PHOTO BY GERMAINE VLOK PHOTOGRAPHY
IN TRUST.
Mariane King & Achosa
Eli Howard General Manager
Convenient Inspection Packages that Include:
• New Construction Phase Inspections
• Pre-Listing Inspections
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Preferred Partners
This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community!
BUILDER
Perry Homes, LLC (972) 839-2342 perryhomes.com; brittonhomestexas.com
BUSINESS COACHING
Igniteyou90.com
Business Coaching MIchelle Ozymy (214) 534-8758 igniteyou90.com
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
Partners in Building (214) 235-6814 partnersinbuilding.com
FOUNDATION REPAIR
Structured Foundation Repairs (214) 808-8443 structuredfoundation.com
HOME INSPECTION
Greenworks Inspections and Engineering (405) 662-9777 greenworksinspections.com
HomeTeam Inspection Service (972) 342-1156 HomeTeam-DFW.com
Inspect360 (817) 754-0360 inspect360.com
Semper Fi Home Inspections, Inc. (682) 351-2267 SemperFiHomeInspections.com
Viking Inspections (469) 209-8132 vikinginspections.com
HOME RENOVATION & REPAIR
Prep To Close
Taylor McKinney (469) 771-6613 preptoclose.com
HOME STAGING
Dream Haus Staging (940) 337-7368 dreamhausstaging.com
HOME WARRANTY
Achosa Home Warranty (817) 933-8707 www.achosahw.com
American Home Shield (303) 880-8517 PRO.AHS.com
HVAC
GC Legacy (214) 996-8446 gclegacyconstruction.com
INSURANCE
Century Insurance Agency (214) 223-1315 ciaauto.com
Goosehead InsuranceBen Jones Agency (972) 786-5792 goosehead.com/agents/tx/ flower-mound/ben-jones/
Jason Ridley Agency (972) 839-1349 jasonridleyagency.com
MORTGAGE LENDING
Cherry Creek Mortgage (817) 709-4683 NunisLending.com
Edge Home Finance (972) 333-7360 NicktheBroker.com
VIP Mortgage
Brian Shatto (214) 336-5496 vipmtg.com/brian
MOVING SERVICES
Black Tie Moving Tyler Coleman (512) 605-7328 blacktiemoving.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
CSG Photos 682-272-2099 csgphotos.com
Desiree Roberts Photography 972-998-3133 DesireeRoberts.com
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
HomeSmiles, Northeast Tarrant County (817) 368-0186 netc.homesmiles.com
REAL ESTATE
PHOTOGRAPHY & MEDIA
Signature Real Estate Media 972-972-9346 signaturerealestatemedia.com
RESIDENTIAL/ COMMERCIAL LENDER Hometown Lending (972) 322-4472 hometownlend.com
ROOFING
CLC Roofing Inc. 817-416-7663 clcroofing.com
Deluxe Roofing & Construction (817) 247-8628 deluxeroofingdfw.com
PROCO (833) 467-7626 procoroof.com
T-Rock Roofing & Contracting (469) 931-9867 dallasroofer.com
Veritas Roofing (817) 455-4552
ROOFING & SOLAR
Rankin Roofing & Solar LLC 817-675-0905 rankinroofingandsolar.com
Structured Foundation Repairs (214) 808-8443 structuredfoundation.com
TITLE COMPANY
Independence TitleSchultz & Kellar
Matt Schultz (817) 308-3606 IndependenceDFW.com
McKnight Title (940) 367-4743 www.mcknighttitle.com
Texas Secure Title (817) 319-9984 texassecuretitle.com
VIDEOGRAPHY/ PHOTOGRAPHY studioUSA 469-955-5833 studiousa.live
Meet The Team
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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 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.
Jordan Espeseth Co-Owner
Reece Gentry Partner Liaison
Rick Davis Videographer
Ashley Gentry Agent Liaison
Desiree Roberts Photographer
Beth Graeme Photographer
Lance Dunahoe Co-Owner
Katherine Fondren Editor
Sarah Consentino Ad Strategist
Jessica Espeseth Social Media Director
ONE CONVERSATION AWAY
One of the things I love most about Real Producers is how often I hear the same kind of story. Two people meet at an event. Maybe it’s someone they’ve seen around but never actually talked to. Maybe it’s someone completely new. They strike up a conversation, exchange a few ideas, and go on with their night.
