Lori Oller
CELEBRATING LEADERS
WRITTEN BY ZACH COHEN | PHOTOS BY JJHOMES PHOTOGRAPHY
As an engineering student at the University of Tulsa, Lori Oller explored her love for problem-solving. For Lori, solving complex problems inspires a sense of wonder.
“Chemistry, geology and mathematical equations just make sense to me. These subjects bring order and function and will show you how the smallest particles in life are related to the most expansive universe you can imagine,” she muses.
And yet, by her senior year in college, Lori knew she wouldn’t go on to work in the engineering field professionally. There was a key element missing — heart. Lori craved human interaction.
Following Her Father’s Footsteps
As graduation neared, Lori considered her options. Her father, an entrepreneur, had started a career in real estate just before his untimely death at 49.
“He always had the spirit of building something and doing something more. But real estate — he was just breaking into it, and he passed away. His life was cut short, so we didn’t get to see where he went with it,” Lori reflects.
In 2001, Lori was licensed and landed a leasing position at a local brokerage — the same brokerage her father worked for. During the first few years of her career, Lori also worked as a sixth-grade science teacher. But as soon as she was allowed, she obtained her broker’s license and dove into real estate full time. She co-founded an independent brokerage, which she ran until she brought her team to RE/MAX in 2011.
The Mind of an Engineer
In real estate, Lori discovered her love for math and problem solving would be an asset.
“[In leasing], I became versed in the mortgage process and possibilities and then used graphs and logic to encourage those who would have been tenants to become homeowners. I viewed a real estate transaction like a puzzle. All the pieces needed to come together for the final picture. I read and asked questions and attended classes on each piece of that puzzle and made myself a true resource on the homebuying process. This began a steady stream of referral business that grew and sustained my career,” Lori explains.
In the role of broker, Lori has taken the same approach. She has a love for contracts and forms — a sentiment not many other REALTORS® echo.
“I am passionate about paperwork,” Lori laughs. “But seriously, forms and contracts create the rhythm of the transaction, the steps that each party should take. Our clients depend on us as professionals to guide them through the process. Agents who aren't willing to educate themselves on the use of forms and contracts put not only their clients but also other professionals at a major cooperative disadvantage. This devalues the usefulness of our profession. Forms and contracts are the great equalizer. No matter your years in the business, if you know your contract, then you have the opportunity to serve your clients with confidence.”
Becoming a Leader
In 2016, Lori became principal broker and co-owner of RE/MAX Results. In the first four years of her leadership, the brokerage grew from six agents to over 100 and from one office location to four.
Lori encourages her agents to “treat their business like a business.” In turn, she’s devoted to offering each agent the support they need to hit their goals. She constantly seeks out the latest and greatest technology and information to bring back to her agents. She remains flexible, willing to shift and change when the market demands it.
“I'm constantly asking myself, ‘What will help my agents best in this scenario?’”
Three years ago, Lori began getting involved with local real estate committees and associations. She began, unsurprisingly, working on the Forms Committee. Today, Lori is on the MLS Tech Board of Directors, the OAR Board of Directors, the GTAR Standard Forms Committee, and the OAR Professional Standards Committee.
Looking Ahead
Lori has her business in a stable place and has the time to give back to the community through serving on local boards and committees. As she looks ahead, she aspires to grow the business, but only with the right people on board. Perhaps most importantly, she aspires to continue supporting her agents’ dreams and goals each and every day.
“It’s about each agent defining what business looks like to them, and us helping them get there,” Lori says. “If I've supported, shared something I've learned or even simply made the day easier for one of my agents, then it was a successful day!”
A Family Affair
Lori and her husband, Daniel, have been married for 22 years. Dan operates a mortgage company within the brokerage, so the pair work together on a daily basis. They have two teenage daughters, Chloe and Sophie. As a family, they enjoy taking short trips and breaking out of their routine. Lori is also a business partner and co-owner of the brokerage with her sister, Amy Whitmarsh. The two first partnered up in 2006 and continue to work side by side.
“We are known to those closest to us in business as The Sisters and are constantly asked how we make working so closely with family look so easy. She is an encourager and serves others with her whole heart. She’s also an awesome travel partner and the most reliable lunch date.”
