Chris
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WHAT BUILT AMERICA STILL WORKS
Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of people took a risk on an idea.
Not a perfect idea. Not a guaranteed idea. Just a belief that hard work, personal responsibility, opportunity, and freedom were worth pursuing.
As our country celebrates 250 years of history, I have found myself thinking about the qualities that helped build America in the first place. Grit. Resilience. Integrity. The willingness to bet on yourself. The ability to get back up after a setback and keep moving forward. While the world has changed dramatically over the last two and a half centuries, those qualities have stood the test of time.
What’s interesting is that those same qualities are still what build great businesses today.
Every month, we have the privilege of sharing the stories of top agents throughout North Texas. The numbers are impressive, but the stories behind
those numbers are what stand out. Rarely do we hear about someone who had a perfect path to success. Instead, we hear stories of risk, sacrifice, long hours, uncertainty, failure, reinvention, and perseverance. We hear stories of people who kept going when things got hard. People who stayed committed when nobody was watching. People who built trust one relationship at a time.
Technology has changed. Marketing has changed. The way people buy and sell homes has changed. AI is changing the way many of us work. Yet the fundamentals remain remarkably similar. Character still matters. Relationships still matter. Keeping your word still matters. Showing up consistently still matters.
In a world that is constantly looking for shortcuts, I think there is something refreshing about being reminded that the old-fashioned principles still work. The agents and partners in this community prove that every day. The people who build lasting businesses are
rarely the ones chasing the latest trend. More often than not, they are the ones doing the simple things exceptionally well, year after year.
As we reflect on 250 years of America, I am grateful for the opportunities we have, the businesses we’ve built, and the people who helped us get here. And while the tools, technology, and tactics will continue to evolve, I have a feeling the qualities that built America, and the qualities that build great businesses, will continue to stand the test of time.
Jordan Espeseth & Lance Dunahoe Proud Owners, DFW Real Producers
THE ESPE AWARDS
HONORING THOSE WHO SET THE STANDARD
OCTOBER 8TH, 2026
After a three-year hiatus. the ESPE Awards return.
An unforgettable black-tie evening dedicated to honoring the agents, leaders, and industry partners who continue to raise the standard in DFW real estate. BLACK TIE. UNFORGETTABLE.
RELIVE ESPE 2023
Watch the recap video and experience the event that everyone is still talking about.
For the Win
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN
BY BETH GRAEME PHOTOGRAPHY
Chris
McDonald
PHOTOS
Long before he became a successful real estate agent in North Fort Worth, Chris McDonald spent 15 years teaching public school students, most of them sixth graders. Day after day, year after year, he stood in front of classrooms helping young people navigate one of the most formative seasons of their lives. Looking back now, he realizes those years shaped far more than his teaching career.
“As much as I thought I was teaching 11 and 12-year-olds, little did I realize how much more they were teaching me about people,” Chris says.
That understanding of human connection became the foundation for everything that followed.
appointment, a $600,000 property in Southlake.
“At the time, it seemed gigantic,” he recalls with a laugh. “Little did I realize that I was getting prepared for what was to become my future career.”
That future quickly took shape.
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Chris proudly calls the city home. Growing up alongside his twin brother, he spent much of his childhood as a competitive swimmer before graduating from Trinity High School in Euless. Swimming eventually carried him through college at Texas Wesleyan University and the University of North Texas, where he earned a degree in communication and public address.
Yet his path toward real estate was anything but traditional.
Before entering the industry, Chris dedicated himself to education, helping thousands of students over a decade and a half in the classroom. Even now, those relationships remain deeply important to him.
“I’ve always been proud of myself in keeping up with and having big influences on all of the students I’ve had during the 15 years I taught school,” he shares. “During that time, I taught around 4,000 students and I keep up with a lot of them.”
That ability to maintain meaningful relationships speaks directly to who Chris is at his core. Whether he is mentoring students, guiding buyers through a transaction, or helping families make life-changing decisions, he approaches people with genuine care and investment.
His transition into real estate came in 2012 after longtime friend Chip Mundy introduced him to the business.
“It’s changed my life forever,” Chris says simply.
Even so, the beginning came with moments that felt overwhelming. Chris still remembers his very first listing
Over the past 14 years, Chris has closed more than 300 transactions, surpassing $100 million in career sales volume. Last year alone, he sold more than $11 million in real estate. Along the way, he built a reputation for versatility and determination, handling everything from residential homes to commercial properties, farm and ranch transactions, land deals, and investment opportunities.
