Real Producers of Wayne County January 2021

WAY N E C O U N T Y

C O N N E C T I N G .

E L E VAT I N G .

I N S P I R I N G .

TOP PRODUCER

NOEL

BITTINGER SPECIAL ISSUE

RECAP OF 2020 & REAL INSPIRATION FOR THE NEW YEAR Photo by Stylish Detroit

JANUARY 2021

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2 • January 2021

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Wayne County Real Producers • 3

TAB LE OF

CONTENTS 07

08

11

14

Editor’s Note

Preferred Partners

Meet the Wayne County Real Producers Team

REAL Inspiration — Top Producer: Noel Bittinger

22

28

36

40

Partner Spotlight: Michal Catari, WolfVR

REAL Inspiration: Jill Penna

REAL Inspiration: Jeff Garner

Event: Recap of November Issue Release Party

If you are interested in contributing or nominating someone for a feature, please email us at Chris.csotty@realproducersmag.com or Terra.csotty@realproducersmag.com.

DISCLAIMER: Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of The N2 Company d/b/a Real Producers but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the Wayne County 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. NOTE: When community events take place, photographers may be present to take photos for that event and they may be used in this publication.

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Wayne County Real Producers • 5

TOP TO BOTTOM, INSIDE

AND OUT.

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L E T US TEACH YO U ABO UT YO UR HO ME.

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DESIGN IS NOT A LUXURY

I don’t think there are official benchmarks for classifying a year as “unprecedented,” but most of us would agree that 2020 checked all the boxes, including an official slogan: “We’re all in this together.”

This REAL Inspiration Special Issue capitalizes on that power of shared experience with stories that candidly explore personal hardships and celebrate the resilient individuals who harnessed the strength to persevere through some of life’s toughest challenges.

This familiar tagline, which was echoed by the media, friends and family, called attention to our shared experiences and enabled us to cope — and persevere — by banding together.

2020 was unprecedented in the way that it publicly recognized the hardship and challenges of the pandemic ... and reminded us that everyone is struggling.

I applaud and admire Noel Bittinger, Jill Penna and Jeff Garner for having the courage to revisit and reflect upon their difficult life experiences and share their realities with us. They remind us that everybody struggles, but, more importantly, they encourage us not to struggle in silence.

Of course, we all know that life is full of highs and lows. However, especially in professional settings, the stories that we publicize and share with others don’t always include the lows — the struggles and hardships that shape our paths and, ultimately, our successes.

By overcoming tough life challenges, we grow stronger, wiser and more resilient. More so, by sharing our personal stories of hardship, we not only find meaning in the most difficult events, but we also empower and encourage others.

6 • January 2021

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editor’s note

realproducersmag.com

As we usher in 2021, let us embolden the spirit of togetherness that embodied 2020 and embrace the REAL Inspiration that thrives in this supportive and resilient real estate community.

Happy New Year!

Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

Managing Editor of Real Producers of Wayne County jane.asher@realproducersmag.com

Wayne County Real Producers • 7

PREFERRED PARTNERS

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State Farm Tiffany Khousakoun (248) 864-8219

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PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY Michigan Real Estate Photography (248) 660-5708 Perfect Light Photography Jermaine Buie (517) 515-1910 Stylish Detroit (313) 799-3686 WayUp Media (248) 924-1011

Hommati (248) 550-0515

WindowStill Photography (517) 292-4066

Jessica Laine Photography (586) 855-3822

PHOTOGRAPHY & WEB DESIGN WolfVR (248) 910-1754

Omega Lending Group (248) 792-8876

PRINTING/MARKETING/ DESIGN/SHIPPING Imperial Press (734) 728-5430 ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION Horizon Roofing and Construction (734) 585-7160 TITLE COMPANY Alliance Title of Michigan Kelly Anderson (586) 238-4400 Alliance Title of Michigan Mary Reed (586) 238-4400 Estates Title (248) 647-3600 Inked Title (248) 617-0004

