Working for All
Filipino native Jona Flores, 29, immigrated to the U.S. when she was 7. Her mother worked two jobs to make ends meet. In college, Flores was drawn to business classes. She joined her team in 2016 to focus on first-time buyers. “I want to be a leader for those who have a mountain of obstacles to get through,” she says. Now Flores manages the 15-member team, focusing on training and personal development. This includes self-care—the team practices meditation and yoga. Flores digs into local housing data and interprets it for each client’s needs, even amid tight inventory. She can be found wiping down windows or shoveling sidewalks at listings. Last summer, after the civil unrest in Minneapolis, she led a fundraising drive to support the community. “I’m in the LGBTQ community. There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re wrong for being yourself,” she says. “Our team embraces differences and diversity.”