THE TENACIOUS 30

Steadfast. That’s a great way to describe the 2022 class of 30 Under 30. These young professionals have persevered through unprecedented inventory shortages and consumer demand—during a pandemic that shifted lifestyles and mindsets—and taken bold steps along the way to achieve success.

Since 2000, REALTOR® Magazine has been recognizing young members of the National Association of REALTORS® who are doing extraordinary things in their businesses, associations, and communities. As in past years, members of the 30 Under 30 Class of 2022 cover a wide geography and range of business and personal experiences. They’ve started their own companies and nonprofits. They’re working to close housing gaps and build connections in their communities. And several have overcome long odds to achieve their goals.

At 21 years old, Jennifer Romero was forced to leave college due to financial barriers. She turned to real estate and gave it her all. Now at 26, she co-owns her brokerage, RE/MAX Lifestyles in Hackensack, N.J.

“I can tell you that all dreams are possible if you have the conviction to believe in yourself and the perseverance to work for it every single day,” Romero says. “I had more reasons to fail than to win, but failing to me was simply not an option.”

Then there’s Darrin DeSilva, who keeps two framed pictures in his home office: One is a photo of himself when he was homeless. The other is the actual sign he used to hold while asking for money on the side of the road. “I share this because the gift I’ve been given is so beautiful,” says DeSilva, now with Realty One Group Zoom in Tracy, Calif. “Even someone as hopeless as I was can turn their life around and into whatever they can imagine.”

More than 300 young real estate practitioners applied for 30 Under 30 this year. In early March, a panel of judges narrowed the field to 50 finalists. Then, the public had a say, casting 41,109 votes during the weeklong Web Choice Award voting period. With 2,848 votes, Bri Brenkus of Keller Williams the Marketplace in Henderson, Nev., became the Web Choice winner, solidifying her place in the 30 Under 30 class. The other 29 honorees were selected by judges from the group of 50 finalists. The 2022 class shares more than a persevering spirit: They also take pride in being a REALTOR®. “I am truly passionate about propelling the REALTOR® [brand] forward,” says Allie Buchman with Opt Real Estate in Portland, Ore. “Being the chair of my local Young Professionals Network is another perfect platform to help share the love of real estate. I feel I am on the ground floor of what I can do for my local, state, and even national community.”

That unrelenting, service-first attitude is a hallmark of these 30 young people. “I love what I do,” says Kadee French, with Keller Williams Central Oklahoma, “and cannot wait to spend the rest of my life doing it.”

Bri Brenkus

▶ WEB CHOICE AWARD WINNER

Team Member

Keller Williams the Marketplace

Henderson, Nev.

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $44.6 million

2021 Individual Transaction Sides: 107

2021 Team Sales Volume: $143 million

2021 Team Transaction Sides: 370

‘What You Believe, You Can Achieve’

At 12 years old, Bri Brenkus won the blue ribbon at an equestrian show she hadn’t even planned to enter. Her best friend was competing, and Brenkus decided to sign up, too. The only horse available happened to be a horse from the riding school. “My concerned mother and trainer said it was unlikely I’d be able to place because school horses normally don’t compete,” Brenkus, now 25, recalls.

“I see blue,” she told her mom.

“It is one of my most cherished memories. What you believe, you can achieve,” she says. Brenkus attained her real estate license while a senior in college and says much of her success comes from her “old-soul” beliefs in handwritten letters, door-knocking at For Sale By Owner properties, and conversing about real estate everywhere she goes.

Brenkus used her power of belief to manifest another win this March: the 30 Under 30 Web Choice Award. After being selected as one of the 50 finalists, Brenkus pulled out all the stops rallying her sphere to vote for her—even airdropping her voting link to people working out at her gym. She had a dream the weekend before the winner was announced that she received 3,000 votes. Indeed, Brenkus came out on top, with 2,848 of the 41,109 votes cast. Read more about Brenkus’s win.

Allie Buchman

Team Leader

Opt Real Estate Portland, Ore.

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $9.3 million

2021 Individual Sides: 11

2021 Team Sales Volume: $168.8 million

2021 Team Transaction Sides: 301

Friendly Competition

When asked to explain how she became the second-highest-selling agent at Opt Real Estate, a brand-new brokerage that achieved $168 million in volume last year, Allie Buchman speaks in clear terms: “I’m competitive, almost to a fault—and I’m also a lifelong learner. [Opt founder] Drew Coleman and I spent years talking about how to combat the typical ‘race to the bottom’ brokerage model, which focuses on more bodies selling and less agent support.”

