10 Years, Countless Connections (and a Few Interesting Stories Along the Way)

April 16th marks something pretty special for me—10 years as a licensed REALTOR, all of them spent with Real Estate Professionals. A whole decade. Ten years of houses, handshakes, contracts, conversations… and connections that mean more than I can put into a single post.

And if I’m being honest, this doesn’t feel like a “look at me” milestone. It feels like a “look at all of you” moment. Because this career? It doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

It happens because people trust you. It grows because people refer you. It thrives because others believe in you—sometimes before you fully believe in yourself.

So today is less about celebrating a number and more about celebrating the people who made that number possible.

A few years back, there was a meme floating around asking people to describe their job in the most unconventional way possible. Realtors had some good ones: “I meet strangers and take them to tour other strangers’ homes.” Or… “A realtor is your best friend, your daily phone call for 3–6 months… and then you rarely talk again.”

Funny? Absolutely. Accurate? Well…not exactly but sort of?

But here’s the thing—Stillwater isn’t like that. In a town like this, you don’t really stay strangers.

You run into each other at Aspen Coffee. You wave across the lawn at Block 34. You see familiar faces during OSU Walkaround. And, often times, there is a hello hug involved.

And more often than not, when I meet someone new, there’s already a thread connecting us—through a friend, a neighbor, another client… that beautiful “six degrees of separation” that somehow always feels smaller here. That’s what I love about Stillwater. It’s not just where I work—it’s a community that weaves people together in the best way.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve collected more stories than I can count.

I once met an out of town client at 7am on Mother's Day because they drove up the day before and the electricity went out right literally as they arrived, so, we had to go back before they made their long drive home. Always a memorable moment.

There was the time I got chased by a horse while showing land. My response? Let’s just say… not my most polished professional language.

Finding a beat up fax machine in the middle of a field while showing land - I guess a previous owner had an 'Office Space' moment. haha

Meeting clients down slushy dirt roads, rainstorms, or in the snow. Negotiating deals early in the morning, late at night, and even once while in line for the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney World.

Real estate keeps you on your toes.

But beyond the funny moments, there are the meaningful ones—the ones that stay with you.

Watching first-time buyers become repeat clients… then families… then somehow managing three kids in what feels like the blink of an eye. Helping parents find homes for their students. Welcoming professors and professionals relocating to Oklahoma State University. Meeting fellow Texans from Amarillo and instantly feeling a little piece of home.

And then there are the heavier chapters.

Walking alongside clients navigating divorce. Helping families downsize from their longtime family home into assisted living. Supporting people through the loss of a loved one.

Real estate isn’t just about property. It’s about people—at every stage of life, across every emotion imaginable. Through it all, I’ve never stopped learning. Every house teaches something new. Every client brings a different perspective. Every year adds another layer of experience I didn’t have before.

And I’m incredibly grateful to have spent these 10 years at Real Estate Professionals - a brokerage that truly embodies support and professionalism. The encouragement from my broker and fellow agents has been constant, genuine, and invaluable. It’s a blessing—and I don’t take it for granted.

So, here we are. Ten years in.

No cake. No streamers.

Just a whole lot of gratitude.

To the clients who trusted me once… and then again. To those who referred friends and family. To the ones who believed in me from the very beginning. To the colleagues who encouraged, guided, and supported me along the way.

This milestone belongs to you as much as it does to me.

Because it’s because of you that I get to keep doing what I love.

And I can’t wait to see what the next 10+ years bring. Thank you.