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Our guest on this episode of the Leadership Under Fire: Humanizing the Narrative podcast is Capt Tim Young of the St. Johns County Fire Rescue Department in Florida. Captain Young is a 22-year veteran of the department and currently serves at Station 14, having previously been assigned to Station 10. An avid reader and lifelong student of the profession, he resides in St. Johns County with his family.
As AI changes how consumers search for homes and choose agents, are real estate professionals adapting fast enough to stay relevant? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Laura Jean Ranneklev. Laura Jean Ranneklev is the broker owner of RE/MAX Welcome Home, a marketing expert, and one of Northeast Florida's top performing real estate leaders. In this conversation, she shares her journey of opening a brokerage during a challenging market, navigating major industry changes, and embracing emerging technology to create opportunities for agents and clients alike. Laura dives deep into the growing impact of artificial intelligence in real estate, explaining how agents can use AI powered tools, blogging, video marketing, and hyperlocal content to build stronger brands and generate more business. She also discusses leadership, agent development, luxury marketing, and why staying involved with agents on a daily basis is critical for long term success. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, leave a review, and share this conversation with a real estate professional looking to leverage AI, marketing, and leadership to grow their business. HighlightsTop of FormBottom of Form 00:00–04:30 RE/MAX Transition, Real Merger & Brokerage Growth Choosing RE/MAX RE/MAX–Real Merger Franchise Launch Brokerage Rebranding Technology Evaluation 04:31–09:32 AI's Impact on Real Estate & Business Strategy ChatGPT & Claude AI Marketing Tools Business Strategy Prompt Engineering Future of AI 09:33–23:14 Marketing, Lifestyle Selling & Hyperlocal Content Lifestyle Marketing Buyer Avatars Video Content Blogging & SEO Hyperlocal Branding 23:15–35:42 Laura's Journey into Real Estate & Leadership Philosophy Move from New York Real Estate Career Start Brokerage Experience Agent Mentorship Leadership Development 35:43–42:00 Technology, Agent Support & Building a Modern Brokerage Agent Coaching Brokerage Culture RE/MAX Technology Real Integration Leadership by Example 42:01–01:09:20 Market Expertise, Farming & Client-Centered Selling Market Timing Durbin Crossing Success Geographic Farming Personal Branding Client Education Quotes: "If you would've asked me what's the one thing that motivates me right now, I would say AI." – Laura Jean Ranneklev "It really gets to know your personality, and then it's amazing the ideas that come back." – Laura Jean Ranneklev "I think being a leader that's involved, a leader that leads by example, is very important." – Laura Jean Ranneklev "It's not enough. If you're not going to use the tools that it can do, then it's just a static page." – Laura Jean Ranneklev To contact Laura Jean Ranneklev, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her website. Connect with Laura Jean Ranneklev! Website: https://www.REMAXwelcomehomeFL.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stjohnsflrealtorlaurajean/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnsflrealtorLAURAJEAN/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NorthFloridaRealEstate Connect with me! Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW as we discuss real estate excellence with the best of the best. #RealEstateExcellence #RealEstate #LauraJeanRanneklev #RealEstateExcellence #REMAX #REMAXWelcomeHome #RealEstateMarketing #AIForRealtors #ArtificialIntelligence #LuxuryRealEstate #BrokerOwner #RealEstateLeadership #RealEstateTechnology #HyperlocalMarketing #ContentMarketing #VideoMarketing #BloggingStrategy #FloridaRealEstate #StJohnsCounty #AgentSuccess #RealEstateGrowth #DigitalMarketing
Andrew Linn or ERA ONETEAM, discusses local real estate trends for buyers, sellers, and developers. Spring markets are typically "good markets" in the Duval, Clay, and St. Johns County areas, as far as increased permitting and new construction for single-family homes.
St. Johns County Fishing Pier to close tomorrow
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick and Kendell Hardwick joins us in studio!
Will St. Johns County decide the future of Data Centers?
A new investigation explores another in-custody death blamed on the jail's medical provider.
Wildfire smoke from Putnam County impacts St. Johns County
Cat advocates want St. Johns County to help neuter strays. Officials there want no part.
Jeanne Moeller with the Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County joins us in studio "This Evening"
Major fast food chain coming to St. Johns County
St. Johns County Visitors & Convention Bureau President Susan Phillips joins us!
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick joins us in studio!