As Opt’s director of operations and “optimization guru,” Buchman, 28, manages agents, facilitates training, and develops new workflows with support staff. As the brokerage grows, her top priority is to offer an environment that “allows agents to focus on negotiating and advocating for their clients, rather than busy work.”

Her tenacity also keeps Buchman busy outside the office. A competitive tennis player, she has risen to the second-highest amateur rank on the United States Tennis Association tour and has ambitions to reach the highest level in the coming years. For Buchman, it pays off to be competitive and hungry for more—in tennis and in business, too.

Leah Canfield

Associate Broker

Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties

Breckenridge, Colo.

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $49.2 million

2021 Individual Transaction Sides: 29.78

Celebrating Wins

After getting her real estate license, Leah Canfield, 29, quickly learned the value of partnering with good people. While she had some early success as a solo agent, there was nobody to celebrate with on the good days or commiserate with when things were hard. She started working with a close friend, and when they had built enough financial security, they started bringing in others who could help them consistently offer clients a high level of service. Today, Canfield leads a successful team of four in booming Breckenridge, Colo.—and she continues to celebrate the contributions of people around her.

“I didn’t realize at the very beginning that everyone is out there working so hard all the time, and it’s not always easy,” she says. “Our friends at the title company get calls all day long from people who are angry or stressed. I make sure people know I appreciate them. This industry can grind you down, and sometimes you need someone to say you’re doing a great job.”

Canfield, who specializes in selling luxury homes, has learned her market’s construction processes and techniques. This allows her to provide clients with valuable insights and has helped her develop a sub-niche working with investors. “Helping my clients reach their financial goals is exciting for me,” she says. “I’m imparting to them lessons I have learned investing locally.”

Darrin DeSilva

Individual Salesperson

Realty One Group Zoom Tracy, Calif.

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $10.7 million

2021 Individual Transaction Sides: 23

Carving a New Path

Darrin DeSilva never wants to forget where he came from. DeSilva’s childhood was one marked by instability. When he was 20, his father passed away, leading DeSilva into a spiral of self-destruction.

At 23, homeless and seeking donations on the side of the road, DeSilva had a fortunate encounter: A man stopped and took time to get to know him, helping him take the first step needed to stop the downward spiral. It was a turning point.

DeSilva got off the streets and soon found full-time work. In January 2020, at the age of 27, he started his real estate career. He uses the lessons he’s learned from the past to keep him accountable and help him grow as an agent.

“I keep people in my corner who tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear, which is vital to my success,” says DeSilva, now 29.

At the center of his business is customer service and community building. “Without my community, I wouldn’t be here,” he says. “And [a home sale] is the type of transaction that changes people’s lives. These people text me and call me like I’m their friend. I don’t know of any other industry where it’s like that.”

Kendra Greene Ellis

Associate Broker Coldwell Banker Wallace Knoxville, Tenn.

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $10.5 million

2021 Individual Transaction Sides: 35

Shaping Her Community

Kendra Greene Ellis, 29, has owned more than 40 homes in the last 11 years. She purchased her first investment property at age 18, then got into flipping houses and building spec homes with her husband.

“I enjoy finding off-market or not-so-nice properties to renovate as a flip or customized for a particular client,” she says.

As the couple went about their work, they realized they could make a difference in their community, too. They started their own nonprofit, A Step Towards Home, to provide affordable transitional housing. They partner with other nonprofits to provide affordable housing solutions and resources that help residents work toward homeownership.

“Just like we have renovated and built houses specifically to sell to clients within their budget, it would be my dream to help guide these men and women through this process to eventually become homeowners one day.”

Ellis recently started working in commercial real estate. In order to make a bigger impact on housing inventory, particularly affordable housing, she says, she has to work with larger investors and developers who are in the commercial space.

“The average commercial agent in Knoxville is a 58-year-old white man. I’m still asked, ‘Are you excited to get into real estate?’ But I’ve had my real estate license for 10 years now, and I’m up for this challenge.”

Kadee French

Individual Salesperson Keller Williams Central Oklahoma Edmond, Okla.

