LOS ANGELES, CA - With our new Santa Monica office opening, we have another big announcement to share. Agent Tara Rodgers-Culbertson will be serving as Sales Manager of our Montana Avenue location!
Tara has big plans for the Santa Monica agent team along with our company as a whole. I sat down with Tara to discuss her vision in the interview below.
What inspired you to become a manager at Gibson International?
Our industry is moving at such a rapid pace at the moment, which is very exciting to me. In addition, the Westside is growing and changing every day as well with new people and businesses building lives and creating a presence here.
There is so much opportunity for agents at the moment to really look at how we are operating our businesses and take that to the next level for our clients. When the opportunity was presented to me to launch our office in Santa Monica and build out a stellar group of agents here, I knew it was the perfect chance for me to move into a leadership role.
I am really looking forward to incorporating my experience and perspective into the firm’s strategic initiatives. I want to help provide agents with the tools, ideas, and motivation to improve their businesses. It is going to be an exciting year for all of us!
I learned over the years that an agent’s ability to create a strong business relationship and connection with his or her client and the community is key. I believe this to be true on the brokerage level as well. When we do this, the selling and buying of our client’s homes naturally follows. My own experience inspired me to pass along this approach to the rest of our team members to help them thrive.
You’re a top performing agent in terms of sales volume. What are you looking to share with your team to help each agent build successful client relationships?
I think the key aspect of my success is the partnership I created with my clients. They felt confident in me as their advocate who not only understood their real estate and financial needs, but their overall lifestyle goals. I think it’s our duty as a brokerage to strengthen this approach with our agents and clients and lead by example.
Can you give us some insights into your managerial style? What are some training and development activities you plan to execute to assist agents in increasing their business?
In addition to the training classes and sales meetings we already provide at Gibson International, I really want to focus on collaboration. In the Santa Monica office we will have think tank sessions and workshop different approaches to business. For example, we’re going to have weekly strategy sessions specific to trends I’m hearing out in the marketplace. The think tanks will be an open door style event, so anyone who wants to contribute will be welcome. I want our team to also network heavily with the community—by that I mean attend events, and create bonds with clients as well. We do have some top secret plans; I can’t reveal them right now, but let’s just say they will be a lot of fun for everyone.
Real estate is about connection, and that’s my overall philosophy. We’re taking this personalized approach within our own walls, and to our clients and colleagues throughout the Westside.
You’re interested in working closely with the community. Do you have any local outreach plans in the works?
We have a number of ideas in store that will give us the opportunity to engage with the community directly. We’re going to interact with our neighbors a lot here on Montana Avenue as well as in greater Santa Monica and the Westside in general. We will be participating in local events, both as a host and as active attendees. I will also be spearheading a local outreach campaign, and working closely to promote small businesses in the area online and to our clients.
What are your short and long term goals for the office?
I want to build out a team here that truly represents our culture at Gibson International. I feel immensely positive about our initial core group of agents – we’re already off to a great start! As always, Gibson International focuses strongly on the quality of agents we associate with, so I believe that we will only continue to attract Santa Monica’s finest professionals.
Long term, we will continue to look at innovative ways to work with our clients both from a consultative perspective and a technology perspective. Again, how can we help clients not just purchase a home, but achieve a dream lifestyle?
We are so excited to finally have roots in Santa Monica. It’s only growth from here!