Simple Mortgage Dawn McCarty (734) 260-2660

Title Solutions (734) 259-7130 VIRTUAL 3-D TOURS Hommati (248) 550-0515 Michigan Real Estate Photography (248) 660-5708 Stylish Detroit (313) 799-3686 WayUp Media (248) 924-1011 WindowStill Photography (517) 292-4066 VIRTUAL STAGING/SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING WolfVR (248) 910-1754

Supreme Lending Jacque Gorris (734) 624-8579 Union Home Mortgage Ryan Andersen (248) 564-1619 Union Home Mortgage David Wechsler (248) 514-3489 MOVING & STORAGE Morse Moving & Storage (734) 484-1717 Preferred Moving & Storage (586) 463-4230

State Farm Ryan McCreight (517) 375-4817 8 • January 2021

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Wayne County Real Producers • 9

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Jane K. Asher, Ph.D. Managing Editor/Writer

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Dina Ranieri

Jeanne Monillo

April Shanne Subiera

Deborah Huston

Robbyn Moore

Amanda Matkowski

Andy Schwartz

Jermaine Buie

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Wayne County Real Producers • 11

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WAY N E C O U N T Y

C O N N E C T I N G .

E L E VAT I N G .

I N S P I R I N G .

TOP PRODUCER

NOEL

BITTINGER SPECIAL ISSUE

RECAP OF 2020 & REAL INSPIRATION FOR THE NEW YEAR Photo by Stylish Detroit

JANUARY 2021

It’s a badge of honor to hold the printed version of Real Producers of Wayne County magazine in your hands. If you want all our issues wherever you go, download the Issuu app or visit www.issuu.com, and search Real Producers of Wayne County.

12 • January 2021

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www.rodnick.com | (586) 772-4350 Wayne County Real Producers • 13

Behind Noel’s tough facade is a woman of great faith and resilience who has navigated and overcome a host of professional and personal hardships over the last few years, beginning in January of 2014 when she was diagnosed with stage 5 chronic kidney disease, also known as end-stage renal failure.

N

oel Bittinger, broker/owner of Bittinger Team, REALTORS®, says that many local real estate professionals view her as a “tough babe who is detail-orientated, systematized and tough to work for,” and, although she’d love to erase that last characteristic, she admits that her reputation is not ill-founded. “Yes, I am all of those things, and that’s how I got to where I am,” Noel said. “I am tough, but, deep down, I care about everyone, and I would love for my colleagues to see my softer side.”

A Reputation of Remarkable Resolve and Resilience

NOEL Bittinger real inspiration — top producer

For over a year prior to her diagnosis, Noel experienced intense nausea and struggled to keep anything down. After undergoing “much prodding, poking and testing,” her doctors finally discovered the source of her symptoms: Noel’s kidneys had lost their filtering capabilities, resulting in dangerous levels of fluid and waste build-up in her body. A normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ranges between 90-120 — Noel’s was 11, which put her in the highest risk category for kidney failure.

“The doctors said my kidney disease was idiopathic, which means it came out of nowhere — no high blood pressure, no diabetes. It wasn’t until later that I found out that my father, aunt and uncle all have the same condition,” she said. “My nephrologist put me on a boatload of meds and a megadose of 80 gm of the dreaded Prednisone, which caused me to gain a ton of weight. However, with medication and a diligent diet, I got my GFR back up to 65.”

Then, in April of 2015, Noel began suffering from profuse night sweats and fatigue. These symptoms led to another daunting diagnosis: stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. “I agonized over whether or not I should put chemo in my body as I was so concerned about what other harm it might do,” Noel said. “Finally, the doc told me that my choices were

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D. • Photos by Stylish Detroit

14 • January 2021

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Wayne County Real Producers • 15

“

FOCUS ON THE

OUTCOME, NOT ON

WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH … AND KNOW THERE WILL BE RESOLUTION.”

chemo or risk my cancer getting worse and killing me, so I had 20 radiation sessions and six eight-hour chemo sessions — the drugs had to be administered very slowly due to my kidney issues.”

