She's the CEO and Co-Founder of SKY Realty, a company that did $100 million in its first year in business. Prior to Sky she was the youngest woman to own an independent real estate company in Sarasota when she started Brandyn & Company.
What might be considered a subject not for publication is something Brandyn Herbold, CEO and Co-Founder of Sky Realty, is forthright about. Energetic, her youthful face appearing carefree, Brandyn took a self-imposed break this spring even as her company was, no pun intended, reaching to the sky.
Her story has a somewhat familiar ring to it: first, the successful business start up of Sky Realty in 2004. Prior to that she started and ran Brandyn & Company in 2002. Before that was her successful six-year stint at Michael Saunders & Company (another company known for its visionary founder, Michael Saunders). Sky grew to $100 million in 2004 its first full year in business—a feat she pulled off with her business partner, Chad Roffers. Brandyn & Company, in only two years of existence, produced $20 million in sales its first year.
But that meteoric success unfortunately couldn't shield her from genetics. Brandyn's mother has lived with PKD (a kidney disorder that causes cysts to form on the kidneys and affect their functioning) all her life. Brandyn knew she had it as well at age 17 when she found out that she had high blood pressure—this in spite of being an otherwise healthy student athlete. She mentally tucked the info away and got on with her life—college, a move to Florida, her start in real estate, the forming of her two companies and her marriage. A visit to a nephrologist (kidney specialist) at age 28 confirmed that her kidney function was dropping but life and career were calling her and taking all her attention.
But life caught up with her the past few years just when Sky Realty was taking off. She had one go round with bad health and fought—or rather—ignored it. A second, more recent bout with bad health wasn't something she could ignore anymore in spite of the demands of her business and a glittering real estate market. The long hours that go with start-ups didn't help either.
So, this spring she took a break from her business and simply stayed in her Laurel Park home. No laptop, no cell phone, no video conferencing. Chad and her staff filled in and Brandyn relaxed, ate healthy foods, walked, did yoga, slowed down. She also saw a specialist again and put herself on a carefully planned, medically-backed routine.
Looking back on that period in her life she is decidedly upbeat. In addition to the support she received from Chad and her staff, at home she has her husband, Rob Herbold, who works as a podiatrist in Sarasota. The couple met in Sarasota, introduced by a realtor no less. They married in 2002—the same month in fact that she started Brandyn & Company.
Her family—mother, father and two sisters—are all supportive. With her somewhat Jennifer Aniston resemblance and the big city look to her and her business, one might guess New York or perhaps LA, but Brandyn comes from a farming family in southern Indiana.
Driven? Compulsive? Actually, Brandyn might best be described as a quick study and a hard worker. But ask her if she's a “Type A” she's quick to firmly say, “No.” That's apparent in her choice of the queen of nice Oprah Winfrey as a CEO she admires.
Becoming reflective she adds, “I've always provided for myself and I've always been in survival mode. I set goals but I'm not a perfectionist.” Well then is she a risk-taker? Does that explain her rapid success? “I don't see it [starting a business] as a risk. I didn't have anything to lose.” Pausing after considering her just spoken words she adds, “Yeah, you know I would have to say I am a risk-taker.” But hard work played a big factor as well, as she pulled long hours typically starting at 8 and running through 6-6:30 (including Saturdays).
She and Chad, whom she met when they both worked at MS&C, are similar—hard working, visionary and good with people, but Chad enjoys and excels at budgets and forecasting. Brandyn taps into her creativity as seen in the design and look of the company from its distinctive ads, signage and office layout. Her design sense can also be seen in her home with its clean, contemporary lines. The company she and Chad designed is unique too. SKY is the only area real estate firm to offer employee ownership through stock options (other companies have since begun to offer the same benefit). Employees, all of whom are full-time, are all outfitted with BlackBerrys souped up with BES 4.0 that enables them to not only have internet email and text messaging on the road, but also full MLS access to post listings, answer requests, and make offers while in the field.
Sky's sleek office on Gulfstream Ave. is set for expansion in advance of bringing the company's number of brokers up to 50, up from 19. As for sales, a phenomenal 100% growth is projected.
The self-described “homebody”, perhaps harking back to her leaner years believes in “living modestly—below my means because it's simpler.” To that she quickly adds “and good health matters.” What could be a downer is something she accepts. Sure she has asked the heavens, “Why me? Why did I get this stupid disease? I'm now starting to see it as a gift. I look at what it was doing to me at age 32 and I'm seeing bigger things.” How's her health now after her four-week hiatus? “I feel great,” she enthuses and adds, “It's all about balance.”
STORY: Louise Bruderle
Source: West Coast Woman