“I’m not afraid to try anything in real estate,” Chris says. “I really like doing all of it.”
That willingness to step into different areas of the business has allowed him to serve clients in unique ways while continually expanding his expertise. Yet no matter how large the transaction or complex the negotiation becomes, his focus always returns to the same thing: helping people win.
“I love to win, and I love to help others win,” he says. “Helping people with the biggest purchase of their lives is very fulfilling.”
For Chris, success is deeply personal because he understands what it means to fight for growth and opportunity. One of the most influential moments in his life happened long before real estate, during a difficult season in college when he considered giving up entirely.
“I had a teacher in college that didn’t give up on me when I was ready to throw in the towel and just be a bartender for the rest of my life,” Chris recalls. “He brought me up from where I was and encouraged me to complete my college degree.”
That encouragement changed everything. Today, Chris still uses the communication
skills he developed during that time in every aspect of his business and life.
His natural ability to connect with people extends far beyond real estate. Outside the office, Chris has built an exciting second career as a public address announcer for TCU and other venues throughout the DallasFort Worth area. One unforgettable opportunity placed him on one of the largest stages imaginable.
“I even got the opportunity to announce at the NCAA National Championship football game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles,” he says. “Ninety thousand people in the stadium and 21 million on television. It was quite the rush.”
Still, despite the bright lights and major milestones, Chris remains
grounded in the values that guide him every day.
“Real estate is truly a calling on my life, not just a career or a job,” he says. “It provides a life purpose that I have to help others meet their needs financially, emotionally, within a family, and their lifelong goals and dreams.”
That perspective becomes especially clear when he talks about one of the most memorable transactions of his career: the sale of the historic Haltom Mansion in Haltom City.
Built in 1936, the home had been a part of Chris’s childhood memories for decades.
“I grew up in the ’60s and ’70s going to look at the house every year to see the Christmas decorations,” he says. “It was really cool to sell a true Tarrant County landmark.”
Even after years in the business, moments like that still matter deeply to him because they connect both his personal history and his professional purpose.
As the industry continues to evolve, Chris believes relationships remain the greatest tool any agent can have.
“You can use technology, CRMs, phones, databases, and structured programs,” he says, “but the best lead generation tool is still you, the agent.”
That philosophy reflects the same approach he carried as a teacher years ago. Show up. Build trust. Invest in people. Stay connected.
When asked what he hopes people remember about him someday, his answer reveals the heart behind everything he does.
“I showed others how living for the Lord can really and truly bring contentment in your life and help live the one life you have here on earth to the fullest.”
For Chris McDonald, that legacy matters far more than any transaction ever could, and that is what it truly means to win in life and in real estate.
Matt Schultz & Dustin Kellar
INDEPENDENCE TITLE
Foundation of Trust
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN
PHOTOS BY BRIAN HUTSON, ELEVATED CONTENT
In the real estate industry, deadlines are tight, emotions run high, and details can make or break a transaction. Above all, trust matters, and for Matt Schultz and Dustin Kellar, co-division presidents of DFW for Independence Title, trust is not just a business strategy. It is the foundation of everything they do.
Walk into one of their offices and you will quickly notice something different. Yes, there is innovation. Yes, there are systems, tools, market statistics, and technology designed to help agents close deals more efficiently. But underneath all of that is something deeper: character.
“We are men of faith and integrity, and we deeply desire to be true business partners to real estate agents,” they shared. “These aren’t just words to us. They’re the foundation of how we do business.”
That mindset has helped Matt and Dustin build meaningful relationships throughout the DFW Metroplex over the last 14 years. They have intentionally chosen to focus on people first.
Independence Title was founded in Austin in 2005 with a vision for innovation and genuine care within the title industry. Today, the company has grown to more than 70 offices across Texas, offering title insurance, escrow services, attorney support, and residential and commercial transaction assistance. Yet despite the growth, Matt and Dustin believe the heart of the company remains the same.
“What truly sets us apart is Independence Title’s unmatched combination of tools, innovation, and people,” they explained. “We have the best and brightest title and escrow professionals, people with both sharp brains and big hearts.”
That combination has become a defining part of their leadership style. They are passionate about equipping agents with practical resources they can actually use every day. From premium calculators and seller net sheets to detailed DFW MLS market statistics
by zip code and mobile apps, the goal is simple: make agents’ lives easier.