To cope with the gravity of her situation throughout her treatment, Noel focused on her spiritual well-being and spent many of her chemo sessions in prayer, asking God for a good outcome and for the strength to overcome. “My rock is always to turn to God as there is no better healer,” she said. “Even while those radiation machines were whirring all around me, I remember thinking, ‘Yeah, yeah, this all is great, but the power of God is what will heal me.’ For 90 days, I committed to taking communion on my own at home and prayed that by His stripes I will be healed.”

During this time, Noel and her husband of 38 years, Lee Bittinger, were in the process of opening up their own real 16 • January 2021

estate office and had just closed on a building in Canton.

They moved into their new office in July of 2015, while Noel was still undergoing chemo. “I remember one day, after an eight-hour chemo session, I went right back to the office after Lee drove me home,” she said. “A few years prior, I even walked in the office the next day after I had four wisdom teeth pulled — the team put up a photo of me in a Wonder Woman outfit.”

Later in 2015, as Noel continued to deal with her kidney and cancer issues, she encountered another taxing obstacle in the form of a lawsuit from a former real estate team member. “We battled for over six months, and, believe it or not, the lawsuit was the most difficult situation of them all. It was one of betrayal, so it hurt the most,” Noel said. “I remember our final meeting: It was a three-hour, late-night session with both attorneys and parties, and I had to get up early the next morning for chemo.”

Then, in 2016, just as Noel’s professional situation began to return to normal, her personal life was upended when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In the two years that followed, Noel spent half of her time in New York City enduring “the very arduous and emotional process of getting very reluctant parents into a nursing home.”

Despite her many trials and tribulations, Noel says that she wouldn’t change a thing. “It was exactly what I feel God wanted me to do, and I did.” Noel is proud of how she bounced back each time she was knocked down. “I think the biggest lesson here was one of resilience,” she said. “I refused to allow myself to wallow in my issues — that’s how I have led my business all these years.”

During her 25-year tenure with RE/MAX, Noel was the top RE/MAX Metropolitan Detroit Region agent for 11 years in a row, as well as a Diamond Club, Hall of Fame and Circle Life awardee. Throughout her 37 years in the industry, she has served 4,448 families and sold $1.1 billion — $55 million of which she @realproducers

generated in 2019. Noel holds a multitude of designations — ABR, AWHD, CDPE, CRS, CRP, epro, GRI, PSA and SRS — and she’s remained in the top 0.5% of real estate agents in the Detroit Metropolitan area for the last 34 years.

Professionally speaking, Noel says the combination of her longevity and consistent top-producing status is unrivaled. On a personal level, in order to stay fit and healthy, Noel has also conquered some tough physical challenges: She ran two marathons and recently completed an intense 12-week SEALFIT athletic training led by a former Navy SEAL commander.

In life and in business, Noel possesses a type of stick-toitiveness that you don’t see every day, and it’s precisely what has fueled her top performance in the industry. Her systematic approach to making things happen — her ability to combat chaos and restore order to the toughest personal and professional situations — may initially seem a bit intimating, because, after all, Noel is a “tough mofo” and a Photo by Stan Shelton “real badass.” realproducersmag.com

Yet, more importantly, behind Noel’s tough exterior lies a kind, giving and compassionate spirit, as well as a wealth of resolve, prudence and practical advice that we all can embrace at some point in our lives. “Always put your issues in perspective, and know that someone else has it a lot worse than you so that you don’t feel sorry for yourself,” Noel said. “Find what moves you spiritually, and seek that first: My faith in God is what gets me through everything. Then figure out how you’re going to get through this without even thinking, for a moment, that you won’t get through it. Focus on the outcome, not on what you are going through … and know there will be resolution.”

