Trust matters in real estate because every transaction involves more than paperwork. It involves money, timing, uncertainty, and often a meaningful change in someone’s life. This list recognizes professionals who have built their careers on consistency, honesty, care, and a willingness to stay involved.
Across their careers, these agents put people first. Some focus on education, taking time to explain the market and guide clients through important decisions. Others draw on experience in construction, investment, land, waterfront properties, and complex transactions to help clients navigate unfamiliar details. What connects them is a belief that good service begins with listening, clear communication, and understanding what matters to each client.
Their experience is also reflected in relationships that continue beyond the transaction. Clients return for advice and recommendations, while friends and family refer them because people remember how they were treated.
Their commitment extends beyond individual transactions. Some support their communities, serve professional organizations, help families in need, or educate the public. Others have spent decades navigating changing markets while maintaining a steady, client-focused approach.
Together, their stories offer a grounded picture of what trust in real estate looks like: something earned patiently through honest guidance, thoughtful attention, and showing up when people need it most.
David Belman: The Builder Who Never Left the Room
In southeastern Wisconsin, where trust is earned over time, David Belman has spent more than 30 years learning real estate from the inside out. A second-generation builder, developer, and REALTOR®, he grew up with the family business and built a career that bridges construction and real estate. He has served as president of both his local and state builders associations, sits on the Leadership Committee of the National Association of Home Builders, and hosts the Home Building Hero podcast, which has been downloaded more than 470,000 times by people looking for practical advice on building and real estate.
David does not separate the building side of his career from the selling side. While many agents hand off the complex parts of a transaction, he stays involved, helping clients purchase land, navigate subdivisions, coordinate new construction, and manage multiple transactions at once. Many of his clients are downsizing after years in the family home. "Most of my clients want a smaller, higher-quality home with less to maintain," he said, and he works carefully to make those transitions as seamless as possible.
His honors include Wisconsin Builders Association Builder of the Year (2021), induction into the Wisconsin Builders Hall of Fame (2024), and recognition as a Wisconsin Titan 100 (2026). Through Operation Finally Home, he has helped deliver six mortgage-free homes to wounded veterans and first responders. With more than 65 percent of his business coming from repeat clients, the trust he has earned speaks for itself.
Bri and Mike Skog: Two Wisconsin Agents Proving That Trust Still Comes First
In Wisconsin, where buying or selling a home is often one of life's biggest decisions, two real estate professionals are proving that trust remains the foundation of lasting success.
Briana M Skog has built her career around a simple belief: people should always come before sales. As co-owner of Skog Real Estate Team, she focuses on creating long-term relationships through honest communication, education, and genuine care. After launching the team as an independent brokerage in 2026, Bri gained the flexibility to tailor every client's experience rather than follow a one-size-fits-all approach. "We guide them step by step through the process so they feel confident and informed rather than overwhelmed," she said. Her broader vision also includes supporting homeowners beyond the transaction through partnerships that extend long after closing day.
Mike Skog has spent nearly a decade earning the trust of buyers and sellers across South Central Wisconsin: Dane, Rock, Green, and Jefferson Counties. A licensed agent since 2016 and broker since 2023, he has consistently ranked among the top performers in his local MLS. Mike credits his results to disciplined pricing, honest market advice, and a work ethic he traced back to his years coaching wrestling and football. “I attribute my success to always doing right by my clients,” he said. That philosophy has built lasting relationships, with clients continuing to reach out years after closing for local recommendations and straightforward advice. Mike has built the kind of loyalty that only comes from being told the truth, even when it isn't what someone wants to hear.
Bri and Mike built Skog Real Estate Team the same way they built their life in South Central Wisconsin: one relationship at a time. Bri, a lifelong resident of the region, and Mike whose work ethos was forged by coaching, share a single conviction that runs through every deal. Trust is the whole job. The proof is in who keeps calling. Years after closing, their clients still turn to them as their go-to experts and send friends and family their way, because a referral isn’t something you ask for. It’s something you earn by doing right by people, every time.
Mike Schlichte: Straight Talk and Steady Work in Greater Wausau
In a market where trust takes longer to build than a transaction takes to close, Mike Schlichte has spent the better part of two decades doing the slow, patient work of earning it. A real estate professional since 2005 and a broker since 2013, Mike serves Greater Wausau, helping clients buy and sell residential homes, recreational land, waterfront properties, new construction, and the occasional commercial property.
Since joining First Weber Realtors in 2011, he has consistently ranked among the top 10 percent for sales volume within his local MLS. That success has been built largely on repeat clients and referrals, the kind that come only from doing the work well and treating people fairly.
Asked what has carried him through changing market conditions, Mike points to a simple discipline. "I contribute my success, even in the most challenging market conditions, to a straightforward but disciplined approach: ensuring the right product is matched with the right price," he said. To him, pricing is about understanding the market honestly rather than chasing an unrealistic number. And none of it works without good old-fashioned hard work.
