Growth Driven By Teamwork

By Chelsea Pyne

“Growth is never by mere chance: it is the result of forces working together.”– James Cash Penney

This quote certainly holds true for Keller Williams Realty, both locally and internationally. Many “forces working together” have attributed to the growth of Keller Williams Realty International (KWRI) as well as the growth of the local Keller Williams Realty office.

KWRI, based out of Austin, Texas, opened in 1983 with one office and a total of 32 agents. Today KWRI has over 930 offices and is the number one real estate franchise in the US in agent count (160,000 +), closed units, and closed sales volume.

The Kernersville office has grown from five agents when “birthed” in 1995 to 260+ agents working in three locations – the Kernersville Market Center, the High Point Business Center, and the Asheboro Business Center. Carol Whicker, operating partner for the Kernersville office, reflected, “When we opened our real estate office in 1995, there were less than 4,000 KWRI agents throughout the US. We were one of the first franchises in North Carolina, and “Keller who?” was a constant question. Never did I envision our office growing to over 250 agents. It is still surreal to me.”

With growth comes change – and a little chaos! The Kernersville office experienced both in January as they moved into a new location at 1407-D NC Hwy 66 South. With training, coaching, and education being one of the cornerstones of KWRI, the new location offers a state-of-the-art training center that overflows into the multi-functional collaborative area – a place for agents to come in to work, hangout, or meet with clients. The new location provides the needed space for the TIRE Real Estate School to offer both day and evening classes as well as meeting spaces for the rapidly expanding Productivity Coaching program.
The “forces working together” that have fueled this growth include (but are not limited to) proven KWRI models and systems; innovative and ever evolving technology; exceptional training, coaching and consulting; and a culture of “giving back” – to each other and to the community.

A few of the “forces” that have contributed to the Kernersville growth and success:
Office Leadership Team: Michelle Amador, team leader, joined KW three years ago with an extensive real estate background. She “hit the door running” by growing the office as her primary focus and coaching/consulting as a close second. Glenda Shipe, the Market Center Administrator, has been with the office for 17 years and is recognized by all as the glue that holds things together. Other members of the team consist of Marie White, assistant MCA; Kelly Anders, Broker-in-Charge; Arlene McGinn, Productivity Coach; and Matt Raulerson, Agent Services.

Agent Leadership Council (ALC): A group of top producers who serve as a “board of directors” and are actively involved in decisions that make the office more productive and profitable. They meet monthly to review the finances, develop policies and guidelines, set standards, protect the culture, and so much more. They are the “go-to group” for agents and have been instrumental in moving the office forward in agent growth and profitability.

Profit Share: Since the inception of the Profit Share System in the 1980’s, KWRI has distributed more than $1 billion to associates who have helped the company grow.

Technology: In February, Founder Gary Keller committed to investing $1 billion into developing the technology resources agents need to elevate their business as well as provide consumers with a real estate platform to assist them in the home buying/selling process.

Training: KW provides leadership and agent curriculum paths that extend across all experience and production levels via resources and tools from Keller Williams University, KellerINK, KW Labs, KW Video, KW Research, and the franchises’ Growth Initiative and Career Growth Initiative. The excellence of these training materials and resources has earned KWRI’s induction into Training Magazine’s Hall of Fame which recognizes superior training programs across all industries in the world. All those associated with KWRI receive the benefit of these training materials and programs via many avenues.

Coaching: KWRI offers numerous coaching programs from group to individual coaching. In the Kernersville office, Arlene McGinn, a real estate icon in the Triad area, has developed and implemented a very comprehensive coaching/training program for new and experienced agents.

Master Faculty: Who better to teach agents than other agents? The Kernersville Master Faculty gives their time to teach core real estate classes and share real life experiences. Learning from top producers and having another group of go-to resources enhances the success of the agents joining the market center.

Culture: Founded on a value system of “God, Family, then Business” and a clearly stated Belief System, culture is the driving force behind the success the local office has experienced. Tyler Wilhoit, an agent instrumental in opening the Asheboro Business Center said, “They have the mentality of the more you give, the more that comes back to you.”

Keller Williams growth has been a direct result of many forces coming together – and never losing sight of the KW Mission: To build CAREERS worth having, BUSINESSES worth owning, LIVES worth living, EXPERIENCES worth giving, and LEGACIES worth leaving.

For those interested in buying or selling their home, you know you can trust an open-book company with an unbeatable record. Give them a call at 336-992-0200. For information on a career in real estate, contract Kelly Anders at 336-688-8169. For more in-depth information on Keller Williams, contact Michelle Amador at 336- 362-7780 or any of the Keller Williams agents!

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