Guest Speaker Dick Keenan

Posted by Richard L. Roberts

Dick Keenan told us there is a new wave in real estate and the business model of Keller Williams, the fastest growing real estate company in the United States, personifies it. The Keller Williams Reality first started in Austin, Texas, and is different from other large real estate companies, such as 21^st Century, in that it focuses more on the independence of the agents and other associates, yet provides the administrative services needed for a successful business. The values stressed by Keller Williams are faith, family, and business.

Dick said that every transaction must be "win, win" or no deal. He gave an example of the explosive growth of the company by citing that in the year 2001, there were 11,380 associates and now there are over 72,000. It is the only real estate company that has profit sharing, a hedge on retirement, if you are a long-term associate.

He likened the company to an education and consulting firm where training is tailor made emanating from there own training facility, the KellerWilliamsUniversity. There are seven major course programs including sales, mega sales, management, ownership, technology, life values, and personal development.

He and wife, Narlene Carter, own their own business, The Keenan Carter Group, in Santa Maria. They also have an office in the Keller Williams complex on James Way. They currently have 80 associates and their goal is to have 135 by the end of the year.

Keenan Carter has a proven track record that few agents can match! They use state of the art technologies that allow them to provide fast, efficient service to their clients. Dick said, "We never lose sight that honesty, loyalty, understanding, accountability, and creativity are what makes us so very different from the real estate masses."