Her Story
About Kena
I've been in real estate for 22 years, and it all started when I was working as a paralegal at a law firm handling real estate transactions right out of college in California. I originally wanted to be an attorney, but working at that high-paced law firm, I learned the back end of real estate and got to meet people and see that expression on their face when they got their first home. That journey to home ownership just really brought a smile to my face, being a part of people's bucket list. Looking back, I think I was influenced by my aunt in New Orleans who was the local investor in her town and owned 15 houses. I'm watching my aunt go collect rent and manage real estate as a businesswoman and entrepreneur, playing with my Barbies and not knowing that I was influenced by her. I got my real estate license in California and started with Prudential California Realty, helping people acquire real estate. I was also a loan officer with Bank of America in San Francisco, working with people on credit issues and helping them get pre-approval, always maintaining my real estate license. When I moved from California to Georgia with my husband, we were fixing and flipping houses and were about to be premiered on HGTV, but COVID happened and they could not come out and record our process. We continued to fix and flip, and I called Mark Spain to sell all my investment properties. My husband suggested I go work for the company since I was constantly calling them, so I became an agent with Mark Spain and did really well. When the brand started growing across five states, they needed someone with personal experience as an agent to help build the brand and the agent talent pool. They asked me to move into recruiting because I knew what it takes and the daily grit of being an agent. Since September, I've been helping build the brokerage throughout the five states, talking to candidates every day, interviewing them, and making sure they're a good fit for this high-volume brokerage where agents typically close 30 to 40 homes a year. When you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life, and that's my life's motto.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kena
01What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I believe that when you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life, and that's my life's motto. I'm so passionate about real estate because helping people achieve homeownership is so rewarding, especially watching families achieve their goals and have that journey to their first home. It gives me such satisfaction because we have our most memorable memories at home. I remember when my daughter ran out of her bedroom with her first college acceptance letter and we were dancing to Bruno Mars in the living room. Those Marvel moments happen at home, and that's a lot of our bucket list. Home ownership is part of the American dream, but it goes past that. It's a human goal to have a place to rest and have peace. I also believe in surrounding myself with the right people because who you surround yourself with helps you become more successful. I have a saying that I don't want to be the smartest one in my circle because that doesn't work for me. I want to expand my network and be part of empowering women and letting the community know my involvement in supporting agents.
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