dynamic duo By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D. Photos by Stylish Detroit
With a combined 54 years in the business, over $1 billion in sales, and extensive management and development experience, Lou and Deb Ronayne have undoubtedly flourished alongside one another in their professional lives. In real estate, they have not only built a thriving career and productive business partnership; they have also carved out a space to grow closer to one another — to flourish as partners in business and in life. “We’ve been married 29 years but feel like newlyweds,” Deb said. “We’re best friends, we share our Christian faith, we have each other’s back and we are always there for each other through all the highs and lows. We’re business partners who have fun in real estate and love our work … and we are encouragers for everyone we meet who is searching for direction.”
LOU & DEB
Prior to meeting Lou and getting into real estate, Deb owned and operated a plastics injection molding and tool and die business with her first husband Mike. Then, in 1986, just three days after they sold their multi-plant location, Mike died, unexpectedly, leaving Deb with two young daughters. Deb went on to assist with the transition period of their business and spent the next four years of her life working through her grief before deciding to do something she had always wanted to do: earn her bachelor’s degree. She attended Madonna University, where her “first college friend” set her up on a blind date with Lou, and it was “love at first sight.” “From 1990 to 1994, I met and married Lou, had our third child together and graduated with a 3.98 GPA,” Deb said. “I also changed things up and worked as a contractor for Ford Motor Land Division, managing automotive facility design for the premier brands.”
RONAYNE A B O U N D L E S S PA R T N E R S H I P A B O U N D I N G W I T H LO V E
Lou started his professional journey as the owner and operator of a landscaping construction company specializing in both commercial and residential projects, including government-fi38 • August 2020
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nanced and multi-state jobs. In 1983, Lou became a full-time REALTOR® at his friend’s independent brokerage and earned his broker’s license in 1986. The following year, he joined RE/ MAX where he had the opportunity to combine his real estate sales and development business under the same brokerage — and keep 100% of his commission, a perk that he had not experienced early on in his career. After about 20 years as a top sales agent, Lou became a managing broker and team leader at Keller Williams, and during this time, he began conjuring up the idea for Deb to join him in real estate. “Being married to Deb and seeing the skills she had, I thought we could combine our efforts and really succeed at a high level … and I was right,” Lou said. Deb wasn’t initially on board with Lou’s plan, but she says that at the end of 2002, it finally felt right, so she got her license. Because Lou was a team leader and couldn’t compete with agents, Deb stepped in and took over the business Lou had spent 20 years building. “It finally made sense as to why I majored in technical writing and business administration at Madonna University: It was my path to real estate and writing killer contracts,” Deb said. “I also knew our skill sets would complement each other, and they do!” Two years after Deb was licensed, Deb and Lou established The Ronayne Team, and today, both Deb and Lou are associate brokers at eXp Realty, LLC where they run a 99.9% referral-based business entirely focused Wayne County Real Producers • 39