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $22.8 million

2021 Individual Transaction Sides: 61

Woman’s Best Friend

As a young girl watching her father build and sell homes, Kadee French, 27, knew she wanted to be a real estate professional someday. A college degree in marketing and a couple of unsatisfying sales jobs later, she made the leap. “I love what I do, and hopefully I won’t have to do anything else for the rest of my life,” she says.

Frequently by her side is Kiah, a cavachon poodle that makes appearances in French’s marketing materials, social media posts, and open houses. The pup draws attention that has resulted in several client relationships. French’s impressive customer service skills seal the deal, but Kiah is the conversation starter.

French is pleased to give back to the community in which she was born and raised. She is a member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City and volunteers at events for a senior residential facility. Kiah helps as well. She is a certified service dog that always brings smiles to the residents of the nursing homes they visit.

Quentin Green

Team Leader

Downtown Realty Co.

Chicago

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $10.5 million

2021 Individual Transaction Sides: 17

Catching the Real Estate Bug

At age 94, Quentin Green’s grandfather still works in real estate. He specializes in properties along Lake Michigan in Indiana and owns several investment properties throughout the state. “He’s smart. He taught bitcoin protocol to other family members, and he has a firm grasp of it,” says Green, 27, who has inherited his grandfather’s passion.

“Real estate can be contagious,” Green says. That’s why he’s out in the field as much as possible, discussing the market with people he meets. Last year, he helped three renters buy investment properties.

Green began his real estate career with rentals, spending hours each day on Craigslist. “I just helped some past clients buy a threeunit, $1.6 million property. They were my first rental clients ever from Craigslist.”

Today, Green is director of development for the leasing side of Downtown Realty Co. He creates marketing proposals for multifamily buildings and leads a team of agents who handle the leasing of the properties in their portfolio. “This position has helped sharpen my communication skills and confidence greatly since I am interacting with developers and owners of large multifamily properties.”

Evan Johnson

Team Member

Cutler Real Estate

Cincinnati

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $11 million

2021 Transaction Sides: 44

2021 Team Sales Volume: $19.3 million

2021 Team Transactions Sides: 80.60

The Power of Home

As a teenager, Evan Johnson, 29, came to understand the power of a home and its importance to those who have built a life there. When his grandmother passed away, his family decided to sell her home. It had been in the family for more than a century, he says. “I was crushed initially because I didn’t want to let it go. In time, I understood why it needed to be done.”

Now, Johnson is highly attuned to clients’ emotions as he helps them buy and sell property. The feeling he gets when seeing clients happy and glowing after a successful transaction is worth more than any financial incentive, he says.

In fact, commissions, while important, always take a back seat to integrity, he says. Being honest and upfront with clients is a pillar of Johnson’s business. It’s a lesson he learned from his father, who has been in the profession for 45 years. The pair work together as the Johnson Real Estate Group, along with his sister Olivia.

“Dad has taught me to go above and beyond in all that I do.”

Emily Kaczmarek, psa, rene

Individual Salesperson

Compass Arlington Heights, Ill.

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $9.7 million

2021 Individual Transaction Sides: 29

Putting Buyer Education First

When Emily Kaczmarek, 29, started out in real estate in 2018, she quickly learned that cold calling for leads was not the best use of her time because it didn’t fit her personality. Kaczmarek has never seen herself as a “salesperson.” She’s naturally reserved, but she cares deeply about making an impact on her clients’ lives. “I want them to enjoy the process.”

Kaczmarek saw a gap while working with her first few first-time buyer clients. “Everyone had their own preconceived notions about home buying,” she said. So, she developed a first-time buyer workshop, which she pivoted to online webinars when the pandemic hit. Kaczmarek invited Bill Pendley of Caliber Home Loans to co-host the “Caffeinated & Home Buyer Educated” workshops. The pair co-wrote the course material and marketed their virtual sessions through ads on Eventbrite and Facebook. They’ve held one workshop a month for nearly two years now, getting between five and 30 attendees each time. “I find true joy in educating first-time buyers. Nothing makes me happier than handing my clients their closing gift basket and giving them a hug (or in COVID times, an elbow bump) outside of their soon-to-be new home at their final walkthrough.”

Team Leader

Compass

Washington, D.C.