A few weeks later, that conversation turns into a referral. Or a partnership. Or a new way of doing business they hadn’t thought about before. It’s amazing how often big things start with something that simple. One conversation.
In real estate, it’s easy to focus on production numbers, closings, and the
daily grind of running a business. Those things matter. But when you zoom out, so much of the growth in this industry actually comes from relationships.
For our RP Top Agents, one conversation with the right business partner can completely change the way a transaction runs. But it’s not just about agent-topartner relationships. We constantly see agents connecting with other agents in this community as well. One conversation can lead to a referral for a buyer or seller, a collaboration on a deal, or even a new idea that helps elevate the way someone runs their business.
For our Preferred Partners, one conversation with an agent can turn into a long-term working relationship that
leads to opportunity after opportunity. But the connections don’t stop there. The other businesses in this community are doing incredible things as well. We regularly see partners collaborating with other partners, sharing ideas, forming new relationships, and finding ways to grow together.
That’s the kind of environment we are always trying to create within this community. A place where the topproducing agents and the businesses they trust can connect in a meaningful way. Not just to exchange business cards, but to build real relationships that move everyone forward.
So as the year continues and the market picks up momentum, I would encourage you to lean into those moments. Introduce yourself to someone new at the next event. Sit down for coffee with someone you’ve been meaning to connect with. Ask questions. Share ideas. Because more often than not, the next opportunity, partnership, or breakthrough in your business isn’t hiding in a spreadsheet or a marketing plan.
It’s waiting on the other side of a conversation.
YOUR NORTH FORT WORTH REAL PRODUCERS BADGES
Congrats on being one of the top 500 real estate agents in North Fort Worth!
It is January - and the real estate sales of 2025 are in the books! That means the new North Fort Worth Real Producers Top 500 and 1000 agents’ 2026 is being released! The new list is based on 2025 sales according to the MLS, and as part of this exclusive community of the top 5% real estate agents in North Fort Worth, the top 500 agents will receive the magazine in the mail each month and the top 1000 will receive it digitally. All top 1000 agents will be able to attend our exclusive events for agents and RP preferred partners in the city.
As part of the top agents in North Fort Worth, you will also have your own badge to use however you’d like to show that you’ve made it a part of the Real Producers community.
How did you finish out 2025? Will you make the 2026 list? Check your inbox in January to find out!
We can’t wait to celebrate your success in 2026!
Here’s What North Fort Worth’s Top 500 Agents Sold...
AVERAGE SALES VOLUME PER AGENT $21,180,237 31.56
AVERAGE TRANSACTIONS PER AGENT
$10,568,938,487 15,747 SALES VOLUME TOTAL TRANSACTIONS
WHY CHOOSE OUR PRE-LISTING & CLOSING PACKAGES DESIGNED FOR YOUR SUCCESS?
• Cleaner Inspections
• Pre-Sale Prep
• One-Stop Shop for Home Maintenance Services
• Making Listings Marketable & Manageable
Doug Skomer Owner & CEO
Redefining Teamwork
When you spend time with WILSON ROBERTS and JEFF ROBERTSON, one thing becomes immediately clear: Their story is about what happens when leadership, trust, and shared values come together with intention. At INC REALTY, success has never been framed as a solo pursuit; it’s built through teamwork, collaboration, and a deep belief in lifting others along the way.
Wilson’s journey into real estate didn’t follow a traditional path. Born and raised in Midland, Texas, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas and spent years as a working artist, painting murals in Highland Park and selling his work in galleries from Santa Fe to Brownwood. Creativity and discipline were ingrained long before real estate entered the picture. That background, paired with strong personal values, would later shape the culture he set out to build.
He entered real estate in 2009, during the Great Financial Crisis, learning the business under David Caswell, who Wilson trusted deeply because “he cared about doing the right thing first.” Early on, Wilson found himself stepping into leadership roles that felt daunting. “I remember how overwhelming it was to lead other professionals, some of whom were much more experienced and frankly more qualified than I was,” he recalls. But it was in that season that he met Jeff Robertson, a fellow UNT alumnus who was already leading one of the highestproducing districts in the company.
Jeff’s path into real estate was equally shaped by disruption. After being laid off from a Fortune 500 steel commodities firm in 2009, he was encouraged by a friend to try real estate. “I wanted to be my own boss,” Jeff says, “and wanted the flexibility to grow a business and help people while being selfemployed and having control over my time and money.” That decision launched a career defined by hard work, adaptability, and relationship-building.
