S O U T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A S P U B L I C A T I O N F O R T H E R E A L E S T A T E P R O F E S S I O N A L EXECUTIVEAGEN TM MAGAZINE Inside Features: Dan Sarnecky First Team Real Estate Regency Real Estate Company Profile The Gottuso - Schenkenberger Team: Executive Agents of the Month
Cover Story The Gottuso - Schenkenberger Team: A Winning Combination By Lalaena Gonzalez-Figueroa - Lori Lyon Photography Steve Schenkenberger, Gayle Johnson-Gottuso and Bob Gottuso W hether it is multi-million dollar listings, bankowned properties, short sales or equity sellers, real estate professionals Bob Gottuso, Gayle Johnson-Gottuso and Steve Schenkenberger have plied their skills to cultivate successful careers in the industry. As a team, the trio taps into their unique strengths to offer their clients an incomparable level of knowledge and service throughout Orange County and Southern California. Experience Matters The Gottuso-Schenkenberger Team s success has been built upon a foundation of drive, determination, and a commitment to excellence. Bob and Gayle, a husband and wife team who left high level corporate positions to build their real estate careers, have incorporated a solid business structure in their approach. Steve s entrepreneurial nature and educational background have proven ideal components for success in real estate. By combining forces, the three have created a winning solution for the needs of their diverse clientele. Before moving to real estate as a licensed broker, Bob, the son of an Air Force colonel, earned Bachelor s Degrees in Computer Science and Marketing as well as an MBA in Computer Science. He moved into corporate leadership positions including working as a partner in an executive search firm, and Vice President of Sales for a technology company. His experiences prompted him to pen a book, Even Smart People Make Stupid Mistakes, which offered interview tips and techniques for high-level executive candidates.
The Gottuso-Schenkenberger Team: Steve Schenkenberger, Gayle, a former Vice President of Sales for Rainbow Technologies, received her BA in History and also completed course work at the USC Graduate School of Business, grew up in a real estate-oriented environment. The longtime Orange County resident s father was a wellknown area developer and investor who built Laguna Beach s renowned Surf and Sand Hotel, as well as other local landmarks. Though Gayle cultivated a successful career as a technology executive, she had the makings of an exceptional Realtor : an outgoing personality, detailoriented nature, and an understanding of the real estate industry. Steve, the young and energetic entrepreneur of the team, spent time growing up in Orange County cultivating his business and athletic skills. The son of a Harvard graduate, Steve learned early about hard work and building businesses and formalized his knowledge at Westmont University in Santa Barbara where he attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and Business. His understanding of the real estate market has made him a valuable asset to this dynamic trio. The Power of a Team Approach Early on, I recognized the opportunity to join our strengths and offer clients a comprehensive level of expertise, notes Steve of his decision to combine forces with the Gottusos. The former Rookie of the Year appreciates the structured approach that Bob and Gayle bring to the group, and notes that the team has developed a model designed to meet the demands of a large client base. In examining the most effective ways to sell an extensive amount of real estate, I observed that a team approach is optimally employed, he explains. Our group dynamic enables us to meet the responsibilities involved in servicing multiple clients. Not only can we manage more transactions more effectively, but we are able to improve upon the level of service we can offer. It is a model that has been very successful for us. Gayle agrees. In business, the sum of the parts should be greater than the individuals, she observes. Steve is fearless, with business startup experience and an amazing drive. Bob is a master at developing and executing a business plan, and adapting that plan as the market changes. And I enjoy the negotiation process as well as working one-on-one with our clients throughout transactions. In addition, we are fortunate to have the support of phenomenal assistants who help ensure that the process runs as smooth and seamlessly as possible. The Gottuso - Schenkenberger Team: L to R; Steve Schenkenberger, Tim Schenkenberger, Lori Schenkenberger, Lynn Mulhall, Gayle Johnson-Gottuso, Bonnie Foley, Bob Gottuso, Vicki Patt
home, we focus on maximizing exposure of that property and creating a comprehensive marketing plan that we know will work. We let our clients know that their property must be at the forefront of everything we do. Gayle remarks. We know the market, and offer our clients objective information on what it will take to sell their home for the maximum value. The benefit to our clients, says Bob, is that with a team of three professionals, someone is always on top of the details involved in the transaction. Steve and I are constantly networking, while Gayle focuses on contracts, negotiations and marketing. Working together, we are able to offer the first-class service our clients deserve. Bob, Gayle and Steve each launched their real estate careers with First Team Real Estate, and are proud to affiliate themselves with Orange County s leading independent real estate brokerage. We offer our buyers and sellers