Dallas Real Producers - August 2021

DALLAS

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 .

Nicole Living a Blessed Journey

RISING STAR: TOM BISHOP BROKER SPOTLIGHT: JENNIFER CLOUD PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: TRUPLACE Photo by: URSPECIALS

AUGUST 2021

MEET YOUR CALIBER LEADERS

Christian Johnson

Lisa Peters

BRANCH MANAGER

BRANCH MANAGER

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lisa.peters@caliberhomeloans.com

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Dallas Real Producers • 3

THE PARK CITIES PACK IS GROWING!

MICHAEL MOON Escrow Assistant CHLOE MERKEL Closing Coordinator JASON RAMSEY Branch Manager/Escrow Officer RUTH FALCON Escrow Assistant

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TA BL E OF

CONTENTS 06

10

12

Publisher’s Note: Keep Your Eye On The Ball!

Event Recap: Magazine Release Party

16

23

24

Rising Star: Tom Bishop

DALL AS

Preferred Partners

TOP 500

Your Dallas Real Producers Logo

Partner Spotlight: TruPlace Photography

34

42

2021

30

Celebrating Life: Charles Brazil

Broker Spotlight: Jennifer Cloud

Cover Story: Nicole Andrews

If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at Jordan.Espeseth@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 Dallas Metro 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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Dallas Real Producers • 5

PREFERRED PARTNERS

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Stonebriar Moving Services (469) 734-9000 stonebriarmoving.com PHOTOGRAPHER URSPECIALS by Jin Kim Studio (972) 677-9988 PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY TruPlace Colleen Smith (301) 972-3201 x824 TruPlace.com PROPERTY MANAGEMENT American Real PM (469) 620-0114 americanrealpm.com ROOFING New View Roofing (469) 232-7220 newviewroofing.com Red Dirt Roofing & Construction (817) 454-0608 reddirtroofing.net Remedy Roofing, Inc Chris Wander (214) 335-8953 www.remedyroofing.com

ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION Red Dirt Roofing & Construction (817) 454-0608 STAGE & DESIGN George Bass Stage & Design (469) 776-5118 GeorgeBassDesign.com TITLE Alamo Title Co - Park Cities (214) 373-7653 alamotitleoftexas.com Fair Texas Title (602) 421-6417 fairtexastitle.com Lawyers Title (469) 247-8281 dfw.ltic.com VIDEOGRAPHER White Rock Films Bill Brock (214) 405-3909 whiterockfilms.com WINDOWS & SIDING Tarrant Windows & Siding (817) 987-1210 TarrantWindows.com

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MEET THE

DALLAS REAL PRODUCERS TEAM

Jordan Espeseth Owner/Publisher

Mandi Jackson

Assistant Publisher

Katherine Fondren

Events Assistant

Writer

Jenica Hein

Administrative Assistant

Missy Kremer

Content Coordinator

Dave Danielson

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Rachelle Marie

Bill Brock Videographer

Editor

Amanda Thornburg Ad Strategist

Jin Kim

Photographer

Dallas Real Producers • 7

8 • August 2021

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Dallas Real Producers • 9

publisher’s note

eye ball! keep your

on the

I have owned several dogs growing up, but none like Rocky. He is my 6-year-old Blue Merle Australian Shepherd, with one eye blue and the other brown. If you follow me on social media, I’m sure you’ve seen some pictures by now. His great loves in life are me, his ball, and peanut butter. Perhaps his ball should be listed first, but I’d like to think that I am! Any dog moms or dads out there?

you guessed it … said ball. His love for his ball usually brings me a chuckle, but as I sat down to write this note to you all, it brought me inspiration.

My dad used to say to me growing up, “Keep your eye on the ball.” I can’t help but think how Rocky is a fabulous, literal picture of this. The phrase originates from baseball and means to, as Merriam Webster puts it, “continue thinking about or giving attention to something important: to stay focused.”