As their professional paths crossed, Wilson began noticing a pattern across offices and markets. “Regardless of brokerage, the agents that sold the most in units and volume were agents that were part of a team or group,” he says. That observation sparked a bigger question: Why wasn’t there a brokerage intentionally built around teams and groups? That question became the foundation of INC Realty.
When Jeff decided to join Wilson in launching the brokerage, their shared vision clicked into place. “Jeff Robertson and I are very different, with different backgrounds,” Wilson explains, “but that is what makes us a good team.” Jeff brought operational strength, leadership experience, and a talent for
mentoring. Wilson brought vision, culture, and a belief that success multiplies when shared.
At its core, INC Realty was designed for agents who want to scale, grow professionally, and work alongside others who value integrity and mutual respect. The brokerage doesn’t just encourage teamwork. It is the way they do business. Wilson is clear about who the brokerage is, and isn’t, for. “We aren’t a brokerage for agents that just want to hang their license somewhere,” he says. “We want professional, skilled agents who treat real estate like a business and believe in collaboration.”
“We aren’t a brokerage for agents that just want to hang their license somewhere. We want professional, skilled agents who treat real estate like a business and believe in collaboration.”
Both leaders define success very differently today than they did early in their careers. Wilson admits he once measured success by transactions and rankings. Now, “I measure success by the impact I’m having on the team leaders and team members of INC Realty.” The brokerage’s goal is bold: to have the most millionaire agents of any brokerage in the country, achieved not through pressure, but through support, tools, and sustainable systems.
Jeff echoes that mindset, emphasizing relationships over revenue. “Chasing the relationship is far more important than chasing the money,” he says. “If you truly care about your clients, you will be their agent for life.” That philosophy extends to how he works with agents, many of whom he has mentored into top producers. Seeing agents change their financial future, he says, “is the reason I do what I do.”
Their leadership is also deeply personal. Jeff’s decision to move into management was driven by family. After a divorce and shared custody of his son, he chose flexibility over short-term income. “I wanted to focus on raising my son with intentional presence,” he says. “It was the most challenging but also the best decision I’ve ever made.” Wilson, too, is motivated by family and legacy, hoping to be remembered as someone who loved well, at home and in business.
Today, INC Realty’s growth is a reflection of that shared philosophy. With nearly 1,000 transactions and hundreds of millions in volume achieved through collective effort, both leaders are quick to praise the other. “I could not have achieved this by myself,” Wilson says. “It took the collaborative efforts of everyone in our brokerage.”
Encouraging them every step of the way are their number one teammates in life. Wilson is married to his wife, Nikki, and they are celebrating 25 years of marriage this year. Jeff is married to the love of his life, Jaimie Robertson.
“Chasing the relationship is far more important than chasing the money. If you truly care about your clients, you will be their agent for life.”
In the real estate business, individualism is often rewarded, but Wilson Roberts and Jeff Robertson are proving that teamwork isn’t just a value; it’s a strategy. And at INC Realty, it’s the reason their impact continues to grow.
MARIANE KING & ACHOSA HOME
In real estate, the smallest conversations can make the biggest difference before closing. It’s a lesson that Mariane King, Senior Sales Executive with Achosa Home Warranty, has spent nearly three decades learning, teaching, and championing.
After 28 years in the industry, Mariane has seen markets rise, cool, and reinvent themselves. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: homeowners inevitably face repairs.
“On average, we see 2.7 failures during the first year in a pre-owned home,” she explains. “Something will break. The question is whether the client and the agent are prepared for it.”
For Mariane, 2026 has a clear theme. “My word for the year is educate. I want to help both new and experienced agents understand the real value of a home warranty and how it protects everyone involved in the transaction.”
A Habit the Industry Should Never Have Lost
During the intense seller’s market of the past few years, many agents stopped negotiating home warranties altogether. Multiple offers, fast closings, and competitive bidding pushed certain protections aside.
But as the market begins to rebalance, Mariane believes it’s time for agents to return to fundamentals.
“My goal with this article is to remind agents about the value of the home warranty and how it helps reduce liability for all parties,” she says. “It used to be second nature to include one. Somewhere along the way, many people got out of the habit.”
She encourages agents to rebuild that routine.