Live Show Tuesday and Thursday, 3pm est.SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/drewberquistWEBSITE: https://AirItOutBro.com #DrewBerquist #Balls&Banter #BallsShow Notes/Links:Local story to start...A Family is suing youth sports organization in St.Johns County after kid hit in face at baseball tryoutshttps://sjcitizen.com/nocatee-family-sues-youth-sports-organization-after-kid-hit-with-fly-ball-during-tryouts/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHqAIYxWjHTG1djyCHp3zvHw0M38fcEeh97ZAa5IXGIUBHT5qOb9IuWPEi8TG_aem_1r6zddhZXDdGdIJQdnwTZgMichael Malone's reported average annual salary of $8.33 million would make him the second-highest paid coach in all of college basketball this seasonhttps://x.com/YahooSports/status/2041597181316989305?s=20Juke Harris from Wake Forest allegedly met with Michigan basketball https://x.com/CBBcontent/status/2041941648112767332?s=20 NCAA considering new eligibility rulinghttps://x.com/RossDellenger/status/2041852893934862368?s=20 Fernando Mendoza informs NFL he will NOT attend NFL drafthttps://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2041558894913142823?s=20Braves Introduce 7 inch burgerhttps://x.com/mlb/status/2041623463274696842?s=42Morning view from Bristolhttps://x.com/ItsBristolBaby/status/2041150346790105593?s=20Featured Groups that tee'd off today at The Masters https://x.com/TheMasters/status/2041546766718284075?s=20Frozen Four this weekendhttps://x.com/BarDown/status/2038431666239123489?s=20 Image Credits:© Katie Goodale-Imagn Images© Rodd Baxley/The Fayetteville Observer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
St. Johns County Clerk of the Courts Brandon Patty joins us in studio
St. Johns County Commissioner Ann Taylor joins us in studio!
Ryan Piersza, of the Coach Kirk Foundation, joins JMN to promote the Coach Kirk 5K at Beach Walk this weekend. He shares details on the legacy of the late Coach Jimmy Kirk, an ESE professional and multi-sport coach in St. Johns County. Register at "COACHKIRKLEGACY5K.ITSYOURRACE.COM," or search for Coach Kirk 5K on Facebook or Instagram.
Talking with the new recruit class of St. Johns County Fire Rescue
St. Johns County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst joins us to discuss the firefighter union impasse
It's the week's biggest headlines, from the attorney general's subpoena of a city employee to a costly panhandling lawsuit for St. Johns County taxpayers.
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick joins us in the studio
Firefighters Union declares impasse with St. Johns County
St. Johns County District 3 Commissioner Clay Murphy joins us in studio!
How much school lunch debt does St. Johns County owe?
Joy Andrews, St. Johns County Administrator, shares details about the $820 million infrastructure plans for the county, including road renovations, new regional fire safety services, improvements to utilities, and multiple recreational parks.
St. Johns County School Board District 2 Chair Tony Coleman joins us in studio!
How much does St. Johns County pay in taxes compared to the other counties?
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick joins us in studio!
St. Johns County Sheriff's Office had a busy day
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick joins us in studio!
St. Johns County Commission Sarah Arnold joins us in studio!
St. Johns County Clerk of the Courts Brandon Patty joins us in studio!
St. Johns County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst joins us to discuss St. Johns County Day
Chairman of the St. Johns County Veterans Council Bill Dudley joins us in studio!