When that bright orange and blue ball comes out, Rocky can think of nothing else. He goes tunnel vision and carries it around with him everywhere.

You could say he eats, sleeps, and breathes that rubber ball. I’ve tried to hide it. He finds it. I’ve tried other toys, but to no avail, he keeps going back to that slobbery, squeaky ball.

It’s the first thing he thinks of when he wakes up, and it’s right next to him when he goes to sleep. It’s a rare thing for Rocky to let it out of his sight.

As we are eight months into the year and in the midst of summer, it can be easy to let your guard down, lose sight of your goals … drop the ball. All in the name of vacation, the “summer slowdown,” and feeling already perhaps like the year is gone. If you are struggling with all the “fun in the sun” to stay motivated, take heart, you aren’t the only one. While it’s certainly necessary to take breaks, enjoy time off with family and friends, I want to encourage you to “keep your eye on the ball.”

In fact, as I write this publisher’s note, he lays right next to me with …

What is that important goal that you set out to achieve this year? What

10 • August 2021

hangs on your vision board?

What did you say aloud again and again to yourself and to those around you? There is still four months left of the year, and I don’t think a better time to say to you what my dad used to say to me.

The RP Team and I get a lucky frontrow seat “in the stands” to cheer those of you on in the Top 500! So please hear us saying, you got this!

Stay focused! KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL!

What would you say to encourage your fellow peers in the RP Community? Is there an inspirational quote, song, or personal story you can share? Please share it in our Closed Facebook Group, DFW Elite 1500 Real Estate Agents.

Rooting for you, Rachelle Marie Assistant Publisher

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Dallas Real Producers • 11

Photos by URSPECIALS event recap

MAGAZINE

RELEASE PARTY June and July 2021 Starting in 2021, Real Producers is now doing mini Magazine Release Parties! In attendance for these events, we will have those real estate agents and businesses that were featured in the previous issue or two along with a few non-featured advertising partners.

This was our third Magazine Celebration Party this year, and, like the last two, it was an absolute blast!

At this event, we showcased the June and July 2021

issues. These events are such a fun way to debut the magazine and connect with a smaller group of incredible people.

Congratulations again to Brian Weast, Marjorie Bradford, Mallane Scott, George Bass of George Bass Stage & Design, Kimberly Rumfield, Sally Mireles, Kim Korfe, and Gracie Morrow of Gracie Morrow Mortgage Group Our team feels very grateful to have had the chance to share your stories and celebrate with you.

We look forward to continuing these smaller celebrations in the months and years ahead!

12 • August 2021

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Dallas Real Producers • 13

14 • August 2021

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Dallas Real Producers • 15

16 • August 2021

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rising star

Written by: Dave Danielson Photos by: URSPECIALS

Tom

A CAREER AND A CALLING

There’s no doubt that the reward of handing a set of keys to a homebuyer is special.

But, for people like Tom Bishop, that’s a bonus to a bigger picture.

As a real estate professional with Coldwell Banker APEX in Rockwall, Tom has found something very special indeed in real estate … he’s found a career and a calling.

The paperwork was finished, and Tom was presented with his license three years ago. But his story really goes back before that. You see, the benefits to what he brings to his clients as a Rising Star in the business were honed in earlier work.

“This is a wonderful opportunity I have. Being able to meet people and share knowledge that I gained from my business background, financial background, and what I’ve accumulated so far in real estate knowledge,” Tom says. “It’s about helping people grow a little bit in their knowledge. Whether or not we do business together, I feel it’s my calling to be of help to people.”

TE E I NG UP H I S FUTUR E

Tom was born and raised in Iowa. As he came of age, he took a love and gift for playing golf to the University of Arizona, where he competed on the school’s golf team. After graduating as a

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Wildcat with a degree in Accounting and a minor in Economics, Tom did CPA work for a couple years.

From there, Tom decided to apply his gifts in business. He spent a little over 30 years in various senior leadership and executive management roles with both large and small corporations.

