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Sarita Kauffman (@thekauffmangroup) holds a degree in international business from Brazil and leads the Kauffman Group – a tight-knit, multilingual team that recently partnered with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in Summerville. Her team serves some of Charleston's most diverse client bases.

In this conversation, Sarita reveals:

• Why agents who leave her team come back – and what that says about culture
• How her international business background shaped the way she structures her team
• The AI tools her team is building from scratch to eliminate 80-90% of agent busywork

This is a conversation focused on team building, technology implementation, and creating a business where people actually want to work – not just collect a paycheck.

Follow CLP: @charlestonsleadingproducers
Connect with the Kaufman Group: Text 843-890-2545

Timestamps:

00:00 Building a Team Culture Agents Don't Want to Leave
03:30 International Business Meets Real Estate
06:45 Why the Kaufman Group Partnered with Better Homes and Gardens
09:20 Serving Charleston's Multilingual Community
12:50 What New Agents Actually Need to Succeed
16:15 The AI Strategy That Will Change Everything in 2026
20:40 Let Salespeople Sell: Eliminating Agent Burnout
24:30 Giving Back to the Community Through Schiffa Clinic
28:10 The Kaufman Group's Vision for 2026

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.

Send us a text

Lauren Davis (@ldavisrealtor) is a United States Air Force Academy graduate who served as a lieutenant in Iraq negotiating multi-million dollar government contracts. She closed 32 deals her first full year in real estate, scaled to over $19 million in volume in 2025, and just launched her own brokerage – Valor & Vine Realty.

In this conversation, Lauren reveals:

• How negotiating $25 million government contracts made her fearless in real estate negotiations
• Why she refused to use a transaction coordinator her first two years (and why new agents shouldn't either)
• The discipline and structure that separates top producers from everyone else

This is real talk from an agent who started from complete scratch in a new market, sacrificed time to build momentum, and proved that military-level discipline applied to real estate creates unstoppable results.

Follow CLP: @charlestonsleadingproducers

Email Lauren for more info about Valor & Vine Realty: lmdavisrealestate@gmail.com

Timestamps:
00:00 From Military Contracts to Real Estate
03:45 How Discipline and Structure Drive Production
06:20 Closing 32 Deals Year One From Scratch
09:15 The Hardest Truth About Real Estate Success
14:30 Negotiating Government Contracts vs Real Estate Deals
18:10 Why New Agents Shouldn't Use Transaction Coordinators
22:35 Facebook Over Instagram: Where Real Business Comes From
26:50 The Offers That Sting (And Why They Still Happen)
31:15 Balancing Three Kids and Top Production
35:40 Launching Valor & Vine Realty in 2026

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing the work and getting the results.

Send us a text

Courtney Kretly (@courtneykretly) started her real estate career in 2021 and built a thriving YouTube-first business targeting buyers relocating to Charleston. Alicia Smith (@aliciasmithsc) joined her as a team partner in 2025, bringing a marketing director background from Summerville's Chamber of Commerce. Together they've created a powerhouse in @athomewithcourtneyandalicia.

In this conversation, Courtney and Alicia reveal:

• why YouTube's long-form content converts better than any other platform they've tested
• how their 55+ community comparison video exploded and built their entire relocation business
• why they prioritize free marketing channels and value-driven content over paid lead sources

This is real talk from a team that refuses to cold call, built trust through content, and proves that grinding smart beats grinding hard - especially when you're balancing motherhood and top production.

Follow CLP: @charlestonsleadingproducers
Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans

Timestamps:
00:00 Why Courtney Chose YouTube as Her Primary Platform
03:15 The Power of Long-Form Video for Client Connection
06:42 How One 55+ Comparison Video Built Their Business
09:28 Meeting Through Nexton and Building a Team
12:05 The Value of Networking Groups Done Right
16:20 Underutilized Free Marketing Tools Realtors Ignore
20:35 Grinding Now Pays Off Three Months From Now
24:18 Balancing Motherhood and Top Production
27:45 Why Client-First Always Wins

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing 10, 15, even 20+ million in volume.