What if the secret to your real estate breakthrough isn't a better market... but a better mindset? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Kaitlin Chernyshov. Kaitin shares how she went from uncertainty and switching seven brokerages to becoming one of Northeast Florida's top-producing agents. Despite working in what headlines call the worst real estate market in recent years, she has already closed over 40 homes and is tracking more than 20 million in sales for 2025. Kaitlin unpacks the mindset shift that sparked her explosive growth, her transition from buyer-heavy business to dominating listings, and the creative open house tactics that actually work. She also talks about starting her team at United Real Estate, hiring the right support, and building a business fueled almost entirely by referrals. Whether you're new to real estate or stuck in a rut, Kaitlin's story will show you what's possible when purpose meets strategy. Looking to reignite your real estate momentum? Follow Kaitlin Chernyshov on Instagram and TikTok. Then hit subscribe to the podcast for more proven growth strategies from real agents winning in today's market. Highlights: 00:00 – 08:25 Finding Direction in Real Estate Kaitlin introduces her seven-year journey Switching brokerages seven times Why she finally found her home at United Launching Market Makers team How she tripled her business in one year 08:26 – 17:03 Creating Open House Magic How she transitioned from 90 percent buyers to 70 percent listings Using open houses as conversion tools The Santa and Grinch event that led to a closing Turning a no-show open house into a double deal From open house guest to future team member 17:04 – 25:45 Scaling with Structure and Support Starting her own team within United Leading agents while maintaining production Hiring a transaction coordinator and social media help Shifting from solo hustling to systemized growth Building referrals from past clients 25:46 – 34:12 What Buyers and Sellers Need to Hear in 2025 Why waiting for rates might be a mistake Her own buying experience during high interest Advice for buyers on timing and equity Local market resilience in Jacksonville St. Johns County as a top family relocation spot 34:13 – 48:18 Mastering the Listing Side of Real Estate Overcoming seller hesitation with proof and data Turning expired listings around in under 30 days Smart staging on a budget How she communicates tough feedback to sellers Understanding what buyers want today 48:19 – 1:08:43 Mindset, Teams and Market Predictions When Kaitlin stopped stressing over her next deal Pre-listing inspections and preventing deal fallout What she looks for in a brokerage The social side of real estate success Why 2025 may shift from buyer to seller's market Quotes: "I treat every closing like it's my own and that's what makes the difference" – Kaitlin Chernyshov "When I stopped obsessing about where the next deal was coming from it all started to flow" – Kaitlin Chernyshov "People say open houses don't work I've sold over ten from them" – Kaitlin Chernyshov "You can be successful anywhere but the right environment accelerates everything" – Kaitlin Chernyshov To contact Kaitlin Chernyshov, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Connect with Kaitlin Chernyshov! Website: https://kaitlinchernyshov.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlinchernyshovrealestate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15jC681zA3/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/me?trk=p_mwlite_me_notifications-secondary_nav Connect with me! Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW as we discuss real estate excellence with the best of the best. #RealEstateExcellence #KaitlinChernyshov #RealEstatePodcast #ListingAgentTips #RealtorSuccess #MarketMakers #JacksonvilleRealEstate #StJohnsCountyHomes #WomenInRealEstate #RealEstateLeadership #RealtorLife #RealEstateStrategy #HomeSellingTips #ReferralBusiness #TopProducer #OpenHouseSuccess #RealEstateMarketing #NortheastFloridaHomes #RealEstateTeam #MindsetShift
St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes in studio this morning
Are you just buying a house, or are you investing in a lifestyle that matches your future? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes former middle school math teacher turned real estate agent, Jamie McLaughlin. Jamie shares her inspiring journey from the classroom to becoming a trusted realtor in St. Johns County, Florida. With deep roots in the community and a teacher's heart, Jamie brings patience, structure, and honesty to every transaction—serving not just clients, but building long-lasting relationships. Tracy dives into the challenges and strategies of selling in today's market—from handling CDD fees, insurance hurdles, and new construction pitfalls to emphasizing education-based buyer consultations and proper pricing for sellers. Jamie also reveals how her background as a mentor and volleyball coach influences her people-first approach. Whether it's pre-inspections, dealing with builders, or navigating complex buyer expectations, Jamie's approach is a masterclass in thoughtful, integrity-driven real estate. If you're a buyer or seller in Northeast Florida, take a cue from Jamie's playbook—partner with an agent who educates, advocates, and isn't afraid to speak the hard truths. Subscribe to the Real Estate Excellence podcast and share this episode with someone ready to make smarter real estate decisions! Highlights: 00:00 - 13:50 Jamie's Journey From Teacher to Realtor How Hurricane Andrew led Jamie to St. Johns County Teaching math and pivoting to real estate Marketing background and first job selling Suns tickets Bringing mentorship and coaching into real estate Building relationships that last beyond the transaction 13:51 - 24:00 Understanding the Real Buyer's Needs Asking the hard questions early in buyer consults CDD, HOA, and insurance costs affecting decisions Buying with long-term goals in mind New construction