After an extensive manufacturing career, he retired about three years ago.

“After retiring, my wife, Cynthia, said, ‘Tom, now what are you going to do?’ I’m blessed. I have great health. I wanted to do more,” Tom remembers. “I said I’m going to teach golf, get into ministry, or get into real estate to help people make the biggest financial decision they’ll ever make. She encouraged me to pursue real estate, and I’m glad I did.”

A R OOK I E I N R EA L ESTAT E W IT H A SEASONED AP P R OACH

While Tom was new to the business, he was seasoned at team-building and strategy.

“I spent the first six months after getting my license interviewing and putting together a team

Dallas Real Producers • 17

of people from title company work, to inspectors, mortgage lenders, and people who could help with any needed home repairs,” Tom recalls. “It was an in-depth team that I was blessed to put together to help me facilitate real estate transactions.”

Tom also knew from the start what kind of business he wanted to build — the principles that it would be based upon.

“When I started, I was surprised to hear the number of deals that begin and are never completed. I made a commitment to myself that I wasn’t going to have that happen,” Tom says. “I also went out and visited and talked with a lot of real estate pros to learn. I’m grateful to say that, so far, I have never failed at any of my contracts or had any issues at the title company.”

R A P ID R IS E

In his first few years, Tom has rapidly built an impressive real estate presence in the area.

Last year, during his second full year in real estate, Tom recorded an impressive total of over $10 million in sales volume. In the process, he also had two $1 million listings, closing them both. Plus, he even closed a $4 million sale — the largest real estate transaction in his brokerage last year — a firm boasting 950 agents and over $3.2 billion in 2020 sales volume.

H EA RT A ND H OME

Life away from work is just as rewarding, with his marriage to Cynthia and their three children — Eric, Sandra, and Jamie … along with two grandchildren.

In his free time, Tom has a love of traveling across the country. He also is enjoying playing and teaching golf. Reading is also a passion.

“I’m a knowledge guy,” he says. “I’m also a landscaping guy. I love it. In fact, if I had another career to do in my life, I think I would have been a landscaper. My mother was a gardener. Plus, I’ve played golf at amazing courses all across the country, so that has also cultivated that passion.”

Tom’s knack for giving back is apparent. He has a special place in his heart for children who are under-privileged or have special needs.

“We are blessed here in Texas. The PGA of America is moving from Florida to Frisco. They have a program called the First Tee, helping young kids learn about golf and ethics,” Tom says. “I plan on being a huge contributor and volunteer to that organization. I love giving back. I just want to help young kids be able to do something that I was so lucky and blessed to do as a child.”

This is a wonderful opportunity I have. Being able to meet people and share knowledge that I gained from my business background, financial background, and what I’ve accumulated so far in real estate knowledge.

It’s about helping people grow a little bit in their knowledge. ...

. . .W H E T H E R O R N O T W E D O B U S I N E S S TOGETHER , I FEEL IT’S MY CALLING TO BE OF HELP TO PEOPLE.

18 • August 2021

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Dallas Real Producers • 19

G I VI N G GU IDAN C E

Educating and teaching are very important to Tom, as well. As he reflects on his new career, he offers helpful advice for others getting in.

“The first thing is you have to recognize is this is a very difficult and challenging career. You’ve got to turn off HGTV. You have to be committed and focused on serving and helping others and becoming educated in the markets you want to serve,” he smiles. “I’ve had the good fortune to run into young new agents in the business, and I’ve shared with them some ideas to consider and given them encouragement. If you stay focused and committed and want to serve others, you can be successful.”

20 • August 2021

As Tom continues to guide others, including his clients, he does so with a sense of purpose and contentment.

“My clients, who I didn’t know prior to real estate, are no longer my clients. They are my friends. I very much enjoy helping people with knowledge. Whether or not I ever sell something to a person, when I meet someone, I hope I can add some value in their life,” Tom says.

There’s no doubt Tom does that on a continual basis through his career … through his new calling.