“Write it into every offer. Talk to buyers about it before you even start the contract. Encourage sellers to offer it upfront,” Mariane says. “When it becomes part of your normal process, there are no surprises later.”
And surprises, she notes, are what often cause tension after the closing table.
The phone call no agent wants to receive usually starts the same way: Something stopped working.
Even worse is when a client adds, “I didn’t even know a home warranty was an option.”
“That’s the conversation we want to avoid,” she says. “Education removes perceived liability and shows your client you were thinking ahead.”
The Stories Behind the Coverage
Over the years, Mariane has witnessed countless situations where a home warranty softened what could have been a stressful experience for homeowners.
HVAC systems fail in the middle of Texas summers. Water heaters quit unexpectedly. Appliances decide their time is up without warning.
“These are real expenses,” she says. “A warranty doesn’t eliminate every problem, but it can make those moments far less overwhelming.”
Just as importantly, it protects the relationship between agents and their clients.
Real estate professionals invest tremendous effort helping people find the right home. When issues arise soon after move-in, emotions can run high.
“A warranty creates a buffer,” Mariane explains. “Instead of frustration being directed at the agent, there’s a process already in place to help solve the problem.”
Not All Home Warranties Are the Same
One of the biggest misconceptions Mariane encounters is the belief that all home warranty companies operate the same way.
“In reality, the service model makes a huge difference,” she says.
Some companies assign contractors and control the repair process entirely.
Others allow homeowners more flexibility in choosing who performs the work and how quickly it happens.
Understanding that distinction can dramatically impact the homeowner’s experience.
“What may look like more coverage on paper can actually mean longer wait times and less control,” Mariane says. “Agents should know how the company handles claims, not just what’s listed in the brochure.”
At Achosa, she explains, the approach focuses on speed, transparency, and giving homeowners more say in the process.
“In a buyer’s market, slow tools cost deals,” Mariane says. “When something breaks, claims can be completed in hours, not days. Clients can work with licensed contractors they trust, and repairs happen on their timeline.”
That difference, she believes, is what truly delivers value.
“This isn’t just about having a warranty,” she adds. “It’s about having one that actually keeps up.”
An Industry Built on Relationships
The philosophy behind the company reflects the vision of co-founder Harry
“The opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals who care about serving clients well is invaluable. This community understands that.”
Keifer, whose perspective still guides the brand.
As he famously said, “We built Achosa because the home warranty industry needed simplifying-more transparency, faster claims, and respect for the time of homeowners, contractors, and REALTORS®.”
For Mariane, that message resonates deeply with the agents she works with every day.
“Real estate moves fast, and people’s lives are involved,” she says. “Every tool we use should support that pace and professionalism.”
Life
Beyond
the Industry
While education and advocacy keep her busy, family remains a central part of Mariane’s life.
She and her partner Dean enjoy living in Keller and traveling whenever
they can, especially now that their family is growing.
“2025 was a great year for us,” she shares. “My daughter Jenifer got engaged and will be getting married this October. She’ll also graduate with her master’s as a Physician Assistant in December.”
Meanwhile, her son Jacob and daughterin-law Sara welcomed Mariane’s first grandchild, Scarlett.
“They live in Maryland, so I’m definitely racking up the airline miles,” she laughs.
The travel is worth every minute.
A Message to the Real Estate Community Through platforms that bring agents and trusted partners together, Mariane continues to focus on what she believes matters most: relationships and knowledge.
“The opportunity to connect with likeminded professionals who care about serving clients well is invaluable,” she says. “This community understands that.”
And if there’s one takeaway she hopes agents remember, it’s simple.
“The market shifts, strategies evolve, but protecting your clients should never go out of style,” Mariane says. “Home warranties are one of the easiest ways to do exactly that.”
Because long after the contracts are signed and the moving trucks pull away, homeownership truly begins, and preparation makes all the difference.