Still, for Matt and Dustin, technology alone is never enough.
“Most importantly, we stay personally involved,” they said. “We treat every agent like a true partner.”
That philosophy carries through every interaction, whether they are helping a first-time homebuyer navigate the closing table or supporting a complex transaction involving builders and lenders. Their team offers flexibility with evenings and weekends, communicates proactively, and works hard to remove stress from the process so agents can focus on serving their clients well.
At the center of it all is a genuine admiration for the real estate professionals they work alongside every day.
“We love the drive and heart that DFW agents pour into their work,” they shared. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be their go-to partner.”
For Matt and Dustin, there is nothing quite like the moment a transaction closes successfully and a family receives the keys to a new home.
“Celebrating those successful closings together, when their clients are thrilled, is one of the best feelings in this business,” they said.
Their approach to leadership is deeply rooted in faith and values that extend beyond the workplace. Courage, transparency, discipline, integrity, and hard work are not motivational phrases framed on an office wall. They are standards they strive to live out daily.
“We believe in doing the right thing, even when no one is watching,” they explained. “And treating every agent and client with honesty and respect.”
That commitment has helped them earn the trust of agents across DFW, especially high-producing professionals who are looking for more than a vendor relationship. Matt and Dustin want
agents to know they have a dependable team standing beside them through every challenge and every opportunity.
“Our goal is to create an exceptional experience for agents,” they said. “One where they have reliable, committed partners who put them and their clients first.”
That idea of partnership appears repeatedly when speaking with them. It is not about simply providing a service. It is about helping others succeed.
“We want agents to know they can count on us for clear communication,
innovative tools, and unwavering support so they can focus on growing their businesses and serving their clients with confidence,” they added.
Their success, they believe, comes back to relationships and consistency.
“We believe the biggest reason for our success is our commitment to integrity and building genuine relationships,” they said. “From the beginning, we’ve tried to lead with strong values and do what’s right, even when it’s not the easiest path.”
They are also quick to give credit to the people around them. Matt and
What truly sets us apart is Independence Title’s unmatched combination of tools, innovation, and people.”
Dustin repeatedly point to the teams at Independence Title as one of the company’s greatest strengths.
“We’ve been blessed to work with incredible people who combine sharp expertise with big hearts,” they shared.
As leaders, they understand that success cannot simply be measured by production numbers or growth charts. While they are grateful for the expansion and momentum they have experienced, their definition of success remains remarkably grounded.
“True success is knowing we’ve been a reliable, trusted partner to real estate agents and helped their clients have smooth, positive closing experiences,” they explained.
For them, success looks like agents thriving in their businesses, families moving into homes they love, and teams feeling fulfilled in the work they do each day. It means building something lasting within the DFW community through integrity, relationships, and service.
“At the end of the day, if we’ve helped agents look like heroes to their clients while staying true to our values, that’s real success to us,” they said.
Perhaps no quote captures their leadership philosophy better than the one they hold close:
“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.”
It is a perspective that reflects not only how Matt Schultz and Dustin Kellar lead Independence Title’s DFW division, but also the legacy they hope to leave behind.
Because in the end, they are not simply running a title office. They are building something meaningful. Something rooted in faith, strengthened by character, and driven by a genuine commitment to the agents, families, and communities they serve every day across DFW.
Sharma Swapnil
BUILDING A LEGACY WITH HEART & CONVICTION
How Swapnil Sharma Turned Courage, Compassion, and an Unrelenting Standard of Excellence into One of Dallas Fort Worth’s Most Respected Luxury Real Estate Brands
Long before the awards, the accolades, and the $400 million in career sales volume, there was a young girl growing up in India, the eldest of four children, raised by a father and a mother who were always there in an environment that demanded awareness, resilience, and deep personal responsibility. The open houses and purchase agreements of luxury real estate were worlds away. But the foundation being laid with character, discipline, and a refusal to be defined by circumstance was everything.
Swapnil’s father served as a forest officer, a role that required courage, composure, and an extraordinary sense of duty. His work demanded long hours, decisiveness, and the ability to navigate difficult circumstances with integrity. Watching him shaped Swapnil’s understanding of leadership at an early age.
As the matriarch of a household with four children, her mother cultivated a home environment grounded in education, discipline, humility, and perseverance. She managed every aspect of family life with elegance and precision while simultaneously serving as a respected example for other women within her community. The example set by both of her parents became the philosophical foundation upon which Swapnil would later build her life and career.