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Dallas Real Producers • 21

Occasions Special

Life

Bringing Your Vision To Life & Making Your Occasions

Special

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DALL AS

YOUR DALLAS REAL PRODUCERS

TOP 500 2021

BADGES CONGRATS for being one of the Top 500 real estate agents in Dallas!!

You now have your own badge to use however you’d like to show that you’ve made it a part of this exclusive community of the top 1-2% in real estate!

Missing your badge? Email jordan.espeseth@realproducersmag.com Using your badge? We’d love to see how! Show us how you are using your badge and you may just find a picture of what you shared in the magazine! Social media, email signatures, web, listings, marketing material... nothing’s off limits!

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Dallas Real Producers • 23

partner spotlight Rebecca Lombardo, VP Sales & Marketing, TruPlace

truplace PHOTOGRAPHY

Written by: Dave Danielson Photos by: URSPECIALS

24 • August 2021

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the new way to market a listing In 2003, Bob and Suzi Cusack had a property they rented out when they weren’t using it as a second home.

It was a cozy, two-story, single-family home with a panoramic view of rolling hills with an expansive deck.

But the photos alone did not convey how beautiful the view was or the layout of the home.

Bob, being an engineer, created the first Interactive Floor Plan Tour – a floor plan that brought up a photo of the corresponding room when using a mouse to hover over the name of that room. The interactive floor plan tour has evolved

since that first version, but the easyto-use interface continues to be an attractive way to showcase a property.

The creation of that technology was just the beginning. “Other vacation rental owners also wanted the interactive floor plan,” says Bob, who is now the CEO. “But they wanted it on a link they could share out in emails, on their websites, etc. Today, all tours are hosted on a unique URL, which also captures analytics data, which is used to improve marketing efforts on the property.”

Soon, real estate agents saw the floor plan and wanted to use it on their sales listings. But they also needed the photos to go with it.

Covid changed almost everything for real estate.

It’s a new era for agents.

They’re going to need better tools, smarter technology, and vendor partners offering a true competitive edge.

– REBECCA LOMBARDO, VP Sales and Marketing TruPlace co-founders Bob Cusack and Suzi Cusack, with their dogs, Stella and Jessie

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Dallas Real Producers • 25

Again, Bob built a proprietary software system for scheduling photographers and coordinating shoots to make these tours come to life. Suzi, who is now CFO, worked to bring in more clients, and in 2018, HomeAway came to TruPlace asking for a partnership.

They saw the value in having premium visuals on properties across the country.

In order to work for TruPlace though, photographers had to be trained on how to create the interactive floor plan. They had to complete a training and certification course before being hired, which is how the quality and consistency remained, and then attracted VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner), which now features TruPlace’s one-of-a-kind TruFusion 3D Tour, as an approved property visuals provider.

The Pandemic Changed Everything

The reason TruPlace tours are such a great fit for vacation rentals is the exact reason why they are such a perfect fit for

26 • August 2021

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Dallas Real Producers • 27

One of the best parts of my job is showing our top clients their analytics reports. It makes them look like rock stars to their clients.

marketing a listing during a pandemic. People viewing these properties were never going to step foot in them, prior to converting. Some buyers were making offers sight unseen. Agents found themselves on the phone with frantic out-of-town buyers having to answer detailed questions about their listings – questions that would have been answered by putting a floor plan tour on the property.

A study by Redfin that was conducted about seven months into the pandemic found that 78% of home buyers decided to view more properties virtually.

And it wasn’t just buyers preferring virtual tours.

Sellers, worried about a high volume of people traipsing through their home, also began to prefer having a virtual tour instead of just photos. While safety concerns have subsided since then, the preference for quality virtual tours has not.

“Using a TruPlace tour means not having to use your imagination to link to the images together in your head,” explains Rebecca Lombardo, VP Sales and Marketing at TruPlace. “We want people viewing our tours to be able to imagine themselves in that space. We’ve made our tour navigation so easy that the eyes focus on exploring the property, not trying to figure out how to click through it.”

