.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} You worked with Grubb & Ellis/Mid-America Commercial for 10 years. Was it a tough transition?

Yes and no. When I was at Mid-America, I generated all my own business. Nothing came into me from the company. Other than sign calls, I generated everything I did myself. Once you do that successfully, then you’ve got a base of people you can do multiple transactions with. I used to work all over the state, not just the Des Moines market. Hopefully, my statewide experience will benefit Denny Elwell by bringing more outside business into the company.

You had a lot of options. What led you to Denny Elwell Co.?

I’ve known Denny for 30 years. I knew everybody in the office and had experience working with them before. I really hadn’t thought of them. When you’ve been around as long as I have, I had a lot of calls and a lot of offers. When Chris Murray called me … the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. It’s a small office. They gave me everything I wanted. And let me do whatever I want. And it’s very comfortable here.

Have there been many new opportunities?

Absolutely. If you look around Ankeny, how many Denny Elwell signs do you see? A lot. So there are ground opportunities, there are retail opportunities. They have lots of product. There is always something to work on.

What is your specialty?

I do some leasing, putting tenants in strip centers like you see here on Delaware Avenue. But a lot of what I do is land sales to retail users. Menards is my biggest client; I’ve done seven new stores with them. That’s been good for Linda. I learned a lot, gained a lot of credibility. I’ve done several McDonald’s stores throughout the state. Those are the kinds of relationships that I have.

How did you get your start?

I had my real estate license early on even though I didn’t really have a real estate career at the time. I got my real estate license as a fluke. I had a friend who was a receptionist in this small real estate office in Highland Park. The broker there said to both of us, “Why don’t you two get your real estate license?” So we did, with no intention of going to work, really. Anyway, I started selling residential and did very well at it. The first week I was in the office, I sold a house for $30,000 in Waukee.

Tell me something surprising about yourself.

I love NASCAR. A lot of people don’t know that. When we opened the Menards store on Southeast 14th Street, John Menard, who at that time was racing Indy cars, brought Tony Stewart and Robbie Buhl to the grand opening. I didn’t know anything about racing. I was amazed that the fans stood in lines for hours to get their autographs. So I decided if I’m going to work with these people I had better watch a race. I loved it.

What do you do for fun?

I always have a home improvement project going on. I’m anxious to do a little gardening when the weather is nice. When you own a house, you always have something to do and I enjoy that. I’m an avid reader of recorded books. I don’t have time to sit down and hold a book, but I’m in a car a lot, working all over the state.