What was your most interesting job before going into real estate? Bartending in college was a lot of fun. You meet a lot of different types of people.

Where did you grow up? I’m a third-generation South Floridian.

Growing up, what did you want to be? An architect or business owner.

What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? I like to go to the gym and workout or play tennis

If you could meet any well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? I would like to meet someone who I would get some value out of today, so I would probably choose Mark Cuban. I think he would be fun to hang out with for a day while learning how to build a billion-dollar company and how he structures his empire and deals with the day-to-day operations.

Where is Miami’s best-kept secret? I’ve always thought the Stiltsville houses off of Key Biscayne were pretty cool. A lot of great history there.

What do you love most about the industry? I love that every transaction is different. Every day you get to meet new people and overcome new challenges. It’s never boring.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job? The day-to-day business management. As a team owner, it’s a lot more involved than just selling houses. We have to manage marketing, budgets, bookkeeping, staff, and lead generation for our agents, along with doing our own business on top of all of that. Essentially, we have a company within a company that we have to run like a business.

What’s your best advice for generating new leads? If you’re new to the business, join a team that can provide you with leads and grow your referral network and sphere of influence. And make sure everyone knows you sell real estate.

What are you binge-watching/reading/listening to lately? Watching Succession; reading Stress Less Accomplish More and The Go-Giver.

What’s your favorite meal in Miami? Steak and truffle mac and cheese at Smith and Wollensky for the food, but the scene is great at Komodo and of course Joe’s Stone Crab.

Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Miami? I love the art deco buildings like the Cadillac Hotel and the Lincoln Theater, but I’d have to say my favorite is the Fontainebleau because it’s so iconic with so much history.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you on the job? We had a $4 million listing in St. Andrews Country Club that was infested with bats (yes, bats in South Florida). The seller had spent tens of thousands of dollars removing them, which couldn’t be done for three months, because apparently bats are a protected species and we had to wait for breeding season to be over before any extermination company would even come out to the house. Once we were given the okay that the bats were cleared and the property was fumigated, we threw a broker’s open event with a red carpet, step-and-repeat, valet parking, photographers, caterers, bartenders, and a live band. The event was a success and we had about 75-100 people show up. About an hour into the event, I was chatting with someone and one of the agents on our team pulled me aside, saying “there’s a live bat in the master bathroom,” just as the next group of agents began walking into the master suite. I called my business partner who was downstairs (this was a 10,000 square-foot house) and told her to send two of our other team members upstairs with a box and gloves and whatever else they needed to get rid of it. She thought I was kidding.  I quickly diverted the group of agents to another room upstairs while the guys attempted to catch the screeching bat (yes, they do make a loud sound). Well, instead of taking the bat (which they captured alive without harming it) down the rear staircase, the brought it down the main staircase where the photographer was so everyone saw first-hand two men carrying some type of animal in a box with gloves on and a broom. Luckily, we had a full bar and most of the attendees were slightly buzzed so we quickly moved on to another tour and opened the master bathroom back up for showings.

What’s your favorite vacation spot and why? Colorado. It’s an incredible place and skiing is one of my favorite activities.

In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry? Be prepared to work hard, be patient, and don’t give up.

 Who are your favorite people to follow on social media? @thebrokeagent and @totalfratmove for a good laugh, @entrepreneurshipfacts and @goalcast for motivation and inspiration.