TruPlace: The Real Estate Marketing Resource

In the last 17+ years, TruPlace has produced over 100,000 tours and processed more than 15 million professional photographs.

They are a full-service provider offering everything from aerial drone videos to virtual staging. The analytics continue to be a client favorite, as well.

“One of the best parts of my job is showing our top clients their analytics reports,” says Rebecca. “It makes them look like rock stars to their clients.”

Rebecca, who has a background in photography, joined TruPlace right before the pandemic-induced shutdowns began in 2020.

Despite the challenges and government restrictions, TruPlace experienced double-digit growth. Website page views were up 252% from the previous year, and more partners came on board.

“When the sky started falling in the spring last year, we hunkered down and focused on doing what we do best so real estate agents, who were deemed an essential service, could keep doing what they needed to do,” says Rebecca.

With virtual tours now becoming a permanent tool for agents, TruPlace will continue to focus on the new way to market a listing.

For more information, please visit www.truplace.com.

Special thanks to Highland Homes at Parkside Prosper for use of their model home for the photoshoot. www.highlandhomes.com/dfw/prosper/

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28 • August 2021

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Dallas Real Producers • 29

celebrating life

Charles Brazil L EGACY OF LEADERSH IP

Written by: Dave Danielson Photos submitted by: Brandi Dosser, VP Director of Operations, Lawyers’ Title

One life becomes so much more than the short time we are given here. The real impact is the positive influence others feel from our time with them.

By any measure, Charles Brazil lived a remarkable life, measured by the countless people he served professionally — and in many other informal and formal capacities throughout the region.

CAR E AND CONTR I BUTI ON

While Charles passed away on May 27 this year, we are honored to celebrate his life and contributions.

Charlie was born on November 5, 1965. As he came of age, he attended Dallas Independent School District and graduated from David W. Carter High School. After high school, he went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts and Science in Business Administration from North Texas State University in 1989.

While Charles was in college, he developed a passion for community service, pledging to the Wisconsin Sleepers, along with the Chi Phi chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and also became a member of the Masons.

30 • August 2021

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WAR M M EMO R I ES

ENGAGED I NVOLVEME NT

Here are just a few of the warm thoughts shared by those who knew and appreciated Charles:

Charles’ deep commitment to building a stronger community was an ongoing part of his life. He was an active part of several organizations, including the Frisco Police Department Advisory Board, Leadership Frisco, as well as serving as Father’s Auxiliary Chair of Jack and Jill of America.

“To have experienced Charles Brazil as a friend and associate was a joy and a privilege. His leadership could be measured in so many ways. Charles led his life with faith and family. He exhibited kindness, humility, gratitude, and a sincere servant heart. In a world where you can be anything, be a Charles Brazil.”

– Mike Brodie Owner, Keller Williams (Plano office)

“Charles Brazil is a great example of how to live your life. He demonstrated an abundance of love for his faith, his wife, and his kids. Each conversation with Charles was extremely powerful. You will truly be missed. In a world where you can be anything, be a Charles Brazil!”

– Ray Meeks REALTOR®, Keller Williams (Plano office)

In addition, Charles was a member of the Citizens Police Academy, One Voice, and an ambassador of the Frisco Inclusion Committee. He worked directly with area youth, as well. In fact, he coached the Lady Lions basketball team and also was an iconic presence at Camp Gladiator.

He was a central leader at church, as well, having been ordained as an Elder for Life Changing Faith Christian Fellowship Church. He had also served as Deacon, Men’s Ministry Leader, and member of the Leadership Training Institute and the Ignite Youth Ministry.

Truly, those who met Charles Brazil remember him.

His was a life of purpose and impact … leaving a true legacy of leadership.