Photo provided by Mariane King
EOPLEFIRST, ALWAYS :
Sunny
THE LONG GAME DARDEN
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN
PHOTOS BY GERMAINE VLOK PHOTOGRAPHY
SUNNY DARDEN DOES NOT SPEAK IN SLOGANS. When she says, “Placing people first is not just a phrase for me. It is the filter for every decision,” it is not branding; it is biography. Over the course of 12 years in real estate, Sunny has built a business where clients come before commissions, long-term relationships outweigh short-term wins, and truth is chosen even when it is inconvenient. That philosophy has not only shaped her career; it has defined her leadership, her team, and the legacy she is intentionally building in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Raised in Dallas, Sunny is a product of North Texas values: reputation, consistency, and followthrough. “This community values relationships, work ethic, and reputation, and those principles were instilled in me early,” she says. Competitive by nature and deeply people-focused, she carried those traits into her first career in corporate America, where she rose to Vice President of Operations for a Texas-based restaurant company. There, she led teams across the country, built scalable systems, and learned how culture is created, or broken, by leadership. “It was a highperformance environment that demanded discipline, strategic thinking, and strong leadership,” she reflects. “That experience prepared me in ways I didn’t fully realize at the time.”
Her entry into real estate was not sparked by glamour, but by frustration. During one of her own transactions, Sunny saw cracks in communication and strategy and thought, “There has to be a better way to do this.” What began as curiosity quickly became conviction. “Real estate is not just about homes,” she explains. “It’s about negotiation, marketing, systems, and guiding people through significant life decisions.” When she stepped in, she did so with the same intensity and structure that had defined her corporate leadership. “Once I stepped in, I was all in,” she says. “Looking back, it feels less like I found real estate and more like it found me at exactly the right time.”
Early in her career, one relationship quietly set the tone for everything that followed. A client trusted her with multiple transactions in quick succession. “At that stage, that kind of trust was monumental,” Sunny recalls. Over time, she helped his children, then extended family, then the next generation.
“Somewhere along the way, they stopped being just clients. They became family.” Today, his granddaughter serves as Sunny’s director of operations. “That alone says everything about the depth of that relationship,” she says. “This business, when done right, is about loyalty, trust, and showing up so consistently that you become part of someone’s story.”
That belief is the heartbeat of the Sunny Darden Group. “Placing people first creates momentum. It builds a legacy,” Sunny says. Every pricing conversation, every negotiation, every marketing plan begins with one question: “What is truly best for this person and their family?” She loves the strategy of real estate: the data, the positioning, the execution, but it is the human side that fuels her. “Real estate is rarely just about a house,” she explains. “It is about transition. Growth. Financial security. The next chapter.”
Success, for Sunny, has evolved. “Early on, success meant production,” she admits. “Closings, volume, proving I could do this at a high level.” Today, it is measured differently.
“Success now is a strong, aligned team that serves at
an elite level,” she says. “It is clients who feel protected, informed, and cared for.” Her shift to a 10X mindset was not about working harder, but leading smarter. “Not overgrinding,” she explains, “but becoming more intentional. Leveraging the right people. Building smarter systems.” At the center of that growth is her unwavering commitment to people.
“Real estate is rarely just about a house. It is about transition. Growth.
Financial security.
The next chapter.”
Team is not an afterthought in Sunny’s world; it is the engine. “Nothing meaningful is built alone,” she says. She is deeply proud of the culture her team has created, one that supports, challenges, and celebrates together. “We invest in our people. We develop leaders. And we celebrate wins together.” Her goal is not followers, but stars. “When they shine, our clients benefit,” she says simply.
Outside of contracts and closings, Sunny’s faith anchors her, and her family centers her. Her husband, Tony, and her sons, Zachary and Jackson, are her greatest motivation. “I want them to see what discipline looks like. What integrity looks like,” she says. “Leading well at home and in business is what
“It is about culture. Alignment. And expanding while staying rooted in integrity.”
keeps me striving to become better every day.” That grounding shows up even in the lighter moments, like the open house where goats escaped mid-showing. “I was not just the listing agent. I was chasing goats across the property,” she laughs. “And sometimes, you sell the house to the people who help you chase the goats.”
As she looks ahead, Sunny’s goals remain rooted in intention. “This year is about value-driven growth,” she says. Not just adding agents, but attracting aligned professionals who believe in placing people first. “Growth is not just about volume,” she emphasizes. “It is about culture. Alignment. And expanding while staying rooted in integrity.”
When asked what she hopes to be remembered for, she says, “I want to be remembered for placing people first in every area of my life.”
In business, at home, and in leadership, Sunny Darden has built more than a successful real estate company; she has built trust. And that, more than any number, is the true measure of her success.
Kari Lynn
WINDERS
A SEAT AT THE TABLE
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN
PHOTOS BY BETH GRAEME PHOTOGRAPHY
For Kari Lynn
Winders, real estate has never been about sales alone. It is about people— where they’ve been, where they’re going, and who walks beside them along the way. In a business often measured by numbers, Kari Lynn measures success differently: by trust built, relationships deepened, and lives encouraged. At the center of it all is a simple belief she lives by every day: Everyone has a seat at my table.