Photo by Stan Shelton

Wayne County Real Producers • 17

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Wayne County Real Producers • 19

recap of 2020 DYLAN TENT March 2020 Photo by James Cooke

JULIE AHEE May 2020 Photo by Stylish Detroit

KIRSTEN SCOPACASA September 2020 Photo by Dawn Townsend Photography & Design

S. BROOKE MACNEE October 2020 Photo by Jessica Laine Photography

JEFF DUNESKE November 2020 Photo by Stylish Detroit

TOP PRODUCERS NANCY HACKETT December 2020 Photo by Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC

AT T H E T O P O F T H E I R G A M E I N 2 0 2 0

DAVE ABDALLAH August 2020 Photo by Jessica Laine Photography

ALLISON FISHWICK February 2020 Photo by Eugen Muntean with Square Tangerine Productions

JENI HUBENSCHMIDT January 2020 Photo by Eugen Muntean with Square Tangerine Productions

20 • January 2021

JEFF GLOVER July 2020

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Wayne County Real Producers • 21

The company’s creed is “Transforming Your Vision into Reality,” a summarization that Michal and his wife, Michelle, came up with to demonstrate the value and capabilities of the company.

“It is so gratifying when our clients thank us for delivering a service that provided quality and convenience at the same time,” Michal said. “Their acknowledgment is total affirmation of what I have believed for a long time.”

partner spotlight

Michal, who is a big believer in continuing education, said, “Learning daily is essential to growth.

I am constantly doing environmental scans of trendsetters, influencers and ‘disruptors’ of all sorts. I then look to see how to integrate those nuggets into my wheelhouse.”

By Robbyn Moore Photos by Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC

How many times have you found yourself admiring a home from a distance? You drive by, maybe even peek through the windows, and wonder if the next great sale is just one “window peek” away?

If you ask Michal Catari, president and CEO of Wolf Virtual Reality, LLC, he will tell you, “Why look through the windowpane when you can open the door and walk right in?!”

MICHAL CATARI

Three years ago, Michal saw a unique opportunity to utilize 3D technology to enhance real estate visions by immersing people firsthand into a truly deep-diving experience. “I sincerely believe our services provide an immense impact on the age-old equation of listing to sales,” Michal said. “This state-of-the-art technology allows for first-user interface with an easy-to-share function. Ultimately, this frees up a huge amount of time for agents, buyers and sellers.”

When it comes to his career, Michal said he would like to be remembered for being an innovator in an industry that moved slightly slower than other industries. “By adapting technology in unique and creative ways, we can shape different and life-changing outcomes.”

Wolf Virtual Reality (WolfVR) is a comprehensive digital, stateof-the-art, visualization enterprise. They transform a vision into reality. Their services range from drone fly-by services to real estate floor plans with integrated 3D tours that include renderings of photo-realistic imagery. WolfVR has partnered with VRgineers, makers of the XTAL 8k headgear and winners of the Red Dot Award for 2020. More information on VRgineers can be found at www.vrgineers.com.

WolfVR

THE REALITY OF REAL ESTATE

22 • January 2021

When Michal isn’t working, he enjoys traveling with Michelle and their two children, Corina, 10, and Colin, 6. “Our vacations have to incorporate someplace warm, and a pool is a must,” Michal said with a smile. “Education is an important element to our vacations; therefore, we usually include a trip to a museum, aquarium or a scenic drive.”

Recently, the family experienced a true cowboy adventure in Texas, which included a longhorn roundup and eating some incredible BBQ.

To better understand the advantages, Michal gave an example that involved a higher return on investment issue. “When I first started this venture, I was approached to help with a development project involving a historical building. Within four months of construction and renovation, the client netted $3 million in pre-sales. Additionally, at the end of construction it was 100% occupied. The user-friendly interface allowed for far greater viewership because each visitor could see the actual building amenities right before their eyes,” Michal explained. “On that same note, a recent project in western Michigan involving a housing complex of 500 units, serves as an exclusive opportunity where the seller stands to gain over $3 million in commissions.” @realproducers

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Wayne County Real Producers • 23

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recap of 2020

RISING STARS AGENTS ON THE RISE hitting their stride in 2020

MICHAEL DEFAUW April 2020 Photo by Stylish Detroit

KYLE LANG May 2020 Photo by Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC

