I have been told I can talk to anyone, a skill that I attribute to growing up in Rushville, Indiana, a small Midwestern town with a strong sense of community. There, I also learned to treat all people with respect, and to help people in need. These core values are at the heart of my life and career.

When I went to school for interior design and marketing, Real estate was not on my radar. And yet, my training in both areas proved invaluable when I...