As the eldest child in her family, Swapnil naturally assumed responsibility early in life. She learned how to care for
others before she fully understood the significance of leadership itself. Looking back, it is evident that her success in real estate was never accidental. It was cultivated through years of emotional intelligence, intuition, resilience, and an acute awareness of human needs and aspirations. “I took on a lot of responsibilities when I was young,” she recalls. “Those responsibilities helped me become a motivated person who strives to create her own success.”
When she moved to the United States, she arrived without a network, without familiarity, and without the advantages that smooth so many early career paths. What she carried instead was a work ethic she describes as non-negotiable, instincts she had spent years developing, and a mindset that treated every obstacle as a reason to work harder rather than a reason to stop. “I knew I had to create my own opportunities,” Swapnil says.
Her introduction into real estate was far from glamorous. Swapnil began as an assistant, working diligently throughout the week while studying during evenings and weekends to obtain her real estate license. In 2009, she officially became an agent while seven months pregnant with her daughter.
“For many women, society subtly implies that motherhood and professional ambition exist in opposition to one another,” Swapnil explains. However, she refused to subscribe to that narrative. She wanted her children to witness firsthand what perseverance, grace, and excellence could accomplish. She wanted
them to understand that integrity, compassion, and ambition could coexist harmoniously within one life.
Her earliest experiences in the industry reinforced the philosophy that would later define her career.
“My first win was helping friends who trusted me during the beginning of my journey and who still trust me with their biggest investments today,” she says.
Now, she is not only one of the most accomplished luxury real estate professionals in Dallas- Fort Worth, but also a devoted wife, a mother of two highly successful children, a mentor to countless agents, a community leader, and the vice president of her HOA. Her life has become an extraordinary example for women, immigrants, and young girls who hope to build meaningful careers without sacrificing devotion toward family, purpose, or personal values.
With more than 1,200 homes sold, over $400 million in career sales volume, recognition among the top 1% of agents nationwide, consistent honors as a D Magazine Top Producer, Five Star Professional Award winner, a 99% list-to-sale price ratio, features in publications such as Forbes and USA Today, Swapnil has undeniably established herself among the elite within her profession, her professional record speaks with unmistakable clarity.
Yet statistics alone fail to explain the extraordinary loyalty she inspires among clients because to Swapnil Sharma, real estate has never been transactional. It is deeply personal.
PHOTOS BY DESIREE ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY
“Success is not a milestone I reach,” she explains. “It is something I earn repeatedly through the trust and loyalty of the people I serve.”
It is her role as Team Lead — as coach, mentor, and daily presence in the development of her agents — that she considers equally central to her purpose.
Every single day, Swapnil personally coaches and trains the agents of The Sharma Group. Not through occasional workshops or quarterly reviews, but through active, hands-on, daily engagement that reflects the same standard of excellence she brings to every client she serves. Over her career, she has trained and mentored dozens of real estate professionals, shaping their market knowledge, their negotiating approach, their communication skills, and most importantly, their mindset.
She does not simply sell homes. She shepherds aspirations into reality.
The Moment That Never Loses Its Meaning
For all of her professional accomplishments, Swapnil’s motivation remains anchored in something that cannot be measured in volume or recognition. “It’s the look on a client’s face the instant they walk into the home that was made for them,” she says. “That split-second when everything goes quiet and they just know. That moment is why I do what I do.”
That precision shows up in every listing The Sharma Group takes to market. Every detail is curated to create emotional connection before a buyer ever sets foot through the door.
“I want buyers to feel something before they arrive,” she says. “Because in luxury real estate, emotion drives decisions, and presentation drives emotion.”
But elevated marketing is only part of the story. What her clients remember most–what they tell their friends, their colleagues, and the neighbors they refer to–is how she made them feel throughout the process. “A client once told me that no other agent had ever done for them what I did,” she shares.
“SUCCESS IS NOT A MILESTONE I REACH. IT IS SOMETHING I EARN REPEATEDLY THROUGH THE TRUST AND LOYALTY OF THE PEOPLE I SERVE.”
alone, but because people feel genuinely understood within her presence.
Younger agents describe her as both exacting and extraordinarily supportive. She believes excellence is a form of respect and that clients deserve thoughtful advocacy, elevated presentation, and seamless execution throughout every phase of the process.
