Owner, REALTOR®
ABR, AHWD, ALHS, C-RETS, CRP, e-PRO, GREEN, PSA, SFR, SRS
Office: (210) 493-6888
Cell: (210) 861-0188
Fax: (210) 493-7002
The Howell Group
Typically, we use a bio to talk about the achievements of our agents, but as Kim is the owner of the company, we instead found this letter of recommendation one of her employees wrote for her when nominating her for Platinum Top 50 San Antonio. We thought it was the perfect example of who and what Kim is. Hope you think so too.
From day one owning and managing this company, Kim has put everything she has into its operation. In addition to completing her own professional real estate transactions (over twenty million annually from her alone) and managing an ever-changing team of agents (The Howell Group – annual production totals for the team topping forty million some years), Kim is on hand twenty-four-seven to field questions, resolve disputes, and offer advice and counseling to the fifty plus agents our office currently sponsors. She truly feels that she cannot be an effective manager without knowing the business herself. The real estate hurdles of today’s market are completely different than those encountered even five years ago. Kim knows this and stays active in the business in large part so that she can truly advise and support agents with first-hand knowledge and experience behind her.
In the five years I have known and worked with Kim, I have never seen her take a day off [editor’s note: she just recently had one]. In the hospital, Kim begs for her phone so she can be on call if an issue arises. At home with her family, they know that she will do whatever she can – and more – to keep the office running smoothly. I can not even begin to count the number of hours Kim has given to this industry. Late nights working at the office till 10PM, 11PM, or midnight are not uncommon.
While Kim may have what might seem like a full plate with her own business, she never forgets that she is supporting an office. Her listings are not hers – but the company’s. She makes her listings available for every single agent in the office to hold open, to market and to promote as they strive to grow their own business. She attends listing appointments with novice agents, or lets them shadow hers. If she is given an opportunity for new business, the office is invited to share in the opportunity. Builder accounts are shared. Lead sources are shared. Relocation clients are shared. Advertising opportunities are shared. Kim not only wants to see her fellow agents succeed; she works to make it happen.
Day in and day out, Kim gives her all to her clients, her staff, and the agents of this office. When we switched from being a franchise to an independent brokerage in November of 2009, Kim’s two biggest concerns were ensuring that there was not a lack of service to clients during the transition and ensuring that the agents in our office were inconvenienced as little as possible during this transition. I believe this speaks strongly of Kim’s dedication to providing the most dedicated service to her clients and agents alike.
The agent retention rate was 98% during this huge transition. As office manager, I was in a position to speak to the agents, hear their concerns and answer any questions they may have had. The primary motivation for agent’s decision to stay with the company was Kim. The agents here are inspired by her. They are engaged by her and they are supported by her in ways they did not feel any other company could offer. Time and time again I was told that agents here would follow and support Kim wherever she chose to lead them. They know that she looks out for their interests, and want to stand with her. I cannot think of a better testament to someone’s leadership skills than this kind of response from those that they lead.
On top of it all, Kim offers a weekly training for agents in our office. She herself dedicates at least two hours per week for an in-depth, engaging discussion of real estate transactions, issues, concerns, risks, and rewards. Newly licensed agents attend as they are eager to know all they can about the business. More interestingly, even the most “seasoned” agents attend. Kim is so inspiring, so engaging, and so full of relevant, practical knowledge and advice that agents who have been in the business for twenty years still attend knowing they will take something away from these training classes.
To say the least, I am honored to work with Kim. And I do not stand alone in this position. Kim is a remarkable woman, a fantastic agent, and a strong, supportive, encouraging manager. She is patient, fair, knowledgeable, dedicated, honest and inspiring.