In Good Company: The People of MSRE – Rachel Alles

By Mark Spain Real Estate

Rachel Alles serves as the Director of Sales for our Charlotte team. She was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia and got her Bachelor of Mass Communication and Business Management from the University of Charleston. In 2001, she met her husband, both working with the same company. Their next move was: a beautiful home, kids and to live near a lake. We are so thrilled to highlight Rachel Alles and her talents.

What makes the Charlotte market special, Rachel Alles?

Charlotte’s growth is amazing and ever changing. There is something for everyone: great shopping, art, culture, museums, diverse restaurants, nightlife and awesome public transportation. Boutique neighborhoods are found all across Charlotte each with their own unique vibe making it really easy to find a special place for anyone and everyone. Noda, Midwood, South End, Dilworth, Plaza Hills and Villa Heights are just some of the in-town neighborhoods that scratch the surface of a robust and diversified market.

How long have you been involved in real estate?

I started in new construction with Centex Homes and loved it. Afterwards, I went on to work with M/I Homes as a Sales Manager and Strategic Marketing Specialist. I loved the strategy and the creativity of marketing! Later on, as my kids grew, I knew I wanted more free time and the ability to dictate my own schedule. So I pursued sales again, later becoming a Director of Sales. I have now been involved in the real estate industry for over 15 years!

Why Mark Spain Real Estate?

Mark Spain Real Estate is not a traditional real estate company. I love the passion and the forward-thinking from everyone on our team. It’s amazing that they are involved in the community and want to make an impact. The culture is incredible and when you walk through the doors of Mark Spain Real Estate, it feels like home. We are a team of innovators, and it’s awesome to see how we are shaking things up in the industry. It feels like the Google of real estate. It’s like what Amazon did to bookstores and what Uber did to taxis. I love disruption and change and couldn’t wait to get involved.

Why do you lead? What do you like about leading others?

There’s nothing like seeing someone succeed as a result of you helping them get there. I love leading and helping my team grow and reach their goals. It is an amazing feeling seeing someone reach a level of success they didn’t imagine prior. Setting people up for success is something I love. Whether it is major or minute, that “aha” moment is special to be a part of.

What types of individuals do you look for when hiring for your team?

Ultimately I look for someone that will be a great fit. Their values need to align with our culture and they need to have a fire in their belly. I want somebody with that “x” factor that has the “failure is not an option” mentality. They have to fit first. Sales skills can be learned. When I’m meeting with candidates, I don’t want it to feel like an interview. I want to have a conversation and really learn about them. Our people truly come first and I want that to come across.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

Community is very important to me, and I have volunteered my entire life. I love the client-focused and community forward culture at Mark Spain Real Estate. Making an impact in the community and volunteering with my team as well as creating an environment where people can’t wait to come to work is something I look forward to. I want to build a culture where it doesn’t feel like a job and where our team wants to lift each other up. Friendly competition is important and accountability is helpful, but ultimately I want to build a team where we are able to elevate everyone’s strengths.

What are your passions in life outside of work?

I am a big runner. This past February, I ran my first half marathon with some of my best friends at Disney. After that, I got the running bug. My next half marathon is in December and I know this is just the beginning. I don’t love running but I love races. Not only that, I have a very creative side. I love photography, graphic design and digital scrapbooking.

My two kids, Madeline and Maxwell, and my husband, Doug, are so important to me, and our family just loves to be together. Whether it is traveling to someplace tropical or watching a movie in our bonus room, we just like that time together. My husband and I realized early on how quickly our children are growing and want the quality time to count. We also have three dogs we love (Gracie, Lucy and Lola), a fish named DJ and a turtle named Goofy.

Favorite quote:

“She believed she could so she did.” – R.S. Grey

This quote emphasizes how it’s all mental. If you believe you can do it, you can. Don’t let your mind be a roadblock. Make it a strength!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

My family and I are truly so happy where we are now. We love the lake and there’s nothing that we don’t have available to us where we live. We get all four seasons, are not far from beach and are not far from mountains.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you travel?

I want to visit every Disney park in the world. I love amusement parks and rides and no one does them like Disney. It’s magical. The first time I ever went was in middle school and at that time I thought it was too crowded. I went back and took the kids and they hated it, but I fell in love. I’ve been back every year for the past six years, and I’ve already been twice this year. I’m only a morning person at Disney. My favorite park is Hollywood Studios. I just love the creativity – no detail is missed. Their theming is second to none.

Favorite food:

I love Mexican food. Queso and guacamole just feel like comfort food, and tacos and enchiladas are my favorite.

From the team:

“Rachel Alles is a natural leader. Her experience, market knowledge and ability to remove obstacles for the team is the perfect combination needed for this role. Rachel embodies our mission, vision and values, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her leading this team!” – Heather Pitts

“Everybody here in Charlotte is really looking forward to getting to know Rachel Alles and working with her. With her knowledge and experience, we all look at it as an opportunity for us all to reach our potential as individuals and as a team.” – Koji Krzywoscz

“I am so excited to work with Rachel Alles. She has an outstanding reputation in the market, and her attention to detail is perfect to help all of us fast-paced Charlotte mover and shakers.” – Suzi Schoonmaker

Interested in joining the MSRE team and working with people like Rachel Alles? Click here.

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Mark Spain Real Estate is grateful to serve all of Metro Atlanta and Athens in Georgia, Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina, Orlando and Tampa in Florida, and Nashville in Tennessee!