2021 Team Sales Volume: $30 million

2021 Team Sides: 44

A Culture of Good Will

Kam Kang, 29, says he’s not reinventing real estate, nor is he focusing on the next greatest tech tools. Instead, he’s homing in on his clients’ needs. From the start of their home search to settling in after a purchase, he gives them the information they need to be subject matter experts. “My end goal is always to support our clients.”

Kang’s motivation comes, in part, from the foreclosure of his family’s home in 2009. That experience is why he’s working with his family to develop a nonprofit focused on financial education for elementary school–aged students.

As leader of the Kree Team, Kang has made it part of the group’s culture to give back and get involved in the Washington, D.C., community. He previously tutored fifth through eighth graders in math through an organization called Higher Achievement, and he regularly volunteers at local food banks. Kang has also served in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve for 10 years.

“I am proud of being a REALTOR® and the work I’ve done to change people’s opinions of the profession and develop better ways of serving clients. I feel like I am just scratching the surface of my potential.”

Danny Lau

Individual Salesperson

Lyon Real Estate Davis, Calif.

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $8.6 million

2021 Individual Sides: 15

Focusing on Financial Know-how

With nearly 100 videos and more than 1,000 subscribers, Danny Lau, 29, has found success building his brand and reaching clients through his YouTube channel. His videos are educational, examining topics such as appraisal contingencies, investor Q&As, foundation issues, bitcoin, new construction, the economy, and more. His business slogan is “Empowering individuals and families with financial success through real estate.” Lau adds, “The financial well-being of my clients guides my mission as an agent.”

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Lau speaks fluent Cantonese and Mandarin, which allows him to help both Chinese American clients and international Chinese clients who are looking to expand their real estate portfolios in California. His dedication to helping customers gain financial knowhow also led him to pursue his MBA. The program is teaching Lau new financial models and project-management skills.

As a people person, Lau brings light and clarity to the buying and selling process. His humorous side shines through in the Sold sign selfies he takes with his clients, featuring big grins and clever poses.

In his spare time, Lau fosters kittens and has helped dozens find their forever homes.

Alex Lawrence

Individual Salesperson

Costello Real Estate and Investments

Raleigh, N.C.

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $12.6 million

2021 Individual Transaction Sides: 33

Serious About Spreading Joy

Alex Lawrence, 29, recalls being painfully shy in elementary school. That changed when he began getting some laughs from his classmates.“I’ve been working the room ever since,” he says. In fact, you may see him performing stand-up comedy in the RaleighDurham area from time to time.

Lawrence branded his business Big Al’s Realty because “I have a big personality. I’ve never met a stranger. I try to make people feel special in every interaction we have. I try to bring joy and laughter into every conversation, and I always try to help make someone else’s day better.” As a result, 100% of his business is relationship-driven, built on referrals from friends, family, and folks in his community. To grow his sphere, Lawrence created a networking group called Oak City Young Professionals, which now has about 900 members. “I like to be the connector in the Triangle,” he says.

He stays in touch with his database and regularly holds events at sports venue Topgolf, observes Pi Day, and supports local charities. Lawrence donates $150 per transaction to WakeMed’s Behavioral Health Network, which works to provide access to mental and behavioral health services.

Susie Lee

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $40 million

2021 Individual Transaction Sides: 38

Welcoming a Restart

In 2018, Susie Lee attained her doctor of pharmacy degree, but after a heart-to-heart with her father, she made the decision to follow her passion for real estate. Her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Korea in the late 1980s. “They worked hard and saved enough money to buy their first home. As the property appreciated in value, they leveraged their home equity and purchased investment properties,” Lee, now 29, says. “I realized the power of real estate investment. It provided middle class workers like my parents the opportunity to build generational wealth.”

She built her business for two years. Then the pandemic hit. Lee didn’t see it as a bad omen, though—she saw it as an opportunity. “The pandemic kind of leveled the playing field for all of us,” she says. “At that point, we all had to figure out new ways to do business.”

Lee went to work using social media, and YouTube in particular, to give market reports and a synopsis of the most interesting and useful real estate news. Then she used Facebook Live to walk her friends and followers through homes. “I found that the fastest way to get my name out there was to show my face. Leads started coming in from people who wanted to see properties virtually.” It didn’t take long for her brand recognition to kick in, and with it, her client base.

Associate Broker

McAllister Real Estate Hallowell, Maine

2021 Individual Sales Volume: $5.4 million 2021 Individual Sides: 23