Amy Whitmarsh | Top Producer & Co-Owner of RE/MAX Results

MAY 2024 COVER STORY

STORY BY ZACHARY COHEN | PHOTOS BY KENNETH BAUCUM PHOTOGRAPHY

Leading with Heart

Amy Whitmarsh wears many hats in the real estate industry. She is a top producing agent, the team leader of the Dream Home Team, and co-owner of four RE/MAX franchises alongside her sister, Lori Oller. 

Amy considers herself lucky to be able to juggle many different parts of the business, and she’s proud of each role she holds. As an agent, she has the opportunity to serve the clients and developers she connects with. As a team leader and franchise owner, she has the gift of bettering the lives of the agents she supports, creating a ripple effect of positive impact that extends far beyond her immediate circle.

A career in real estate has been the perfect fit for Amy. And yet, when she entered the real estate business 17 years ago, it came as something of a surprise to her.

Jumping In

Before launching her real estate career in 2007, Amy spent 15 years in therapeutic recreation. 

“After earning my master’s degree from Oklahoma State University, I worked in a rehab hospital, was director of member services at a local center for the physically limited, ran an amputee support group, and served on the licensure board for the state. I had no intentions of stepping into real estate. That work was my whole focus,” Amy recalls.

Amy’s sister, Lori, who also holds a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University, had already built a successful real estate career, and her father had sold real estate before he passed away in 1998. However, until then, Amy hadn’t seriously considered a career in real estate for herself.

“It never had crossed my mind until one day, Lori and I were both home on maternity leave. We had babies five weeks apart. We were sitting and playing with the babies, and she was casting a vision for her small company. She said she saw it growing,” Amy recalls. “Her love and passion are contract law and problem-solving, but she didn't necessarily love marketing and being in front of people; that was my love. Listening to her, it dawned on me: Why am I not helping in this?”

Amy began to consider what it would be like to join her sister in real estate. She recognized she had hit a ceiling in her former profession and wanted a new challenge. So, in 2007, she dove in, beginning what has become a wildly successful 17-year real estate career.

Growing the Business

Over the years, Amy and Lori’s business has transformed and grown tremendously. In 2011, they sold their small independent brokerage to join RE/MAX Results, and their business quickly tripled. They purchased the Owasso franchise four years later and have since added three more: Tulsa, Bartlesville, and Skiatook. 

“We began to rebuild the brand into an agent-centric brokerage,” Amy explains.  “We are a business that builds businesses.”

The culture of RE/MAX Results centers on abundance. Amy fosters an open, collaborative environment. If an agent or team is succeeding, they share their knowledge with the rest of the team. 

The results have been impressive, too. Across the four offices, agents average over 14 sides per year. According to Amy, the next highest competitor averages roughly 8 sides. RE/MAX Results’ 109 agents closed 1562 sides for over $398 million in 2023, while Amy’s team, the Dream Home Team, closed 95 sides for nearly $27 million. Amy’s personal production was 23 transactions for just under $11 million. 

Other highlights in Amy’s business include holding the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist™ (CLHMS) designation and leading her offices to the highest net gain of agents in the US for a large market for RE/MAX in 2017.

Stepping Into the Future

Outside work, Amy enjoys spending time with her family, golfing, traveling, and staying active at Church on the Move. She and her husband, Carl, have two sons, Ian (24) and Preston (17), and a daughter-in-law, AlLee. Her mom, Mary Jane, is one of her biggest fans.

As she reflects on her journey, Amy is grateful she took a leap of faith to start her real estate career all those years ago. Now, she’s focused on maintaining the level of excellence she’s achieved and watching her agents flourish.

“It’s always been about growing with the right agents for the right reasons. That’s never changed, and we’re protective of that culture,” Amy shares. “I want to do all I can to help better the people around me. I lead with my whole heart, whether it’s my family or the business.”