Why these top-producing Alabama Realtors love their jobs

Sponsored

RealtySouth Top Producers, Realtors
(L-R) Joseph Heckel, Gwen Vinzant, Jana Woodruff, Mari Wohlforth (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

A few of us from Bham Now recently got to crash the party when one of Alabama’s largest real estate companies hosted a celebration for their Top Producers at the Grand Bohemian in Mountain Brook.

Our fly-on-the-wall mission: discover what helped these Realtors succeed, even in a challenging market, and why they love what they do.

What contributes to Top Producers’ achievements?

You’ve no doubt seen Tira Davis, our TikTok Manager, on Bham Now’s socials. At the party, she asked five Realtors (and Brokers) what contributed to their success. Check out the video above to see what they said.

We talked to four other agents and the Senior VP for Training and Recruiting at RealtySouth, who ensures they have the education and training they need to succeed.

Lisa MacLean—4 years

RealtySouth Top Producers, Realtors
(L-R Back) Katherine Allison, Bert Siegel, Steve Buchanan III, Mildred Knight, Kathy Harris, Helen Drennen, Caroline Ezelle, Melissa Robinson, Jan Camp, Scott Perry, Lisa MacLean, Susie Denson, Scott Wells Ford; (L-R Front) Lucie Haynes, Isabelle Lawson, Mimi Nolen, Katherine Cox (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Lisa MacLean just hit her fourth year in real estate.

“You keep marketing and marketing and marketing. I would have open houses and get to know everyone—that’s how you do it in this business. You just keep reaching out to people and letting them know who you are and then you end up making a name for yourself.”

Lisa MacLean, Realtor, RealtySouth

She loves the support, training and tools RealtySouth offers to new agents.

Ad
RealtySouth

Scott Wells Ford—8 years

RealtySouth Top Producers, Realtors
(L-R) Scott Wells Ford, Scott Perry, Jimbo Kidd, Jonathan Cohen—Relocation, Stephen Crigler—CFO (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Scott Wells Ford was seeking a career change after many years in law. When a friend recommended real estate, he decided to check it out.

Eight years with RealtySouth and several Top Producer Awards later, he credits his success to his strong work ethic and the support the company provides.

When I asked Scott what he would say to someone considering RealtySouth as a place to work, here’s what he said: 

“Like a lot of jobs, it can be an attractive fantasy. There are a lot of other great Realtors out there, so a lot of times your friends won’t use you, just like they might not if you’re the lawyer, the dentist or the hairstylist. But if you stick with it and work hard, you’ll definitely make it.”

Scott Wells Ford, Realtor, RealtySouth
Ad
RealtySouth

Debbie Horton—16 years

RealtySouth Top Producers, Realtors
(L-R) Debbie Horton, Diane Knight, Jim Dye—COO, Lynn Tolbert, Cindy Porter (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

After a 30-year teaching career, Debbie Horton went to RealtySouth 16 years ago and hasn’t looked back. 

She said real estate was “God’s path for me” and credits her success to the right timing and the education the company provides. 

“They really do have a tender heart for their agents and they help us become strong professionals.”

Debbie Horton, Realtor, RealtySouth

Bert Siegal—24 years

RealtySouth Top Producers, Realtors
Bert Siegal (RealtySouth)

Bert Siegal has been in real estate for almost 24 years, and has been working with RealtySouth the entire time. 

“I always wanted to help people, and I never get tired of showing houses.”

Bert Siegal, Realtor, RealtySouth

A longtime Top Producer, he credits his success to self-motivation and structure. 

At RealtySouth, he loves the people, the services the company offers and how top management always answers his calls.

Ad
RealtySouth

Education: the secret to success for RealtySouth’s Top Producers

Dr. Rebecca Green, RealtySouth, Realtors
Dr. Rebecca Green (RealtySouth)

One clear theme emerged when I asked Top Producers what they loved about the company.

It turns out, RealtySouth provides best-in-class education and training

To learn more, I tracked down the woman responsible for helping Realtors succeed: Dr. Rebecca Green, Senior VP, Training and Recruiting.

For over 30 years, Dr. Green worked in several school systems as a teacher and as an administrator before becoming a Realtor. Some include Jefferson, Mobile and Baldwin County Schools.

The difference education makes

RealtySouth Top Producers
(L-R) Lynn Tolbert, Diane Knight, Richard Grimes—CEO, Debra Hubbard, Debra Horton, Cindy Porter, Sandy Pate, Chandra Green, Kathy Tomaszewski (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Thinking back to when she first got into real estate, Green said “I had no earthly idea that teachers and nurses make the best real estate agents.”

Her educational background has helped her thrive as a Realtor, while providing her with the background and skills she needs to help others across the company do the same.

“I was a school principal and I’ve taught every grade from kindergarten through college, and I know the importance of a good education. Our goal is to enable you to be a Top Producer with the tools we have.”

Dr. Rebecca Green, Senior VP, Training and Recruiting, RealtySouth

As for what she loves about RealtySouth, it’s simple: 

“We have integrity, we have good ethics, and we want our real estate agents to be known as true professionals who do things right.”

Dr. Rebecca Green, Senior VP, Training and Recruiting, RealtySouth

Work for a company that will invest in your future. Check out RealtySouth careers today.

Sponsored by:

Sharron Swain
Sharron Swain

Writer, Interviewer + Adventurer | Telling stories to make a difference

Articles: 801