Chantell Monette

Sharing Good Vibes and Spurring Success

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

Photos by Stylish Detroit

Anyone who knows Chantell Monette, broker/owner at Clients First, REALTORS®, knows that she exudes positivity in all areas of her life and especially in real estate, where she has spent the last 21 years inspiring and encouraging others.

“I am a huge believer in the mantra ‘Good Vibes Only!’” she said. “I have the phrase on a sign in my office, and I daily emphasize it to my staff — that is how I encourage our office to stand out.”

Chantell’s propensity for good vibes and for positively impacting her agents’ and clients’ lives is a direct result of the many individuals — especially her parents and her husband — who have shaped her optimistic spirit and supported her along her personal and professional journey.

“My parents guided me to become a hardworking member of society and showed me that nothing comes easy in this world and that you have to work for your success,” Chantell said.

After graduating from Canton High School, Chantell married her high-school sweetheart, Bill Monette. Shortly after, Bill joined the Army, and the newlyweds moved to Germany where Bill was stationed at the training base in Hohenfels. “Communication with family and friends was limited, as overseas phone calls were expensive,” Chantell said. “Bill was often gone on training maneuvers, so I learned to be independent and managed very well living off base in the small town of Seubersdorf, Germany.”

It was during that time that Chantell and Bill had their first daughter, and Chantell says that becoming a mother at such a young age definitely shaped her into the resilient woman she is today. She is very grateful for Bill’s long-standing love and support. “We’ve been together since we were 16, so we pretty much grew up together,” she said. “Bill taught me to stand up for myself and for what I believe in, even if other people do not believe in it.”

After Bill completed his service in Germany and Fort Knox, Kentucky, Chantell and Bill moved home to Canton, Michigan, where Chantell transitioned from being a military wife to a loan processor at a credit union. After Chantell and Bill bought their first home, Chantell got hooked on that “feeling of excitement” that comes along with a purchase of a new house. She had always been interested in real estate and knew that she wanted to help other people find their homes and take part in their excitement.

As Chantell began learning the ropes as a new real estate agent and helping out with administrative tasks at her growing office, she also became increasingly interested in the behindthe-scenes and day-to-day operations of a brokerage. Then, after about six years as an agent, Chantell became a broker. Her goal in taking this next step in her career was simple and selfless: “The more knowledge I have, the more knowledge I could pass on to our agents,” she said. “As I moved up to general manager and associate broker, my sales volume was never something I kept count of — it was always more important to me to help my agents achieve their sales goals.”

After working under Broker/Owner Dan Clem for 19 years, Chantell purchased Clients First, REALTORS®, and became the broker/owner in 2018. She is forever grateful for all the real estate knowledge that Dan imparted to her; through his mentoring and her ongoing professional development, Chantell had learned how to run a successful business.

Across its offices in Canton, Royal Oak and Shelby Township, Clients First has a team of 125 agents — all of whom Chantell describes as “awesome.” “Our agents have a real zest for learning the real estate business and get genuine joy from helping their clients,” she said. “They also are always willing to help each other, whether it be by leveling up a colleague’s business or by answering their questions.”

Right now, Chantell is passionate about helping her agents grow and achieve success on their own terms. “I believe everyone has a different idea of what success means to them, and I want to be the one to help them get there,” she said.

When Chantell isn’t spreading good vibes at the office, she spends her time with Bill and their two daughters — Miranda Monette, 27, and Autumn Monette, 23 — and enjoys attending concerts, getaways at their cottage in Caseville, family game nights and traveling. In 2021, Chantell and Bill will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary aboard a Caribbean cruise with their daughters.

Chantell, who is a proud member of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, says that she has worked very hard to build and run her minority- and women-owned business. “I continue to strive to be the very best broker/owner I can and plan on continuing this journey for many years to come,” she added.

Chantell asserts that “patience is a must” for any agent looking to start their journey as a successful broker of a growing office. “Along with patience, you need to appreciate and work with a multitude of personalities — based on the retention rate at my brokerage, we do an excellent job at this.”

More importantly, Chantell’s selfless leadership demonstrates that a broker’s success is best measured by their ability to empower, support and celebrate the success of others. “I believe a great leader must lead from the back and let their team have all of the credit,” she said.

Broker Spotlight: Chantell Monette