KIM DRAPER June 2020 Photo by Dawn Townsend Photography & Design

MINDI RAHN January 2020 Photo by Jessica Laine Photography

SAM SAKLA February 2020 Photo by Stylish Detroit

SARA GRAPSIDIS February 2020 Photo by Stylish Detroit

ERIN FRITZ July 2020 Photo by Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC

JEFF MELDRUM August 2020 Photo by Stylish Detroit

SEAN DELPAZ September 2020 Photo by Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC

JIMMY SAROS March 2020 Photo by Stylish Detroit

LISA NOCERA March 2020 Photo by Eugen Muntean with Square Tangerine Productions

WHITNEY GESCH April 2020 Photo by Eugen Muntean with Square Tangerine Productions

AIDA OMIDVAR October 2020 Photo by Stylish Detroit

JENI STEWART November 2020 Photo by Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC

MIKE TRIPOLI December 2020 Photo by Dawn Townsend Photography & Design

26 • January 2021

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Wayne County Real Producers • 27

Keeping her kids top of mind, Jill’s unwavering positive attitude helped her forge ahead to find a smaller, more affordable home in a nearby neighborhood. In the midst of coping with her divorce and the economic loss of her home, Jill was notified by her company of 15 years that she no longer had a job. To say she was devastated would be an understatement.

During this time, Jill’s physical and mental anxiety started to take a toll on her. She was engulfed with emotions and began to experience heart palpitations and sleepless nights.

“I felt alone and abandoned,” Jill shared. “I was crying all the time; I lost my appetite and my strength to take on the weight of the stress.”

Soon, Jill found a new job at Roush Industries as a senior engineer. While her salary was significantly lower than her previous job, she was very grateful for the employment.

JILL PENNA Finding Strength in Her Own Words

real inspiration

By Robbyn Moore Photos by Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC

28 • January 2021

@realproducers

The saying “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have” is more than just words; it’s a mentality that underscores an occasion where there are no other options. Jill Penna lived those words.

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In 2008, Jill’s life took an extremely unexpected turn when her husband of nearly 10 years blindsided her with his decision to leave her. The abruptness of the divorce announcement left Jill reeling in a disoriented fog. Overnight, Jill became a single mother of two children, aged 4 and 6. She was left with a house that she could no longer afford, which forced her to sell her home during the housing recession. Jill lost $75,000.

Two years into her new job, Jill felt a lump in her right breast. Her mammogram showed some inconclusive results, therefore requiring a biopsy.

The anxiety and uncertainty left Jill petrified and overwhelmed; she asked herself, “How much more can I take?”

On September 20, 2013, Jill’s doctor informed her that she had stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer. Jill was flooded with worry.

“Nothing can prepare you for that call,” Jill said. “I was in disbelief, shock. I thought, ‘I cannot have cancer; I have small kids. I can’t do this. How am I going to do this?’” Jill felt defeated, confused and scared. “I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do. I did know, however, that I had to do something to get my mind on the right path to fight this disease and beat it!”

Within two months of hearing her diagnosis, Jill had a double mastectomy, 15 lymph nodes removed and drain tubes attached to her chest.

Wayne County Real Producers • 29

“

We Transform Your Vision into Reality

ATTITUDE AND SELF-TALK DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS,” JILL SAID. “IT’S NOT THE WORDS YOU SAY OUT LOUD THAT HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE — IT’S WHAT YOU TELL YOURSELF THAT HAS THE MOST POWER.

“

Her surgery limited the mobility in her right arm, and four weeks into her chemotherapy, she began to lose her hair. Twelve weeks post-surgery — while still going through chemo — Jill had to return to work for fear of losing her job and health insurance. “I had to be very careful to distance myself from my colleagues because of my low immune system,” Jill recalled. “I had to complete 22 weeks of chemo, and I could not risk getting sick.”

Jill wore a wig and showed up for work every day. She would then come home to take care of her children, cook dinner and help them with schoolwork. “It was very exhausting at times,” she said. “But I was raised to never give up, and I wanted to be that example for my kids.”