Mike's service does not end at the closing table. Years later, clients still reach out for contractor recommendations, local restaurant suggestions, or advice about the community, and he is always happy to help. Within First Weber, he has earned Legend status for more than ten consecutive years of exceptional sales performance. Outside of work, he and his wife, Christine, enjoy life on their 40-acre homestead outside Wausau with their growing family. For Mike, however, the most meaningful measure of success is the trust that keeps clients coming back long after the paperwork is signed.
Amy Sprengel: Leading With People in a Business Built on Transactions
Amy Sprengel serves buyers and sellers across Southeastern Wisconsin as co-owner of RE/MAX Forward and leader of the Sprengel Real Estate Group. In an industry that often moves quickly and can feel impersonal, she has built her business on something slower and more intentional: putting people before transactions.
"I disrupt the industry by choosing to lead with people first, not transactions first," she said. Rather than relying on sales tactics or pressure, Amy has built her approach around trust, education, and genuine relationships. She is known as a strong negotiator and problem solver, but she believes no client should ever feel like just another file. "Every client has a different story, and I believe the experience should be tailored to their goals, their concerns, and their future," she said.
Many clients come to Amy feeling overwhelmed, unsure about timing, pricing, or how to make the right move without an expensive mistake. Her team combines local market knowledge, thoughtful strategy, and consistent communication so clients feel supported from beginning to end.
Amy co-owns REMAX Forward with Carrie Bluel. Since opening the brokerage in October 2023, they have expanded into Mukwonago and surrounding communities while building a culture centered on collaboration, integrity, and service. "We took an idea, turned it into a brokerage, built a strong culture, and proved that there is room in this industry for something both high-performing and deeply people-centered," she said. That commitment to people, more than any sales milestone, is what continues to earn clients' trust and keep them coming back.
Christina Weitzel: Building Trust One Neighbor at a Time
In a small Wisconsin town where neighbors still know each other by name, Christina Weitzel has been helping shape what real estate can look like when it is done with care since 2018. Working with RE/MAX in Mineral Point, she helps buyers, sellers, investors, and business owners find spaces that fit the lives they want to build.
Her path did not begin in a corporate office. Christina has been self-employed her entire adult life, including years running a successful jewelry business that taught her the value of listening carefully, following through, and paying attention to the details. She is also the mother of three and the wife of a small business owner, so she understands firsthand what it means to search for a home that fits a busy, ever-changing life.
When she entered real estate, few agents in her area were using video to educate clients. She began creating short videos that explained real estate topics in plain language, and she has continued producing them ever since. "Those videos have become a valuable resource for consumers," she said.
Christina has served on her local Chamber board for more than six years and sits on a business task force dedicated to attracting new businesses to the area. "I'm not just selling homes," she said. "I'm helping shape the community I live in."
That commitment extends beyond every closing. With each transaction, Christina donates to a nonprofit, a family in need, or another meaningful cause, often one chosen by her client. Along the way, she has been honored with the RE/MAX Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association Good Neighbor Award. For her, however, success is measured just as much by the community she helps strengthen as the homes she helps people buy and sell.
Kathryn Conard: The Broker Who Knows the Northwoods by Heart
Kathryn Conard is the Broker of Venture North Real Estate Co., serving buyers and sellers throughout Wisconsin's Northwoods, including Marinette, Oconto, and the surrounding counties. Her connection to the region began long before her real estate career. Her family has owned property in the Northwoods for generations, and that lifelong connection shapes the way she understands both the communities and the properties that make this part of Wisconsin unique.
Kathryn works with clients buying and selling waterfront homes, vacation properties, cabins, land, and local businesses. She believes that real estate here is rarely just a transaction. Sellers may be saying goodbye to a cabin that has been in the family for generations, while buyers may be pursuing a long-held dream of a quieter way of life. She keeps that perspective at the center of every transaction.
"I believe what makes me different in this industry is that I focus heavily on relationships, communication, and educating my clients, not just completing transactions," she said. Many clients come to her unsure where to begin or uncertain about what their property is worth. "My role is to guide them through that process with honesty, communication, and education so they feel informed and confident every step of the way."
Much of Venture North's growth has come through referrals and repeat clients, supported by a team Kathryn describes as among the most respected in the local market. With a second office planned, the brokerage continues to grow while staying rooted in the values that built it. For Kathryn, every transaction is ultimately about helping people care for a place that has been part of her own family's story for generations.
KerryAnn Douglas: The Agent Who Puts Education Before the Pitch
For two decades and half, KerryAnn Douglas has represented buyers and sellers across Southeastern Wisconsin. At RE/MAX Forward, she has built her career on a simple belief: informed clients make better decisions. She is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame, has been recognized as a Five Star Professional in Milwaukee Magazine for nearly twenty years, and holds credentials including Accredited Buyer's Representative, Pricing Strategy Advisor, and Certified Distressed Property Expert. Yet those achievements are not what she leads with when meeting a new client. She leads with honesty.