“My brother and I were very close, we loved each other, supported each other, we counseled each other, we prayed for each other. We had each other’s back in business and outside of business. And we participated in Mega Camps, Family Reunions, and Red Days together. People knew that if Charles was around, his brother would be close by, and vice versa. He motivated me to work on my faith and be a better version of myself every day.”

– Joe Flores REALTOR®, Keller Williams (Plano office)

“Charles was a colleague, leader, and, most of all, my dear friend. We had many conversations about business, leadership, family, and life. I’ll miss him and his bow ties.”

– Denton Aguam CEO and Founder of the DARE Network with Keller Williams (Plano office)

“Charles was a leader by every definition of the word. He set an impeccable example of how to be an agent, husband, father, friend, colleague, and servant of God. Charles excelled at all of his roles and always did it with a smile on his face!

He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. His impact on this earth will far outlive his time here.”

– Brandi Dosser Director of Operations/Attorney, Lawyers Title DFW realproducersmag.com

Dallas Real Producers • 31

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32 • August 2021

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Dallas Real Producers • 33

jennifer broker spotlight

CLOU D

a higher standard. a better life.

Written by: Dave Danielson | Photo by: URSPECIALS

AS YOU SWEAT, RUSH, PLAN, AND FOLLOW THROUGH, YOU’RE MAKING A BETTER LIFE FOR THOSE AROUND YOU ...

THOSE YOU SERVE.

At the same time, think about the difference it makes for you. What does your career mean for you? For your family? And how can you make the industry even better today than it was yesterday?

One person who had that same realization was Jennifer Cloud, Esq. 34 • August 2021

As broker/owner of Prominus, Jennifer discovered years ago that real estate could provide a better quality of life for her, too. At the same time, she started a mission to help the industry achieve a higher standard.

FROM LITIGATION TO NEW CAREER DESTINATION

She remembers her first career — as a lawyer.

“When I was a litigator, I was not happy with my job,” Jennifer recalls. “The amount of stress and pressure related to each case @realproducers

realproducersmag.com

Dallas Real Producers • 35

I’m very much an empathetic person and tend to take on the traits of the people around me.

36 • August 2021

@realproducers

was tremendous. Millions of dollars were at stake, and perfection was the expectation. Whether I was representing a plaintiff or a defendant, they were upset that they were involved in litigation because, let’s face it, attorneys are expensive, and the legal process is time-consuming.”

Real estate offers a refreshing change.

“In real estate, generally it’s a happier time for people.

I’m very much an empathetic person and tend to take on the traits of the people around me,” she emphasizes. “People’s moods around me affect me. With real estate, there’s just a better quality of life.”

Jennifer was born and raised in Louisiana. She graduated from LSU law school and went to New York City, where she interned with Pfizer and a few other Fortune 500 companies. Then, she went on to obtain three years of litigation experience with an emphasis on construction law and appellate work.

“I was very entrenched in corporate America. I went into construction litigation. It melded well with me,” she remembers. “My grandfather was an engineer, so maybe that had something to do with it. As a woman in construction litigation, I was rare. I was sort of in a league of my own.”

FINDING A NEW HOME

Jennifer dove into her legal career in New York, made friends, and started forward in life. Then 9/11 happened.

“I stayed for two years beyond that, but I kept going farther and farther away from the city. I lived all over, from Manhattan to Brooklyn, then Connecticut,” she says. “Then I decided it was time to make a move, and Dallas was the logical choice. I immediately started practicing with a law firm that worked a lot with the Cowboys.”

As 2007 arrived, Jennifer moved into commercial litigation. She moved from Dallas to Rockwall County six years later in preparation of eventually transitioning into real estate full time.

realproducersmag.com

“As part of that, I sold my house. I thought at the time, why would I hire a REALTOR® to do a job that I could do? As an attorney licensed in Texas and New York, I am exempt from the requirements of the Texas Real Estate License Act. I didn’t have to get my real estate license to practice but would need it to be able to share in commissions with other brokers. So, I thought, why not? I would just get my license and learn the ropes,” Jennifer explains. “It went great. The person who bought my house is a past and current client of mine who has bought six properties with me thus far, with more to come. That’s how it started off.”