vs resale: planning ahead Helping military families make smarter buys 24:01 - 30:32 Expectation Management & Teaching the Process Using teaching experience to walk buyers through steps Contingencies, loan types, and offer strategy Repair issues and listing prep surprises When deals almost fall apart Importance of communication at every stage 30:33 - 36:00 New Construction Inspectors, Superintendents & Slab Surprises Hidden issues in new builds—plumbing nightmares Advocating for pre-slab, pre-drywall, pre-close inspections Value of a Realtor during construction Blue tape walkthroughs and designated “bad guy” role Real stories of builder mistakes caught just in time 36:01 - 44:16 The Seller Side Marketing, Staging & Strategy 60/40 split: Jamie's seller focus Pricing strategies based on timeline and comps Professional photos, video, and staging impact A real-world staging success story Helping sellers invest to gain more return 44:17 – 01:20:06 Navigating a Changing Market Trending real estate questions and hot takes Dealing with slow markets and higher inventory Buyer concessions, mortgage payment focus Why every buyer should interview their agent Emotional intelligence in negotiation and transaction Quotes: “If you don't like my style or beliefs, there's someone else out there—but I bring value in my time and what I offer.” – Jamie McLaughlin “I want to be your friend forever—not just your Realtor.” – Jamie McLaughlin “You sometimes have to spend money to make money. That's how I built my real estate career.” – Jamie McLaughlin “I can't stress enough how important inspections are—even for new construction.” – Jamie McLaughlin To contact Jamie McLaughlin, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Connect with Jamie McLaughlin! Website: https://www.jamiemclaughlin.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiemclaughlinrealtor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiemclaughlinrealtor YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamiemclaughlinrealtor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-mclaughlin-4a7a731a2/ Connect with me! Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW as we discuss real estate excellence with the best of the best. #RealEstateExcellence #StJohnsCounty #NortheastFloridaRealEstate #JamieMcLaughlin #HomeBuyingTips #RealEstatePodcast #NewConstructionHomes #RealtorLife #RealEstateStrategy #CDDFees #HOA #MortgageTips #BuyersAgent #SellersAgent #FloridaRealtor #RealEstateEducation #HomeSelling #StagingHomes #RealEstateInspection #RealEstateMentorship
MUSICWhile the cause of death of Limp Bizkit bassist Sam Rivers has yet to be determined, a spokesperson for the St. Johns County, Florida Fire Rescue tells TMZ they responded to a call for a "non-responsive person in cardiac arrest." https://www.tmz.com/2025/10/21/limp-bizkit-bassist-sam-rivers-911-heart-attack/?adid=braze-browser-notification Super Bowl Petition to Replace Bad Bunny With George Strait Gets More Than 55,000 Signatures. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin/super-bowl-petition-bad-bunny-george-strait-signatures-1235451259/ Two decades after someone started cybersquatting the Slipknot.com domain, the band has finally decided to sue the anonymous host. Guns n' Roses guitarist Richard Fortus has joined the lineup of guests on the Allman Betts Family Revival tour by The Allman Betts Band. It kicks off November 29th in St. Louis at The Factory.Maynard James Keenan's Puscifer will release a new album, Normal Isn't, on February 6th. Check out the first single "Self Evident" on YouTube. Keenan and the band will hit the road March 20th in Las Vegas, stopping in St. Louis on April 30, 2026, at The Factory as part of "The Normal Isn't Tour". Tickets go on sale Friday. https://www.thefactorystl.com/event/puscifer/ This is interesting – do you know what the FIRST country music video played on MTV was?Dwight Yoakam's "Honky Tonk Man" in 1986. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBlc2FN99is Over the weekend Kenny Chesney, June Carter Cash, and Tony Brown were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Here is Kenny's speech during the ceremony. TVBryant Gumbel, the veteran journalist who co-hosted Today for 15 years and anchored Real Sports, was taken by ambulance Monday night from his New York City apartment following what his family described as a medical emergency, TMZ reports. https://www.tmz.com/2025/10/21/bryant-gumbel-hospitalized-nyc/ Ben Stiller Donates Parents' Career Archive to National Comedy Center. The announcement arrives ahead of the Apple TV+ release of Stiller's new doc, Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, about his parent's lives together. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/ben-stiller-donates-parents-archive-national-comedy-center-1235451886/ HBO Max didn't even warn customers about its latest price hike. https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/hbo-max-prices-increases-plans-2025-1236557671/MOVING ON INTO MOVIE NEWS:A24, the independent film studio behind hits like 'Uncut Gems' and 'The Brutalist', has now entered a new industry, opening a restaurant in New York City's Cherry Lane Theatre. https://www.foodbeast.com/news/a24s-first-ever-restaurant-looks-like-a-scene-from-one-of-its-films/ AND FINALLY If you thought we were gonna stop shoving Halloween down your throat, you thought WRONG. Today we have a list of the 25 best ZOMBIE movies, courtesy of Empire Online. https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-zombie-movies/ AND THAT IS YOUR CRAP ON CELEBRITIES!Follow The Rizzuto Show @rizzshow on all your favorite social media, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and more. Connect with The Rizzuto Show online at 1057thepoint.com/RizzShowSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
St. Johns County decides against joining statewide lawsuit over development law
St. Johns County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst joins us in studio!