Born and raised in Rowlett, Texas, Kari Lynn’s upbringing was grounded, simple, and steady. She grew up with land and horses, an only child in what she describes as a “pretty typical childhood.” While she did not grow up in a Christian home, faith found her early. At just ten years old, she attended church with her father’s best friend and accepted Christ. “I didn’t really know what to do with that,” she admits, “but looking back, I can see God’s hand over my life even then.”
It wasn’t until her early twenties that her faith truly took root. When Kari Lynn became pregnant at 21, she rededicated her life to Christ, asking Him to help her understand what a real relationship with Him looked like. “I knew there had to be something I was missing,” she says. “Well, He took me and ran. To this day, I never want to be where He isn’t.” While Lynn is Kari Lynn’s middle name, she added her middle name to her first name when she rededicated her life to Christ. “I was a new creation in Him, so just like Abraham was once Abram, and others who dedicated their lives to Christ in the
Bible, and God changed their names, I did the same! I am Spoken For!”
That moment became the foundation for everything that followed.
Before real estate, Kari Lynn built a successful career in aviation, working as a flight planner, dispatcher, and crew scheduler for Flexjet, a wellknown fractional ownership private aircraft company. “I loved my job,” she shares. But when her children reached school age, she felt God calling her to homeschool, a calling she initially resisted with humor and honesty. “I threw a FIT!” she laughs. Still, she obeyed. Those years homeschooling her children became some of the most meaningful of her life, filled with travel, learning, and family adventure alongside her husband, a professional pilot.
Kari Lynn entered real estate in 2019, just before her son left for the Marine Corps and during one of the most chaotic markets the industry has seen. “People joke about that time,” she says, “but truthfully, we did need experience. You had to have your head on straight.” She learned quickly, leaning on kind mentors and enduring early challenges that tested both her confidence and resolve.
One experience in particular shaped the kind of agent Kari Lynn would become. Years earlier, when she and her husband sold a home they had built and lived in for over a decade, the agent they hired was dismissive, rushed, and difficult to reach. “There was no kindness. No relationship,” Kari Lynn recalls. “I knew that if I ever became an agent, I would never be like her.” When they switched to a different agent, the contrast was striking. “He was the BEST. Night and day.” That experience ignited Kari Lynn’s commitment to compassion, communication, and care, principles that still guide her today.
Her early real estate journey wasn’t without heartbreak. Joining a team that ultimately fell apart was painful, but Kari Lynn trusts that God was
“Success is seeing the excitement on your client’s face. Knowing you did everything you possibly could to serve them well.”
redirecting her steps. “God saw. God had other plans,” she says. After years of growth and loyalty at another brokerage, she felt a clear nudge to move again. In October 2024, she joined REAL Broker—a decision she calls the best of her career. “It feels like family,” she says. “We pray together, grow together, and genuinely believe in one another.”
At the heart of Kari Lynn’s work is service. “I get to walk with others through one of the most stressful, emotional, expensive decisions they will ever make,” she says. “That is an honor.” Whether guiding buyers with starry eyes or helping sellers through difficult transitions, Kari is steady, honest, and deeply present. “They need someone who has their best interest at heart,” she explains, “not just someone who wants the house sold.”
Success, for Kari Lynn, is found at the closing table, but not in the paperwork. “Success is seeing the excitement on your client’s face,” she says. “Knowing you did everything you possibly could to serve them well.” Referrals from grateful clients matter far more to her than recognition or awards. “Most of my clients are friends now,” she laughs. “That’s my reward.”
Faith continues to shape her purpose beyond real estate. Kari Lynn leads a women’s Bible study in her home, serves as an outreach leader with Embrace Grace, and mentors women in every season of life. “Women need to know they are worthy,” she says. “We matter very much to Him.” Her heart for inclusion is unmistakable. “When I see someone alone, I will invite them,” Kari Lynn shares. “I never want a woman to feel left out.”
Family remains her anchor. She speaks with pride and tenderness about her husband, children, and grandchildren. One of her most cherished career moments was helping her daughter and son-in-law buy their first home. “Knowing my girl is in a safe, wellbuilt home where they’re making memories—that’s priceless,” she says.