MEANT TO BE

Things seemed to be unfolding the way it was meant to be.

“I always knew I wasn’t going to stay in litigation. It took too much time away from family. I thought, with real estate, that would be an easy transition,” she says. “There aren’t a lot of attorneys in real estate and thought that could be a niche. My friends started sending me referrals, and, in 2015, I decided to do it full time, and completely disconnect from my law firm.”

In 2017, Jennifer realized another milestone she had set for herself in the business. She started her own brokerage. Today, as the head of Prominus, she helps to guide the success of others.

THE RICHNESS OF LIFE

At home, Jennifer’s life is made richer by family, including her two sons — Kingston Red Cloud and Phenix Dumestre Cloud.

In her free time, Jennifer has a love of cooking. She also is on a self-admitted mission to try out every sushi place and coffee bar. Traveling is also a favorite.

Music has also been a central theme in Jennifer’s life.

She grew up as a singer and musician, playing classical piano and singing and acting in many youth theatrical performances. When she moved to Dallas, she started singing in a cover band, played gigs throughout Dallas, including Deep Ellum, and even opened up for Lisa Loeb.

Dallas Real Producers • 37

When it comes to giving back to the community, Jennifer likes to support the Lupus Foundation, Genesis Women’s Shelter, and, as she says, “anything to do with the arts.”

brings all of the skills and knowledge of an experienced attorney to bear on behalf of her clients.

We’re proud to recognize the achievements of Jennifer Cloud. Each day, she makes a difference.

A CHAMPION IN THEIR CORNER

Those who get to know and work with Jennifer know they have a true champion in their corner — a type-A personality who channels all of their skills into making their experience rewarding. In the process, Jennifer 38 • August 2021

Through her efforts, she’s achieving a better life for herself and those around her. In the process, she is undoubtedly also helping to elevate the industry to a higher standard, too. @realproducers

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Dallas Real Producers • 39

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Dallas Real Producers • 41

cover story

Written by: Dave Danielson Photos by: URSPECIALS

Living a Blessed Journey A dozen years ago, Nicole Andrews entered the world of real estate as a licensed agent.

Soon, her clients knew they could depend on her to make a lasting impact on their lives with her insightful nature.

42 • August 2021

Through time, Nicole progressed stepby-step in her career. Eventually, she started Nicole Andrews & Associates.

As founder and managing broker of her own firm, Nicole is in a new chapter of her career — accentuating the positive for those on her team.

“Initially when I was more on my own, I enjoyed getting to know clients and helping them. I really enjoyed working with people individually. But I

knew there was only one of me. You can only do so much. It becomes a time issue,” Nicole explains.

“At some point, there’s a limit to what you can do, and that’s when we really started taking on agents. My shift has moved from working solely to help clients to now also sharing everything I know with other agents … so we can grow together and help more people with what is typically their most important and expensive asset – their home.”

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Early Lessons

Nicole grew up in Dallas and learned the lessons about making a difference early on.

“I was blessed with parents who encouraged me as far back as I can remember to make a positive impact on the world. I wasn’t sure what that was going to look like,” she recalls. “My dad was in engineering. I was particularly good in math and science, and all of the career tests I took indicated that I was supposed to be an engineer. I wasn’t excited about that, though.

But I liked the idea of aerospace engineering. So, I studied that at the University of Texas.”

Nicole had a great college experience.

Her love of music and football led her to the field on Saturdays, playing in the Longhorn Marching Band. She also got involved in a co-op program at NASA as an undergrad.

Deciding on a Path

As she neared the end of her college career, Nicole’s talents were definitely noticed. She received a job offer from Lockheed with an offer to work at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She also was accepted on a full scholarship to The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) where she earned her master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. She had an opportunity to continue on and earn her Ph.D., too. By that time, however, Nicole knew she wasn’t interested in working as an engineer.