After her chemo was completed, Jill endured seven weeks of radiation that left her skin red and burned. Once her skin healed, she was able to have reconstructive surgery, but as misfortune would have it, Jill contracted shingles. She moved through the continued discomfort and soon began her road to recovery and a 10-year regimen of oral chemotherapy.

Throughout the entire five years, Jill said she was fortunate to have help and support from friends and family 30 • January 2021

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who gave her the strength and courage to move forward, especially when she felt she couldn’t do it herself. “I gained so much perspective on my life, and I really started to dig deep within myself.”

To cope with everything in Jill’s life, she first shifted her mindset and looked inward to find the answers she was seeking. She began to meditate to alleviate panic attacks, which were crippling her with fear. “When a person you loved and trusted turns their back on you, your sense of what’s real in life is lost,” Jill explained. “Then, hearing the words from my doctor that I had cancer was beyond comprehension.”

Learning to mediate rewired Jill’s brain and gave her a renewed belief in herself to become a stronger and better person.

“Attitude and self-talk determine your success,” Jill said. “It’s not the words you say out loud that have the greatest impact on your life — it’s what you tell yourself that has the most power.”

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One year after Jill’s surgery, she decided to get her real estate license and join the brokerage team at Moving The Mitten Real Estate Group, averaging nearly $4 million in annual sales. Jill’s children are now 17 and 19, and she continues to work her full-time job as an engineer.

“I really do feel like I’m living my best life,” Jill shared. “Having cancer helped me realize it’s not about comparing yourself to others or wishing you had a different life; it’s about taking what you have and making it your best life ever. Cancer opened my eyes to what’s important.”

In Jill’s head and heart, she has defeated cancer. “I found a strength I never knew I had,” she said. “I know I have an inner warrior within me, and I will continue to live a long and healthy life.” @realproducers

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Wayne County Real Producers • 31

recap of 2020

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32 • January 2021

The Schultz Team February 2020 Photo by Stylish Detroit

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Jason Borregard March 2020 Photo by Jessica Laine Photography

Shannon Hall & Boyd Rudy January 2020 Photo by Eugen Muntean with Square Tangerine Productions

Rich Eisiminger April 2020 Photo by Jermaine Buie with Perfect Light, LLC

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Wayne County Real Producers • 33

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Wayne County Real Producers • 35

real inspiration

Jeff GARNER

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D. Photos by Dawn Townsend Photography & Design

Navigating Personal and Professional Challenges With Purpose

W

hen COVID-19 hit and Michigan’s stay-at-home order was enacted, the hustle and bustle of the real estate industry was forced to a halt, posing many significant challenges to even the most seasoned real estate professionals. However, the work stoppage — and the new regulations that followed — were especially taxing on rookie agent Jeff Garner who, at the time, was just beginning to find his groove in the real estate business after leaving a 25-year career in the environmental, health and safety field.

36 • January 2021

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“We were considered nonessential workers, and my business had to stop completely,” said Jeff. “Then, when we were allowed to return to the real estate industry, there were new restrictions. I had only been in the industry for 18 months, so my business was suffering from my lack of knowledge and preparation for market disruptors.”

Before long, Jeff had an entire household of extra responsibilities on his plate: paying bills, managing appointments and administering medications.

“Additionally, we are now required to monitor and constantly care for my mom’s health and well-being,” Jeff said. “It was a tough adjustment but an easy decision for my wife and me to provide her the care and support she needed.”

Then, as Michigan began to reopen — in addition to navigating the new challenges of an unfamiliar professional territory — Jeff encountered an unexpected personal challenge when he traveled to Saginaw to take his 78-year-old mother to her doctor’s appointment.

At the appointment, the doctor informed Jeff that his mother, who had been experiencing bouts of dementia, could no longer drive or continue to live alone. “This was a huge shock,” Jeff said. “I immediately realized I would need to bring her to my home to stay with us and provide care for her,” Jeff said.