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick joins us in studio!
New state development law facing major backlash in St. Johns County
St. Johns County approves 2026 Budget and Magic Beach Motel Closes
What would change in your business if you treated time as your most valuable commodity and priced every hour accordingly? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with luxury agent and team leader Gail DeMarco. Gail drops the polite filter and lays out how she built a near billion in lifetime sales by staying lean, obsessing over data, and designing a brand that shows up everywhere. From four open houses every weekend to hyper-focused farming and YouTube consistency, she explains exactly how she creates momentum in new markets and turns listings into market share. The conversation digs into hiring for coachability, running a tight listing operation, delegating fast, and engineering deals with assumable loans and lender-powered rate buydowns. It is an unvarnished masterclass on standards, time discipline, and creative structure in a tough market, capped with faith-driven leadership and straight talk on saying no to bad fits. If this episode pushed you to tighten your standards and reclaim your calendar, share it with one agent who needs a wake-up call and DM us the one change you will make this week. Highlights: 0:00-5:59 Numbers that make you sit up Why she is in the business of real estate not just a realtor Team goal: everyone should out-earn the leader 2023 production 389M team, 80M personal Lean teams beat big teams, people get lost Expect scar tissue and weekly tears on the climb 10:00-13:00 Branding that actually moves property Name recognition as the north star, top of mind wins listings Premium signage and consistent open house experience Compliance first, even with team branding Treat 450k and multi-million the same, remove ego Hospitality touches: Fiji water, booklets, consistency 15:51-19:59 Mailers metrics and momentum Four-page data-driven mailers co-op with lender Pull the plug when the farm does not pencil, like a stock Proof of everywhere affects community recognition Give to the community and spend to make money YouTube surge from 400 to 67k with consistency 20:20-22:20 Hyper-focus and the price of time Farm a few micro-markets deeply Co-list luxury so you can be everywhere the listing needs Signs concentrate perception: you sell everything here Time is the most valuable commodity, price your hours If it is not on calendar, it is a no, including Pilates conflicts 52:20-1:00:37 Delegate to elevate and operational excellence If it is not income producing, do not do it Pay a premium TC to keep you out of real estate jail Contact sport: get off the modules and host more opens Role play Breakfast Club for objections When to spend three hundred monthly or get a part-time job 1:01:48-1:07:14 Creative deals, lenders, and the close Advertise payment, not price: buydowns beat reductions Assumable loans open doors with patience on closing Competing with builders: incentives and differentiation Say no to listings that cannot appraise or perform Closeout lender love and episode wrap Quotes: “I am not a realtor I am in the business of real estate.” – Gail DeMarco “I want everyone on my team to make more money than me that is my goal.” – Gail DeMarco “Your most valuable commodity is your time.” – Gail DeMarco “You have to delegate to elevate.” – Gail DeMarco To contact Gail DeMarco, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and LinkedIn. Connect with Gail DeMarco! Website: https://www.movetostjohnsfl.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relentlessrealtor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gail.d.demarco/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivinginStJohnsStJohnsCountyFL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaildemarco/ Connect with me! Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW as we discuss real estate excellence with the best of the best. #RealEstateExcellence #GailDeMarco #LuxuryRealEstate #ListingAgent #RealEstateBranding #OpenHouses #YouTubeForAgents #RealEstateCoach #TimeManagement #DelegateToElevate #AssumableLoans #RateBuydown #LenderPartner #FarmingStrategy #MailersThatWork #PonteVedra #Rivertown #Over55Communities #eXpRealty #RealEstateMindset
St. Johns County tax rate falls by 904 Now
St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews joins us in studio!
St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick in studio this morning
St. Johns County Marine Rescue joins us in studio!
St. Johns County Cultural Council unveils its new heritage trail, inviting visitors to explore centuries of Black history in St. Augustine and surrounding communities.
We check in with Jacksonville Today beat reporter Noah Hertz about what's happening in the state's fastest growing coastal county.