an impressive local presence, Bob explains. Not only do we have access to a tremendous network of agents within First Team, but we also benefit from the firm s marketing efforts, which have ensured that First Team is known regionally, nationally and worldwide. The group s luxury buyers and sellers appreciate First Team Estates affiliation with Luxury Portfolio, which is billed as the leading company for selling $1million-plus residences in Orange County. While the group concurs that First Team Real Estate offers the support and tools necessary to uphold their impressive level of service, Bob, Gayle and Steve note that their ongoing efforts to uphold their clients best interests have enabled them to cultivate continued success. When working with our clients, who are looking to sell what is usually their largest and greatest asset, their Adds Steve, We understand how to navigate a complex market, and have the ability to effectively price properties and position our clients to maximize their results in any transaction. Whether we are working with traditional buyers and sellers, or our high-end real estate clients, or our asset and bank managers, we have the knowledge and resources to facilitate positive outcomes in our transactions. There is no guesswork in what we do, he explains. We have a proven track record of selling homes. Consistent Proven Results Their success is undeniable: The Team has achieved six consecutive years as inductees into the Hall of Fame and five consecutive years as Medallion Award winners, the highest achievement within First Team. They have also earned two nominations into the prestigious Wall Street Journal Top 400 Award given to the top Real Estate Agents in the Country. Bob states that The Gottuso- Schenkenberger Team has earned the top spot in First Team Real Estate for selling more than any of the 2,000 agents within the organization. We are the leading team in the fourteenth-largest real estate firm in the country, he notes. That doesn t happen by accident. Indeed, in 2009, arguably one of the most challenging years in the history of Southern California s real estate market, the team sold over 200 homes, doubling its business from the previous year. How did they do it? By keeping our
attention on solid business principles and never losing sight of our clients needs. When you understand the motivation behind the market, you can better assist your clients in achieving their own goals. Accolades for The Gottuso-Schenkenberger Team First Team Real Estate broker Mark Kojak, who first introduced Bob and Steve in a top-producers masterminds group, comments on the strengths of the Gottuso-Schenkenberger Team. In my twenty years of management with First Team, I have found that agents like Bob, Gayle and Steve are few and far between, he reveals. They have each displayed a real thirst for knowledge and a consistent desire to improve their business model. They have taken the best practices of real estate, studied and perfected them, and then executed them flawlessly. Gayle, Bob and Steve have endless energy, are disciplined and well-liked, and have a knack for attracting business. He adds, The group is a joy to be around. They are consistent, and have excellent communication and follow-through. Lynn, who has known Steve for many years, notes that she has recommended the team to friends and family members. They are honest and hard working, she explains. They know what they re doing and that s why they are so successful! Chartering a Path to a Successful Future In an industry known for constant change, there is nothing more reassuring to consumers than the promise of stability. With three strong and successful professionals working congruently to achieve maximum results for every customer they represent, The Gottuso-Schenkenberger Team is bucking trends and cultivating success despite daunting statistics. Bob, Gayle and Steve know what it takes to thrive in real estate, and they are utilizing that knowledge to make a difference for every client, every day. Real estate investors Joe Beitdashtoo and his wife Vicki appreciate the outstanding integrity-based service that The Gottuso- Schenkenberger Team offers. We have developed a relationship based on honesty and integrity, states Beitdashtoo, an executive with SON Systems. As an accomplished businessman and an experienced investor, he has worked with innumerable professionals in a myriad of industries. The members of the Gottuso-Schenkenberger Team, he says, are top-notch. Gayle, Bob and Steve are extremely proactive and responsive, he observes. They are effective in maximizing revenue potential, cutting costs, and consistently providing a level of service that extends beyond the ordinary. Continues Beitdashtoo, The Gottuso- Schenkenberger Team display expertise in their field, and are thorough and attentive to details. Ultimately, says Beitdashtoo, I trust The Gottuso-Schenkenberger Team to manage my investments and my portfolio. They promise more than other real estate agents, and they deliver on those promises. Lynn and William Lee, who have purchased and sold homes with The Gottuso-Schenkenberger Team, commend the group for their solid representation. The team works really well together, observes Lynn. We felt comfortable with them; we trust the group to keep our best interests at the forefront of each transaction.
The Gottuso - Schenkenberger Team The Gottuso-Schenkenberger Team First Team Real Estate 32451 Golden Lantern, Suite 210 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Telephone: 949-240-7979 Email: BobGottuso@cox.net