During the quarantine, Jeff — who was homebound like so many Michigan workers — sought to make the best of the situation and used the opportunity to further develop his real estate knowledge and sharpen his industry skills. “eXp has an amazing training program, and it ended up being a good time to take advantage of the classes to prepare myself to be a better agent,” he said. “I also attended multiple mega-agent Zoom trainings to support agents during the quarantine.”

That same day, Jeff’s mom — who was a real estate agent for 47 years — joined Jeff and his wife, Stacey, at their home in Brownstown. Jeff quickly began to realize how their new, multigenerational living situation would drastically alter his and Stacey’s day-to-day lives. He says that the hardest part of the transition was discovering the magnitude of care that his mother needed: Even simple tasks like eating and taking medications had to be strictly monitored on a regular basis.

“The situation demanded a lot of patience and compassion during an already professionally stressful time,” he said.

Rather than getting back to business and life as usual once the lockdown was over, Jeff had to juggle extra responsibilities at home with his mother, which affected his professional performance and business production at eXp Realty. “Between all of the tasks of caring for my mom and all of the time involved, my days were so divided,” Jeff said. “My prospecting, as well as my time in the office, declined, and my usual business routines were disrupted.”

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Wayne County Real Producers • 37

Make YOUR Business Better

now understands the importance of building and maintaining a solid business base.

“Seasoned agents have been through the ups and downs of real estate. Next time, I will be more prepared for market fluctuations,” Jeff said. “No matter how much you think you know, there are always things to learn in real estate.”

On a personal level, Jeff is thankful that he had Stacey to lean on for the past 25 years of their marriage and especially during the chaos and hardships of this past year. “Stacey has been my rock; she has supported me both professionally and emotionally in my career,” he said. “Being a nurse, she has also physically helped care for my mother, and she’s been amazing at addressing the many challenges of my mother’s care.”

After about two months, Jeff was greatly relieved when Jeanette Cruz offered to provide full-time, live-in care for his mother. In 1981, 38 • January 2021

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Furthermore, now that Jeff has a little more personal time, he’s looking forward to getting back to the bowling alley — he’s bowled three 300 games to date — and to his competitive cornhole league.

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Jeff appreciates all of his eXp colleagues who encouraged and mentored him along the way. “They also provided humor and fun with weekly social Zoom meetings where we could connect and laugh with one another,” he said. “I am also forever grateful for the collaboration of the eXp superstar agents throughout the United States — with their help, I have learned how to get through challenging times as a newer agent.”

Jeanette was an exchange student from Ecuador who lived with Jeff and his family throughout her senior year of high school. Since then, the Garners have maintained a close relationship with Jeanette, who, following the death of her mother, wanted to come stay and care for her American mother. “The best part is that Jeanette is a family member who loves my mom, and my mom completely trusts her,” Jeff said. “I still have lots of financial and medical responsibilities for my mother, but at least she is able to safely live in her own home again where she is well cared for.”

Jeff realizes that everyone encounters difficult situations — many of which are beyond our control.

However, through his resilience and capacity for self-evaluation, Jeff demonstrates that the best way to navigate through the unknown is by collaborating with others and taking measures to better prepare for the next personal or professional challenge.

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Wayne County Real Producers • 39

Recap of November

ISSUE RELEASE PARTY event Photos by Dawn Townsend Photography & Design

At our November Issue Release Party, the features from our November issue as well as a few preferred partners gathered together to have some fun and connect with one another on a smaller scale. Thank you to Kelly’s Irish Pub in Dearborn for hosting us and providing appetizers. Check out these photos taken by Dawn Townsend Photography & Design.

If you want to host or sponsor an upcoming Issue Release Party, contact dina.ranieri@realproducersmag.com.

40 • January 2021

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Wayne County Real Producers • 41

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announcement

Do YOU want to

NOMINATE someone to be featured?

Email nominations to terra.csotty@realproducersmag.com.

44 • January 2021

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Wayne County Real Producers • 45