In an industry increasingly consumed by automation and speed, Swapnil remains remarkably human while simultaneously embracing innovation. She stays at the forefront of technology, marketing strategy, negotiation practices, and evolving market trends because she believes clients deserve both warmth and precision. Her experience allows her to anticipate challenges before they emerge while advocating fiercely behind closed doors on behalf of the families she serves.
“When expectations are elevated and there is no room for error, that is when I am at my sharpest,” she says.
“That meant more to me than any award. Because it told me they felt the difference between being handled and being genuinely served.”
Within luxury real estate, intuitive expertise remains essential, and Swapnil possesses it in abundance. Her knowledge of Dallas-Fort Worth, particularly Flower Mound and surrounding luxury communities, is encyclopedic. After a single consultation, she often identifies neighborhoods, amenities, schools, architectural styles, and lifestyle environments that align with her clients’ personalities before they fully articulate those desires themselves. Clients frequently joke that she reads minds. In reality, she listens with unusual intentionality and perception.
What distinguishes Swapnil even further is she is there from the moment of inception to helping with lender recommendations to following through after the closing. Her devotion to relationships is perpetual even after transactions conclude.
“I actually care,” she says. “Not on a surface level or transactional way. Deeply!”
She continues, “There is nothing more meaningful to me than when a past client calls and says their son or daughter is ready to buy a first home and they trust me to guide that process. That level of trust is something I hold with enormous gratitude and responsibility.”
That enduring loyalty has transformed her business into something multigenerational. Not because of advertising campaigns or visibility
Swapnil’s network of lenders, contractors, inspectors, designers, and industry professionals has been cultivated meticulously over many years. Her ability to orchestrate every aspect of the client experience provides a level of reassurance that cannot easily be replicated. Clients frequently marvel at her intuition, her advocacy, and the consistency with which she creates successful outcomes.
Still, despite everything she has built, the heart of her story remains remarkably simple.
A young woman arrived in America carrying little more than conviction, discipline, and hope, and years later, Swapnil Sharma has built a life expansive enough to hold not only her own dreams, but the dreams of thousands of other families as well. And perhaps that is her true legacy.
“I came to this country with nothing but conviction formalized by determination and vision,” she says. “And I built everything by refusing to lower my standards.”
Swapnil Sharma did not simply build a business. She built a legacy rooted in trust, humanity, and home.
Blessed Steps Valarie Shells
There are moments in life that imprint themselves so vividly, they never fade. For Valarie Shells, one of those moments came at just 16 years old. Standing in a place she can still recall in detail— the scent in the air, the weight of possibility. She made a quiet declaration that would shape her future. “At that very moment, I proclaimed that one day I would be a REALTOR®!!!” she remembers. At the time, fear held her back. Commission-based income felt too uncertain for someone raised with so little. But the seed had been planted, and it never stopped growing.
Today, more than a decade into her real estate career with Chris DeCoste Realty Group, Valarie’s story is one of patient determination. It’s a story built not on shortcuts, but on perseverance, guided by a deep belief that her steps were always ordered.
Valarie’s roots trace back to North Little Rock, Arkansas, where she describes herself as “definitely a village kid.” Much of her upbringing was shaped by the North Little Rock Boys & Girls Club, where mentors and community members stepped in to provide structure, encouragement, and even basic necessities. “God always placed influential people in my life to bless my steps,” she shares. “They showed me structure when I didn’t have it, family values when I didn’t have an example to follow, and provided my needs when my family couldn’t afford to.”
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN • PHOTOS BY DESIREE ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY
That foundation became the bedrock of who she is today.
Before stepping into real estate, Valarie built a career in apartment management and construction project administration. At the time, it may have seemed like just work, but looking back, she sees it differently. “All these things truly show how God has our steps ordered,” she says. “I learned vital skills that have helped me be a better REALTOR®.” It’s a perspective that reflects her ability to find purpose in every season.
Her early days in real estate came with their own set of challenges. One memory stands out: a Christmas event held at a luxurious venue, filled with what she describes as the “who’s who” of the industry. Surrounded by polished professionals and elegant decor, she felt out of place. But as she looked out over the city skyline, something shifted. “I remember saying over and over to myself, ‘this is just the beginning, I do belong here!’” she recalls. In that moment, humility met confidence, and a new chapter began.
