Brad Ramey
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
STORY BY LALEY FREEMAN | PHOTOS BY PEAK RES
A RARE TEAM DYNAMIC
As managing broker of the Coldwell Banker Select team in Sapulpa for the last eleven years, Brad Ramey has found himself working in the midst of a variety of different team dynamics. After serving as a broker for over a decade, one team dynamic stands out to him above the rest, not only for its presence in his office but for its rarity in the real estate market as a whole: the mother-daughter team.
While the mother-daughter team dynamic is unique, Brad is lucky enough to not only have one mother-daughter duo in his office … but three! As their Broker, he finds it incredibly interesting to observe how their dynamic differs from other teams. “It’s awesome to witness all of them handing the torch off and on to each other and being very successful at what they do, not only in the industry but with life itself,” he told us.
LEE ANN KREPS and RACHEL WISE
“When it comes to Lee Ann and Rachel, you’ll never see one without the other. They are always together … I mean, I have even seen them grocery shopping together before!” he laughed.
These two, attached at the hip, are honored and excited to be building their real estate careers together. “They do a phenomenal job at everything they do from volunteering in the community to finding their clients a home. They seem to be the perfect duo!” Brad said.
Lee Ann has been working as a REALTOR® for the last 20 years, starting her career with Terry Gartside Realtors in 2002. On average, Lee Ann does 8-12 million in sales and has been one of the top 100 many times. She is very active in Sapulpa, the city she has called home for most of her life. She is currently involved with the Chamber of Commerce’s parade committee, Sapulpa Main Street Jingle Bells, The Dragon Masters Car Club, The Downtown Christmas Chute, and her church.
“I am beyond blessed to work with my youngest daughter, Rachel. She is one of my best friends and we get to spend every day working, laughing, and enjoying life together doing what we love. Life is good!” Lee Ann said. Lee Ann is wife to her husband of 45 years, Raymond Kreps. Together, they have three married children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Before getting into real estate, Rachel Wise owned and operated her own business as a hairstylist. In 2007, she obtained her real estate license because her ultimate goal was to work with her mother, however, her children were small and the timing wasn’t right. Finally, in 2019, she fulfilled her goal of working as a stylist for 20 years and joined Lee Ann in real estate in January 2020.
“I love working with my very best friend, my mom,” Rachel said. “People say they know when we are in the building because they will hear laughter coming from our office.” Rachel is married to Clayton Wise and together they have a daughter who is a sophomore in college and a son who is a sophomore at Berryhill High School.
MARY CARTER and ASHLEY JOHNSON
Mary Carter has been a licensed REALTOR® for over 40 years and also holds her broker’s license. Like many others in the Coldwell Banker Select Sapulpa Office, Mary’s real estate career began in the office of Terry Gartside Realtors. “Terry Gartside made my career possible by taking a chance on me, a young mother with no sales knowledge or experience,” Mary said. Mary was listed in the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 1,000 agents in the United States and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Agents in the Greater Tulsa Association of REALTORS® on numerous occasions, receiving the Sales Associate of the Year award from GTAR in 2006.
Her daughter, Ashley, started in real estate at a very young age. She tagged along with Mary to the office and showings, looked through MLS books while her mom wrote offers, and eventually became her assistant when she was starting her own family. “I knew the job would have the flexibility that I was wanting for mine and my family’s schedule,” Ashley said. Ashley has been married to her husband, Bobby, for six years and together have six children.
After working together for a number of years, they have found great success in their mother-daughter dynamic. “They office together, as well, and they get a lot accomplished,” Brad told us. “They do great things as a team and as a family, sharing their successes and making dreams come true together.” Mary enjoys seeing her daughter every day as they work alongside one another.
This year, Mary and Ashley added a lifelong friend, Jill Parise, to the team to assist with buyers. “There is no one I’d rather work side-by-side with than my mom and friend,” Ashley told us. “There have been so many fun and memorable moments and [there are] so many more to come.”
TERI SHERWOOD and CASSIDY JACKSON
Teri has been a licensed REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Select for the last 16 years, officially adding her daughter, Cassidy, to her team about three years ago. Teri averages 8-10 million dollars in sales each year and her schedule has grown busier and busier as time has gone on. Because of that, Teri knew that Cassidy would be a great asset to the team.
“The team concept was new to me [when I added Cassidy] and it has been the best step for my career,” Teri said. Prior to making the decision to work together, Teri and Cassidy spent every day talking and doing life together. “This is just the icing on the cake to get to work and play together,” Teri added.
Before joining her mother in real estate in 2018, Cassidy had been working for a local title business as a processor. “She brings additional experience to the closing side of a transaction and assists her mother with processing files,” Brad shared. Cassidy has been married to her husband, Beau, for four years and, together, they share rental properties. “The real estate business has become a full-time family occupation,” Cassidy said.
Working together as a mother-daughter team is something that Cassidy and Teri had always dreamed of and wanted to accomplish. “I had attended many, if not all, work events with my mom before joining her at Coldwell Banker, so when I made the career change, it just felt right,” Cassidy said.
Together, they have helped each other grow professionally while also nurturing their unique bond as mother and daughter.
MANAGING MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEAMS
While managing mother-daughter teams might seem intimidating to some, Brad has a different perspective. “As far as these three go, it’s a piece of cake,” he said. “They figure out the majority of their issues on their own and, with their combined years of experience, are pretty much the captain of their own ships! It’s fun, but I know when I see one of their phone numbers pop up or both of them walking into my office, it’s going to be a challenge.”
Luckily, there are many other associates in the office who, although are not related by blood, are always willing to lend a hand. “We have a very positive and encouraging group of associates. We care, support, and celebrate everyone's successes. There is not one associate in the office that does not mind lending a hand or helping an associate with issues and problems. Not only in the industry, but in their personal lives as well,” he told us.
BRAD RAMEY
Before starting his real estate career, Brad worked for American Airlines. This career was something that he had always dreamed of, however, he was laid off shortly after 9/11. His wife was pregnant with their second child at the time and he knew that he needed to get another job lined up as soon as possible.
“My father is a real estate developer, so I launched my real estate career in Sapulpa as, what used to be known as, Terry Gartside Realtors. I started with 18 listings; new construction has been an intricate part of my success.” Terry and his son, Pete Galbraith, became mentors to Brad and ultimately gave him the honor of managing the office in 2010. Today, Brad has grown the office more than 100 percent and gives all the credit to his loyal associates. “I am passionate about watching people grow and develop. Being a moving part in the success of others is what drives and motivates me,” he told us.
Brad has been lucky enough to have a handful of role models that continue to make an impact on his life. His mother’s “heart of gold” challenges him to be a better person every day; his father, who is 75 years old and is still up and out the door by 7:00 am, pushes him to always work harder for his family; and, lastly, his wife and children are the motivation behind everything he does. Professionally, Brad has been impacted by Joan Holloway and Bryan Sheppard.
“Joan took me under her wing as a son when I was new to the business. She answered every call, text, and still continues to pray for my continued success in all aspects of life. She is a blessing and a treasure,” he told us. “Bryan has challenged me more than the 48 women in my office! He is the textbook definition of a leader. I have always been able to bounce new, innovative ideas off him, and have counted on him multiple times to help me navigate the industry. I admire his passion and patience, and most of all respect the friendship we have shared throughout the years.”
Brad Ramey is, first and foremost, a father and husband. He is enormously grateful to his family for always supporting him through the thick and thin of real estate. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time traveling and having meaningful conversations with his family. “New face, new places, and adventures inspire me. The love for airplanes never left me.”
