“I brought a different generation’s perspective to the market, particularly about the necessity for technology.”
Klopfer got into real estate to help her mother, Marty Ackermann, out of a jam. Ackermann, a practitioner for more than 30 years, had an assistant quit. So Klopfer, who had recently graduated from college and planned to attend law school, agreed to help for a short period. Six years later, she’s running the Ackermann team as broker-owner of a RE/MAX franchise and serving as president of an association of Central Ohio RE/MAX franchisees. Her sales volume last year was $8 million.
Warm welcome: From the outset, seasoned colleagues have treated her as a protégé rather than a competitor. “They take each deal as a mentoring opportunity,” says a grateful Klopfer. “I can call them with questions about deals, and they’re happy to help me.”
Ten years from now: She dreams of a 40-hour work week rather than her current 80 hours a week so she has time to start a family. But meeting that goal will be a challenge since she’s working as a broker, selling property, and participating in community service activities. Still, she’s glad her original career plans were sidetracked. “I probably would’ve ended up in real estate anyway, but I would have lost three years of experience,” she says.