“At that point, I stepped out and worked as an IT Consultant with the Fortune Global 500 company Accenture (originally the consulting division of Arthur Andersen).

I really enjoyed that. You had to go in and help companies improve their technology and business processes,” Nicole says. realproducersmag.com

Dallas Real Producers • 43

Nicole and Greg Andrews

44 • August 2021

@realproducers

“I worked across several industries.

This is also where I met my amazing husband, Greg.”

In time, Nicole and Greg started their family.

“We had two little girls, and my work was very travel intensive,” she remembers. “I made the decision to become a stay-at-home mom.”

Through the process of working with a custom builder on their home, the builder asked Nicole if she was interested in helping with his business.

“It was a natural transition. We had a spec home we were trying to sell, and I was looking for a REALTOR® who would be innovative in marketing and technology. But I wasn’t finding what I was looking for,” she recalls.

She decided to fill the role herself and earned her real estate license.

Breaking New Ground

Nicole started with Keller Williams Park Cities, where she grew steadily for three years, before going out on her own to start her own brokerage firm in 2012, working with clients and their luxury properties.

“I found it engaging and challenging. I was interested in figuring out how to best serve my clients. You need to be

cognizant. It’s not simply a business transaction. Yes, it is a business but it is also very important to people. They can get concerned, elated, angry … you’re going to see so many emotions in that process.”

From the start, real estate was a good fit for Nicole. She started strong and kept moving forward.

Today, she still works with clients in addition to helping her team members grow and succeed in their own careers. Along the way, there have been plenty of accolades and awards.

In 2020, Nicole’s personal production reached $42 million in individual annual sales volume.

The Rewards of Teamwork

For all of that, she feels her calling is about leading and supporting her team of 15 professionals.

“I really believe that God intends me to grow and become more of a teacher,” she says. “We have had some amazing individuals already join us, and we are moving now to grow to 50 to 100 agents who share our vision and are driven to always do what’s in the best interest of their clients.”

Away from work, Nicole has a true passion for time with Greg, and their two daughters—18-year-old Raquel, who is pursuing her passion of acting at the University of Texas majoring in Radio-Television-Film, and 16-yearold Danielle, who will be a junior this fall in high school.

“Greg has been an amazing partner for me. After a 28-year career, he retired as a senior executive from Accenture six years ago. I convinced him to help me grow our business and become our CEO three years ago,” Nicole says with a smile. “He is so incredibly supportive and so good with our agents. We’ve been together 25 years, and our marriage of 21 years is amazing. We are very much in love with each other. We work so well with each other.”

In their free time, Nicole and Greg have a love of travel and wine. They also just bought a vacation home in Fredericksburg, Texas, and look forward to spending time there to be closer to her extended family and to welcome friends and guests.

Greg and Nicole are also involved with Gateway Church and enjoy getting involved with charitable activities there.

Timeless Profession

As she looks to the future, Nicole sees the changing landscape of the business. Yet, for all of the industry-disrupting technology and evolution of the business that she enjoys, she focuses as much or more on the human element.

“I see things shifting in the industry as a whole. I’m not afraid of it … rather, I embrace it. I still see a need for an agent to be closely connected with their clients to provide counsel, guidance, and expertise that is always

We’ve been together 25 years, and our marriage of 21 years is amazing. We are very much in love with each other.

We work so well with each other. realproducersmag.com

Dallas Real Producers • 45

46 • August 2021

in the best interest of the client,” she emphasizes. “There will always be a need for that local expert.”

“I want to treat people the way I want to be treated,” Nicole smiles. “I want to do the right things for people.”

In the meantime, Nicole does her part to deliver that individual difference to all of those around her.

Day-by-day, Nicole is there, supporting others by accentuating the positive as she continues “living a blessed journey.”

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realproducersmag.com

Dallas Real Producers • 47

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Dallas Real Producers • 49

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