Stepping away from the familiar world of nonprofits, I took a leap into the unknown. Turning challenges into opportunities, I have continued my mission of serving others and uplifting my community, and I did it all through real estate.

 

Transitioning from the familiar landscape of nonprofits to something entirely new was a radical shift in my life. I was ready for a change and wanted to ensure whatever I chose to do, I could have fun while doing it. So, I interviewed three different salespeople: a car salesman, a medical equipment salesman, and my REALTOR®. The first two seemed overwhelmed and stressed by their work, but our REALTOR® seemed to actually enjoy what they do. 

 

For many years, I did nonprofit work, dedicating myself to organizations driven by a mission to serve others. The structured world of teaching, pastoring and directing camps provided a sense of security, but beneath the surface, I knew I wanted a career with more freedom to be with my children and have more control over my business and the work I did day to day.

 

In 2016, armed with determination, I obtained my real estate license, laying the foundation for a career that would redefine my trajectory. “I’ll give myself six months,” I said, “If I can’t live off my real estate earnings by then, I will do something else.” That simple vow was all the motivation I needed to go 100% in on real estate, learning everything I could about it. 

 

My three sons, Isaac, Levi and Paxton, are my ultimate reason why. I want to inspire them to chase their dreams and shape the lives they want to live. I moved to Detroit wanting to raise them in a diverse, culturally rich community. However, Detroit posed a unique challenge for real estate because of the large percentage of abandoned properties. 

 

For a while, I feared what that would mean for my career in the long term. Hitting the ground running, I worked hard to build relationships with my clients and help find solutions for their problems. That really is the heart of real estate. Everyone is buying or selling for a reason, and by understanding that reason, I can help find solutions.

 

 I began to recognize that the abandoned properties only gave me more opportunities to bring in buyers and investors to fix them up and, as a result, help uplift the community, reviving areas that otherwise may remain vacant. That initial challenge turned into an opportunity—Detroit is a wide-open sea with plenty of homes and lots needing to be rebuilt and restored.

 

In my first year, I received Rookie of the Year, and by my second year, I was the second-highest producer at my starting brokerage. My career evolved so rapidly, aligning with many of my strengths and making it the perfect fit for who I am. By having a positive outlook, I was able to surpass those initial fears and embrace  entrepreneurship wholeheartedly. With a background in nonprofit work, for me, helping people is the ultimate goal. Through real estate, I get to do that every single day.

 

Today, I have built an amazing team, JTA REALTORS®, specializing in serving the greater Metro Detroit area. Our office is in Detroit, my home is in Detroit, and my kids go to school in Detroit—I have strong ties to the community and want to continue serving it through real estate.

 

When I reflect back, I am grateful I took the leap and gave real estate a try. It has provided me and my family so many opportunities. When not working, I spend my time with my sons. They are all sneakerheads and enjoy soccer and hockey, keeping us busy year-round. 

 

 Specializing in the unique real estate landscape of Detroit, my team and I tackle challenges that others might shy away from. We can handle anything from buying and selling residential and commercial properties to tackling more complex cases like abandoned homes and empty lots. Our commitment to Detroit is unwavering. We want to help the community that has supported and trusted us on this journey. We take pride in having set records in various neighborhoods for the highest sales price. By selling between 100 and 200 homes annually, we want to continue having a powerful impact and reaching even more people every year!

 

What has continued to define me within the industry is my prioritization of professionalism, kindness and unbiased service. Building a business founded on these principles, I aim to set new industry standards, demonstrating the level of excellence you should expect from your REALTOR®. I am willing to sacrifice a sale to ensure my client's best interests because, at the end of the day, it is the people who matter most to me.