Stephanie Chapman
LEADER OF THE MONTH
WRITTEN BY ZACH COHEN | PHOTOS BY SHAWNA MCDUFFIE WITH PEAK RES
COMING HOME
“It’s not about selling houses; it’s about who we become while we are here.”
Stephanie Chapman’s story begins in Long Beach, California. While Stephanie spent most of her formative years in California, her father was in the Navy, and, like many military families, they moved often. She went to a different school every year until she landed in Norman, OK.
After Stephanie's father retired from the Navy, he moved to Albuquerque, NM, and began a career in real estate. He built a successful business and eventually opened a brokerage of his own.
Stephanie built a successful career in corporate sales, working in the interiors industry in San Diego and, later, Chicago. Year after year, her father would ask her to join him in business in New Mexico. Stephanie declined many times over, but after the shocking events of 9/11, her tone changed.
“I had been in commercial interiors sales for 20 years, and after 9/11, I think many of us looked closer at our lives and reevaluated where we were and where we wanted to be. It had been a long time since I lived near family, and it really seemed like the time was right.”
So, in January 2002, Stephanie packed up her life and relocated to Albuquerque. Three days later, she began real estate school.
Coming Home
In New Mexico, Stephanie built a successful real estate career.
“I loved helping people make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives,” she says. “It was rewarding, not only financially, but I knew my heart was happier in this industry.”
She was first contacted by Keller Williams in 2007, and over the next several years, she spent a good deal of time attending their training sessions, masterminds, and events. Yet, she wasn’t interested in joining the company.
“I would say, ‘I’m not leaving my Dad.’ They never pressured me.”
Stephanie eventually became the broker of her father’s company. Her dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and passed away in April 2010.
“It was then I realized that I didn’t move to Albuquerque to sell homes. I moved to be with my father through the last months and days of his life.”
Stephanie’s friends and colleagues at Keller Williams continued to support her. In 2011, she made the decision to move to KW, taking most of her team with her.
“I went through all the assessments and was asked to lead that office of 117 agents. Over the next few years, we grew to 248 agents and had held the number one spot in market share.”
Stephanie’s parents divorced when she was young, and her mother had moved to Norman, Oklahoma (where Stephanie attended high school). While Stephanie returned to California, her mom and two sisters never left Oklahoma. After her father passed away, Stephanie and her husband realized they wanted to be closer to family. She reached out to the regional office in Oklahoma, and within six weeks, there was an opening. Shortly after, she was welcomed as the team leader of KW Mulinix in Norman, the position she continues to hold today.
Words of Wisdom
Stephanie’s journey has been winding. There have been highs and lows, but through it all, she’s gained a tremendous wealth of knowledge and friendship. She has two grown children, and she’s been married to her husband, Tony, for 19 years.
“My life wasn’t easy,’ Stephanie says bluntly. “I made some bad decisions and choices, and while it was hard, I am certain it helped me be more resilient than if I hadn’t gone through it. I have a strong work ethic, and I bring my heart and soul to everything I do. I may not be the smartest one in the room, but I will bet I will be the one to give it my all, everything I have in me, to make a difference.
“I don’t know if words can truly express my heart. My business is to help agents get to where they want to go, in business and in life. I choose optimism and enthusiasm every single day. I love the people I serve, and every day I want to make a difference in their lives. I want to have a positive impact on them and want them to know they matter to me, each and every one of them.”