Valarie’s path hasn’t been without challenges. She has faced profound personal loss, having been widowed twice. The second time came after relocating to Texas, leaving her in unfamiliar territory with children depending on her. It was a crossroads moment: return to what was comfortable or step forward into the unknown.
“In Texas, life moves fast, constantly reminding me that I better keep up or life will run me
over and pass me by. Knowing my kids were depending on me, I had to make whatever I did count. There was no doubt I was staying here!” she says. “I truly felt God did not bring me here to leave me.”
That decision became a turning point. It was in Texas that she met her husband, Darrell Shells, whose encouragement helped push her toward her calling. Together, they share a blended family of eight children: Deshon, Demetrie, Jazmine, Jaiden, Dathan, Nia, Saniya, and Collin. “They are my why!” she says with conviction.
When Valarie reflects on her success, she doesn’t hesitate to give credit where she believes it belongs. “I attribute my strength and success to my faith in God, my devoted husband, Darrell Shells, and to my family,” she shares. That gratitude extends beyond her immediate circle. “I’m so grateful for all the families I’ve been able to serve, and for my real estate family that continues to encourage and be a blessing in my career as well–especially my mentor and dear friend, Chris DeCoste.”
That heart for service is evident in the clients she’s most passionate about helping: veterans and first-time homebuyers. Through her work with Veterans United, she has developed a deep appreciation for those who have served. “It’s my pleasure to serve them,” she says. “Helping them find a home for their families.”
Her connection to first-time buyers is equally personal. Growing up,
homeownership wasn’t something she saw or understood. Now, she’s committed to changing that for others. “Gaining that knowledge allowed me to educate others about the importance of building generational wealth and legacy,” she explains. “I personally know the pride and satisfaction that comes with being the first one in your family to ever own a home.”
That sense of purpose has helped fuel an impressive career, including nearly $12 million in volume last year and recognition as a Top 1% Veterans United REALTOR®. Yet for Valarie, success isn’t defined by numbers alone. “Success to me now is being happy in my career,” she says. “I love what I do… I think success is finding what you’re passionate about and being able to provide for your family doing it all while helping to better others.”
Focus on building relationships, not chasing closings. Closings will come naturally… show people that you care even when there’s not a paycheck for you.”
Her mindset continues to evolve, shaped by life lessons that go far beyond real estate. One of her most powerful realizations is that there is no final destination.
“I realized that we’re constantly chasing that ‘I made it’ moment… but there’s not a mountaintop in life,” she says. “It’s just an illusion. Life has peaks… KEEP climbing, learning and growing.”
It’s that forward-looking perspective that drives her goals today—helping more families, teaching homeownership classes, and continuing to give back. And through it all, she remains grounded in what matters most: faith, family, and service.
For those just starting out, her advice is simple but impactful: “Focus on building relationships, not chasing closings. Closings will come naturally… show people that you care even when there’s not a paycheck for you.”
At the end of the day, how does Valarie want to be remembered?
“That I value my clients… that you always have a REALTOR® and friend in me,” she says. “When you choose me to serve you… I cherish and value being your REALTOR®.”
From a 16-year-old with a dream to a respected agent making a difference, Valarie Shells’ story is an example of the power of believing that you belong—exactly where you’re meant to be.
What 300,000 REALTORS® Just Taught Me About Growth
BY LES MCGEHEE, RIALTO ACADEMY
The world’s largest mergers of REALTOR® organizations are happening right now. One of the best examples is right here in DFW— and the lessons apply to every DFW brokerage, team, and real estate company looking to grow.
Serving major associations and MLSs through Rialto Academy gives me a frontrow seat to real estate leadership at scale.
Today, Rialto is helping roughly 300,000 REALTORS® navigate growth, mergers, acquisitions, and new communities across North America. Watching these organizations succeed has revealed a clear pattern—one that works for large organizations and can work for your brokerage too.
Few ideas are bigger than a successful merger. Here in DFW, we’ve watched respected REALTOR® communities come together to create stronger organizations serving tens of thousands of members. MetroTex. Greater Fort Worth. Across North America, similar stories continue unfolding as organizations expand their reach and increase their value to members.
Rialto has the privilege of serving many of these organizations as they
grow education campuses, launch ondemand learning, develop instructors, strengthen leadership, and create new opportunities for REALTORS®.
Quick question:
If you doubled the size of your brokerage all at once, what system would you use to bring those communities together briskly and come out of it with positive energy and smooth sailing?