When Kari Lynn reflects on legacy, she hopes to be remembered for kindness, faith, and encouragement. “I want to be remembered as a woman who loved God fiercely,” she says, “who loved her family well, and who helped others feel seen and valued.”
In a world that is not always intentional and inclusive, Kari Lynn Winders pulls up a chair, opens her heart, and reminds others, through faith, service, and compassion that there is always room at the table.
FIRST SOCIAL OF 2026 NORTH FORT WORTH REAL PRODUCERS
TROPHY CLUB
On February 18th, we had our North Fort Worth Real Producers First Social of 2026, and it was PACKED!
There were so many amazing conversations happening that the room was vibrating! It became hard to hear your own thoughts! Kidding, sort of.
Can’t say enough how grateful we are for all the amazing agents and preferred businesses that make this community so special!
A huge shout out to our evenings event sponsors:
• Nick Drescher, aka Nick the Broker
• Tyler Coleman, Black Tie Moving
If you missed this event…will you be at the next one??
Of course, thank you to Signature Real Estate Media for capturing the special moments and to Studio USA for bringing the energy to life in this recap video!
Markets Compound Both Ways LEARN THIS:
BY LES MCGEHEE, CHIEF EDUCATION STRATEGIST, RIALTO ACADEMY
Albert Einstein is often credited with saying that compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. Around Rialto Academy, we often repeat the rest of the lesson: those who understand compounding earn it; those who don’t understand compounding pay for it.
Most people think of compounding as a financial idea. But in real estate markets, compounding shows up somewhere else first—in professional skill. Skills compound. Habits compound. Reputation compounds. Professional respect compounds. And when markets neglect education or treat it only as a compliance matter, confusion compounds, too.
Every real estate market is compounding something. Every professional is compounding something. The only question is what direction it’s going.
Top agents already understand this principle in their own businesses. A professional who builds good habits early— clear communication, strong contract knowledge, careful client service—tends to see those habits multiply over time. Clients return. Referrals increase. Reputation grows. Small disciplines turn into long-term advantages.
The opposite compounds too. Sloppy habits compound. Avoidable mistakes compound. A market where professionals feel unsupported or
underprepared eventually develops patterns that are harder to correct later.
This is where education quietly becomes one of the most important forces inside a market.
Not education as a box to check. Not education as a last-minute compliance requirement. Education that treats the Realtor’s career with respect and helps professionals continually improve their craft and level up.
When that kind of education exists, something important begins to happen.
Newer agents learn faster. They avoid common early mistakes. They gain confidence earlier in their careers. Instead of struggling alone or quietly leaving the business, they begin building stable practices that support their families and serve their clients well.
Which means they could grow to the next level. That progress compounds.
At the same time, experienced agents benefit too. Top producers tend to appreciate working in markets where other professionals understand the business. Transactions move more smoothly. Risk is reduced. Professional standards stay high. And the environment of truth, advocacy, and empathy compounds positively.
Which means they could grow to the next level. Education, when done well, supports that environment.
As Texas Realtor Instructor of the Year, Cassandra Davis often reminds professionals:
“We can give Realtors at all career levels the guidance they need, WHEN they need it, so they can succeed at their current level as an ethical and skilled professional, and continue growing. We train agents to not be order takers
but advocates who lead in TEA — Truth Advocacy and Empathy.”
Her point reflects something many successful agents already know. Professional growth rarely happens by accident. It happens because someone invests in learning and improvement over time.
For agents, that means taking education seriously even after the mandatory hours are completed. The best professionals consistently look for ways to sharpen their skills, learn from experienced instructors, and stay current in a complex industry.
For brokers, the compounding effect becomes visible across an entire office. Teams that value learning tend to develop stronger agents. Transactions move more smoothly. Confidence grows across the brokerage. Over time, those offices become magnets for talent.
Markets work the same way.
When professional development is respected, markets tend to grow stronger and more stable. When
education is treated only as a requirement—or ignored entirely—the opposite quietly compounds instead.
And compounding rarely reveals itself in a single year. It shows up over five years. Over ten.
That’s when you begin to notice the difference between markets where professionals steadily become more capable and markets where the same avoidable problems keep repeating themselves.
Compounding always works.
It works quietly. It works relentlessly.
The only real question is what your market is compounding.
Want to learn more? Contact Les McGehee les@rialtoacademy.com