KerryAnn would rather explain the reasoning behind a decision than rush someone toward signing. "I consistently lean into honesty, education, and experience over hype," she said. That philosophy has shaped the way she has worked with clients throughout her career.
Not every transaction is straightforward. Some involve foreclosures or short sales, while others are tied to divorce, estate settlements, or other major life changes. Her specialized training has prepared her for those situations, and much of her experience has been helping clients in the most competitive segments of the market, where skilled negotiation, creative problem-solving, and careful attention to detail can make all the difference. "I advocate for my clients and get them to the finish line on their terms," she said.
Her commitment to clients has earned her the Five Star Legend Award, recognizing years of consistent client satisfaction, and she also serves on her local professional standards committee. Outside of real estate, she enjoys volleyball, brunch with friends, and live concerts. Whether the transaction is simple or complex, clients know they can expect straightforward advice, steady guidance, and someone who puts their interests ahead of the sale.
Rooted in Western Wisconsin: Joe Kress on Home, Business, and Knowing the Territory
Joe Kress is the Broker and Owner of Kress Real Estate Solutions. He has worked in real estate since 2017 and has reached Multi-Million Dollar Producer status every year since then.
A lifelong resident of Western Wisconsin, Joe has deep personal and professional ties to the communities he serves. He works, raises his family, and spends his free time in the same area where he helps clients buy, sell, and invest. That firsthand knowledge gives him a practical understanding of the towns, neighborhoods, and lifestyles that matter when clients are moving into the region or relocating within it.
Joe works across residential, commercial, and investment real estate, with an approach centered on finding solutions that fit each client's goals. "Residential real estate is not just about finding a house," he said. "It's about helping you discover the right place to create a home."
For Joe, being a real estate professional means being more than a realtor. He sees himself as a partner in the process, willing to put in the extra effort to help clients get things done.
Outside of real estate, Joe enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, particularly golfing, camping, hunting, and fishing. His personal connection to Western Wisconsin is reflected in both his lifestyle and his work, and his slogan says it simply: Joe Knows Real Estate.
Pat Tasker: Trust Built One Move at a Time in Southeastern Wisconsin
Since 1989, Pat Tasker has guided buyers and sellers through every type of market Southeastern Wisconsin has experienced, from booming markets to uncertain ones. Based with Shorewest Realtors, she serves Germantown, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee, Richfield, Jackson, Mequon, and surrounding communities. Over the course of her career, she has helped more than 1,860 families and surpassed $279 million in sales, though she is quick to point out that the numbers are not what matter most. The people behind them are.
Today, much of Pat's business comes from repeat clients, referrals, and even the children of past clients who are now buying homes of their own. Known locally as Your Local Market Expert, she has earned that trust through consistency, honest communication, and the belief that real estate should always be personal.
Pat entered the profession looking for a career where success depended on her own effort. "I knew I could count on myself," she said. She stayed because she realized that people making some of life's biggest financial decisions deserved knowledgeable, ethical guidance. That commitment led her to earn advanced designations in negotiation, contracts, ethics, senior housing, and other areas of the profession.
Many of her clients are navigating major life changes, whether a new job, a divorce, or the decision to downsize. "I help simplify the process and replace confusion with clarity," she said. Along the way, she has been recognized as Wisconsin Residential Specialist of the Year and received the Raymond A. Marotte Award, an honor voted on by her fellow REALTORS®. After beginning her career in 1989, however, she still measures success the same way she always has: by the clients who come back and the families who confidently recommend her to the next generation.
Summary
Real estate decisions can carry significant financial and personal weight, making dependable guidance especially important. Across their markets, these professionals have built their careers around clear communication, honest advice, and steady support rather than pressure or sales tactics.
Their approaches vary, but the values behind their work are consistent. Some bring decades of experience in residential real estate, construction, land, waterfront properties, investments, and complex transactions. Others place greater emphasis on education, helping clients understand the market and feel informed when making important decisions. Listening carefully, communicating clearly, and treating people fairly remain central to their work.
That commitment often continues long after a transaction. Past clients return for recommendations, community advice, and guidance, while referrals from former clients and their families have become an important part of several careers.
Their contributions also extend beyond individual clients. Some serve professional organizations, educate the public, support local businesses, or contribute to families and community causes.
Together, their careers show how trust is earned over time: through honest guidance, thoughtful attention, consistent communication, and a genuine willingness to help. It is a simple approach, but one that has kept clients coming back, referring others, and building lasting relationships along the way.
An Indo-American News website. It covers Gossips, Politics, Movies, Technolgy, and Sports News and Photo Galleries and Live Coverage of Events via Youtube. The website is established in 2015 and is owned by AGK FIRE INC.
This website uses cookies.