Send us a text

Mary Patterson (@marypattersoncharleston) spent 20 years building a nutrition and wellness business before transitioning to real estate. She intentionally chose a slower build - overlapping careers for two years while learning the fundamentals. Now she's a top producer at 32 South and stepping into a team lead role.

In this conversation, Mary reveals:

• how reading body language and client psychology drives her success
• why she stayed on a team instead of going out on her own despite having her broker's license
• how digital marketing is evolving her listings strategy

This is real talk from an agent who knows the power of listening, understands that synergy beats solo production, and treats real estate like the teaching profession it actually is.

Follow CLP: @charlestonsleadingproducers

Follow Jake: @jakecummings_homeloans

00:00
Introduction to Mary Patterson's Journey

03:03
Relocation and Its Impact on Real Estate

05:58
Understanding Client Psychology in Real Estate

08:40
Transitioning from Nutrition to Real Estate

11:14
Building a Real Estate Business

13:58
The Importance of Team Synergy

16:45
Navigating the Real Estate Market

19:16
The Role of Education in Client Relationships

22:05
Advice for New Agents

24:51
Leveraging Digital Marketing

27:14
Becoming a Team Lead at 32 South

28:56
Final Thoughts and Contact Information

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing 10, 15, even 20+ million in volume.

Send us a text

Kerri Fotta's first visits to Charleston were to follow her daughter's surgeon from New York to MUSC. What started as a medical journey led to a move to our community and a top 1% producing real estate career in just three and a half years. She recently launched her own brokerage, The Firm, on King Street.

In this conversation, Kerri reveals:

• how she built a client base from zero sphere of influence
• why 95% of her business is now referral-based and how she cultivates those relationships
• her philosophy on collaboration over competition and treating clients like family

This is real talk from a top producer about turning personal challenges into professional fuel and doing real estate differently.

Follow Kerri on Instagram here:

@kerrisellscharleston

And The Firm here:

@thefirmrealestatecompany

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing 10, 15, even 20+ million in volume.

Follow CLP:

@charlestonsleadingproducers

Follow Jake:

@jakecummings_homeloans

Send us a text

Brian Beatty started working in Charleston real estate at 21 years old in 2006. He survived the 2008 crash, has closed over 1,500 transactions and built multiple real estate businesses while maintaining his position as a top 1% producer since 2009.

In this conversation, Brian reveals:

• his philosophy on deep market knowledge
• why he'd rather market his clients listings than himself (and why it generates more business)
• his strategy for hyper-targeted listing marketing that actually finds qualified buyers

This is real talk from a top producer about what actually works in today's market.

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing 10, 15, even 20+ million in volume.

Send us a text

JaVonna Alexander is a top producing agent in Charleston. She's closing over 50 deals this year while working as a full-time federal employee and raising her daughter.

In this conversation, JaVonna reveals:

• Why people doubted her early on, and how she's proving them wrong
• Systems of how to stay-in-touch with your most important clients
• How her educator mindset turns confused bystanders into closed deals

This is real talk from a top producer about what actually works in today's market.

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing 10, 15, even 20+ million in volume.

Send us a text

Julissa Edwards is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and mindset coach specializing in helping high-performing entrepreneurs manage stress and build sustainable success.

In this conversation, Julissa reveals:

• Why accepting your emotions (instead of fighting them) is the key to moving forward
• How stillness and mindfulness create the mental capacity to scale your business
• The difference between scarcity energy and abundance energy—and why it matters for your bottom line

This is real talk about the mental game of entrepreneurship and why your mindset is just as important as your market knowledge.

Get in touch with Julissa here:

Instagram: @julissa.edwards_counseling

Email: julissaedwardscounseling@gmail.com

About Charleston's Leading Producers: Weekly conversations with the highest-producing real estate agents in Charleston. No fluff. No theory. Just proven strategies from agents doing 10, 15, even 20+ million in volume.