, owners, or even yourself! Office leaders can also nominate REALTORS®. We will consider anyone brought to our attention. We don’t know everyone’s story, so we need your help to learn about them.

A nomination currently looks like this: you email us at amanda.carmichael@RealProducersMag. com with the subject line, “Nomination: (Name of Nominee),” and explain why you are nominating them to be featured. It could be they have an amazing story that needs to be told – perhaps they overcame extreme obstacles, they are an exceptional leader, have the best customer service, or they give back to the community in a big way. The next step is an interview with us to ensure it’s a good fit. If it all works out, then we put the wheels in motion for our writer to conduct an interview and for our photographers to schedule a photoshoot.

Q: WHAT DOES IT COST A REALTOR®/TEAM TO BE FEATURED? A: Zero, zilch, zippo, nada, cero. It costs noth-

ing, my friends, so nominate away! We are not a pay-to-play model. We share real stories of real producers.

Q: WHO ARE THE PREFERRED PARTNERS? A: Anyone listed as a “pre-

ferred partner” in the front of the magazine is a part of this community. They will have an ad in every issue of the magazine, attend our quarterly events, and be a part of our online community. We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. One or many of you have recommended every single preferred partner you see in this publication. We won’t even meet with a business that has not been vetted by one of you and “stamped for approval,” in a sense. Our goal is to create a powerhouse network, not only for the best REALTORS® in the area, but the best affiliates, as well, so we can grow stronger together.

Q: HOW CAN I RECOMMEND A PREFERRED PARTNER? A: If you have a recommenda-

tion for a local business that works with top REALTORS®, please let us know! Send an email to amanda.carmichael@ RealProducersMag.com.

Send in nominations for a Cover Story, Preferred Partner, Rising Star or Legendary Leader! Email: amanda.carmichael@realproducersmag.com

30 • June 2021

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Selling With Intelligence Realtor Course SELLING WITH INTELLIGENCE 361-944-3686 David@TrainSWI.com www.TrainSWI.com 32 • June 2021

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INCE V N O C N A IF I C BETRAY THEIR TO SOMEONETRY, HOW HARD COUN VINCE N O C O T CAN IT BEE TO BUY MY SOMEON OR SERVICE? PRODUCT S DAVID OLD

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Book your classes at:

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Corpus Christi Real Producers • 33

We Were Built To Work with YOU The Juan Garcia Team 361-492-9353 • juang@goalterra.com

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“THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WAS GREAT! Juan and the whole team were so fast and on point. The communication was great and they made the process of closing so smooth! We couldn't have went to anyone better.” - Gus M