That’s the question these organizations have been answering.
The most successful growth strategies use education to create momentum.
This lesson is surprisingly relevant for every broker and team leader reading this, because while most brokerages are not merging tens of thousands of REALTORS®, they are capable of doubling briskly, even repeatedly, through recruiting, onboarding teams, acquiring companies, acquiring teams, and growing with momentum.
Different scale. Remarkably similar leadership challenge.
Mergers of teams and brokerages create a sea of uncertainty.
Education provides the framework for navigation, turning direction into momentum and helping Realtors become one community.
Brokers identify a future worth pursuing and chart the course. That provides direction. Education is the wind in the sails so that you can have momentum. Momentum breeds confidence. Confident Realtors realize they’re an effective professional community.
Through well-designed educational experiences, REALTORS® repeatedly engage with the future you’ve identified. They’ll help sail the ship there with you.
MetroTex
An interesting portion of MetroTex’s successful merger has been the role of the instructor community. Many people think of instructors only as teachers. They are often MUCH more than that.
Instructors are often mentors, committee chairs, advocates, legacy brokers, and board volunteers. They interact with membership frequently and often passionately, helping shape how people experience the organization.
Instructors are multipliers. They carry ideas, relationships, and messaging, and can display confidence. When Realtors see trusted instructors that are confident, they become more confident themselves.
A very successful strategy MetroTex deployed was to briskly grow educational excellence, instructor development, and expanded educational opportunities. Many of us already knew the education leaders involved—they were among the best in the nation. Jess Barker, formerly an education leader at Collin County Area REALTORS® and now Professional Education Director at MetroTex, has had a front-row seat to this merger from both sides of the process. We asked Jess what she learned about bringing strong, proud communities together through education—and which educational strategies are creating the most momentum during the transition.
“The importance of building strong relationships with our faculty membershas never been more critical. Our instructors are deeply connected to the industry, and maintaining those relationships helps us stay informed about emerging trends and deliver timely, relevant education to our members. One strategy that continues to gain traction is our commitment to OnDemand education. By making more faculty-led content available online,we’re able to extend the reach of our instructors expertise and provide members with highquality learning opportunities whenever and wherever they need them. Combining the strength of our faculty with flexible learning options has helped create greater access to education and a more connected member community.”
Education leaders like Jess remind us that education is not just scheduling classes. It is about helping members move forward together as a community.
What This Can Mean for a Brokerage The larger a brokerage becomes, the more important direction becomes.
Growth creates temporary complexity. If you want large, fast growth, you’ll need a scalable system for integrating people. Agents, teams, and companies are acquired. Everyone gets onboarded, provided vision and direction. You need communing, communication, community. The principle remains the same. A wellbuilt education system provides a home for these things to happen:
FOUR WAYS TO
BIG GROWTH WITH SMOOTH
1. Direction creates the opportunity for momentum.
2. Momentum creates confidence.
SAILING
Education provides the framework that turns direction into a stronger future.
1 DIRECTION
Brokers provide direction for a future worth pursuing.
2 MOMENTUM
Direction creates the opportunity for brokerage momentum.
3 CONFIDENCE
Brokerage momentum creates confident agents.
4 COMMUNITY
Confident agents realize they are more powerful together.
Great brokerages don’t grow by chance. They grow with direction, momentum, confidence, and community.
3. Confident Realtors recognize they are in a professional community that looks forward.
That lesson scales beautifully whether you are merging 30 or 300,000 REALTORS®.
Great brokerages don’t succeed at abrupt, large-scale growth by chance.
They grow with direction, momentum, confidence, and community. And those things live in your education opportunities.
That is the biggest lesson 300,000 REALTORS® just taught me about growth.
*If you’d like 3 secrets for supercharging your brokerage’s opportunities with education with little or no expense, contact me: Les@RialtoAcademy.com. My gift to Real Producers.”
Les McGehee is Chief Education Strategist at Rialto Academy and works with associations, MLSs, brokerages, instructors, and industry leaders across North America to create educational experiences that help people and organizations grow.
Real Producers FAQ Real Producers FAQ
Real Producers Magazine is a national franchise that started in Indianapolis in 2015 and is now in over 130 markets across the nation and continues to spread rapidly. DFW has four Real Producers Communities: North Dallas, Dallas, North Fort Worth, and Fort Worth Real Producers.
Q: What is the goal of Real Producers?
