One of our greatest strengths at Atwell is our people. Some call it our “secret sauce”!  As our company continues to expand, we took a moment to ask a few leaders for their advice on building careers in the real estate and land development market. With decades of experience in the industry, we interviewed Vice Presidents Jeremy Arnold, Jim Lowe,  Robert Schanck, and Senior Vice President Ron Waldrop.  Here is what they had to say:

What advice do you have for building strong relationships with clients?

Jeremy Arnold:  Take accountability to understand their business plans, goals, and the bigger picture of what they’re trying to accomplish.

Jim Lowe: The foundation of a strong client relationship is the performance of your team. Without that, you won’t even have the option to build a relationship.  That must be the foundation. Then, take it to the next level by spending time with them. Get to the client’s office as much as you can and build a face-to-face relationship.

Ron Waldrop: It’s important to be fully engaged and active in projects. Try your best to be proactive.

What advice do you have for people in the first year of their careers?

Ron Waldrop: Make sure you learn from each person you work with and each project you work on.  Ask yourself, how can the experience make me a better person and what did I learn along the way?

Robert Schanck: Get as much exposure as you can to different areas and be engaged. It’s challenging to be anything but engaged at Atwell because of our awesome onboarding plan, but stay engaged beyond the onboarding experience. Get involved and get exposure.

Jim Lowe: Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask lots of them.  Questions are key to understanding what’s needed and expected of your position.

Jeremy Arnold: Be curious, be outgoing, ask questions, and show up with a good attitude. Simple, minute attitude adjustments can make all the difference.

Any advice for young professionals outside the workplace? 

Jeremy Arnold: Allow your interests to grow with you.  I was an all-state high school wrestler in Kentucky and dreamt of a career in professional sports. As I got older, my career aspirations were more aligned with this industry.

Jim Lowe: Maintain hobbies in your spare time.  I paint abstract paintings, though I wouldn’t call myself an artist. I did have a show where I was able to sell some of my work, but it’s a hobby more than anything else.

Robert Schanck: Along the same lines as Jim, have hobbies outside of work. My family and I live on a couple of acres of land in an estate community and we own a paint mare horse and a billy goat that roam around. We love animals, so I like to spend my spare time with my family and our animals.