A: We believe that we are better together. When we surround ourselves with other successful, like-minded people, we grow to new heights. Real Producers is a platform that brings together the most elite individuals in DFW real estate. We take the highest producing real estate agents, and RP-vetted businesses in every market, and build an exclusive community around that group. We share their stories, successes, upcoming events, and educate – really anything that will connect, inform and inspire, we put in our monthly publication.
At Real Producers, we believe we are one person, one conversation, or one idea away from everything in our business and life changing. With this powerhouse community, it happens all the time.
Q: How do you become a Real Producers Top Agent?
A: In all of DFW, there are roughly 60,000 licensed agents, meaning there are ~15,000 agents in each of our four communities. We rank all those agents based off their yearly MLS sales volume. In years past, we congratulated the Top 500 Agents, and we still are, but in
2026, we are adding a other groups to our community… all in the RP Top 1000! These agents are in the top 6%.
Q: Who receives Real Producers Magazine?
A: The Top 1000 agents in each community will receive the digital magazine for the year. The Top 500 agents will also receive the magazine physically to their mailbox. Our RP Vetted Businesses also receive the magazine physically and digitally.
Q: Can I be featured?
A: If you are in the Top 1000, you have the opportunity to be featured! We love nominations and take them seriously. If you’d like to be considered for a feature, or if you would like to nominate someone, you can email team@ dfwrealproducers.com.
Q: What does it cost to be featured as an RP Top Agent?
A: Zero, zilch, zippo, nada, nil. How, you ask? Because of the businesses that your peers have recommended, who partner with Real Producers, and invest in this community to support you. These companies have all been recommended by top agents and have been vetted by us to ensure they are of the highest quality. So instead of you paying $5k - $10k for this feature…they cover all those costs for you! Pretty incredible, right?
Q: Does Real Producers host events?
A: Yes, we host many different events throughout the year! Some large 400-800 people, some 75-250 people, and other
more intimate events that are 30-50 people. We do Social Events, Magazine Celebration Events, an Awards Gala, and Masterclass Events. You can see quick recaps of some of our events under the “Events” tab on our website.
For our events, we invite the top 1000 real estate agents and our RP-vetted businesses. The Top 1000 agents are allowed to invite agents on their team, as well. These events are an incredible opportunity to connect with the best in DFW real estate. It is amazing to see the power in the connection made at these events. Be on the lookout for your exclusive invites!
Q: Who are the RP Vetted Businesses?
A: They are some of the best businesses in DFW in their category! You can find them listed in our index and their ad in the magazine. We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. Each business has come recommended by your peers, the top producing real estate agents in the market. Our team will further vet every business to make sure they are a good fit and bring value to our community. Our goal is to create a powerhouse network, not only for the best real estate agents in the area but the best businesses, as well, so we can grow stronger together.
Q: Can I nominate an agent or recommend a business?
A: Absolutely! Email your nominations and recommendations to team@ dfwrealproducers.com.
YOUR NORTH FORT WORTH REAL PRODUCERS BADGES
Congrats on being one of the top 500 real estate agents in North Fort Worth!
Because of your 2026 MLS production, you earned your spot as a 2026 North Fort Worth Real Producers Top Agent and can represent your badge proudly! This year, we have added NEW badges to the top 500 and top 1000 – top 10, top 25, top 100, top 250, and top 750 —the badge you will receive is determined by your production. Regardless, that is the top 6% in North Fort Worth!
Missing your badge? Email team@dfwrealproducers.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!
Our preferred partners have been carefully selected to be a part of this community and have their own badge as well! They have been recommended by your peers and are some of North Fort Worth’s most elite businesses. Look for this badge to know that you are working with one of the best, recommended by the best!
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
North Fort Worth Real Producers
2026 SUMMER SOCIAL
Our North Fort Worth Summer Social was held inside the Hotel Vin at the Third Rail, and it was awesome to be back at a venue we first visited in 2021!
The room was filled with top agents, great businesses, meaningful conversations, and a whole lot of fun.
A huge thank you to all of our Preferred Partners, and a special shoutout to Black Tie Moving, Nick Drescher with Edge Home Finance, and Meadows Garage Doors for serving as the Host Sponsors of this event.
Of course, thank you to CSG Photos for capturing the moments and to Studio USA for
PHOTOS BY CRUZ ACEVEDO, STUDIOUSA & CSG PHOTOS
EVENT RECAP
SCAN HERE
