Joe and Cindy Welu both turned to real estate, but their paths \u2013 while intertwined \u2013 were their own.<\/p>\n
While serving in the Army National Guard for eight years as a communications specialist, Cindy Welu \u2013 then Cindy Hanson \u2013 completed her degree in public relations and entered the banking and marketing fields.<\/p>\n
With three small children, however, Cindy needed a more flexible career. \u201cI had the background in marketing; I enjoyed looking at homes, so I took a gamble on a new career.\u201d<\/p>\n
With his degree in marketing and international business, Joe entered the corporate world as a sales representative. \u201cI liked the idea of having my own business without someone else determining my business and income potential,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n
With relatives in the building industry, discussions naturally turned to real estate. From there, everything seemed to click into place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always felt like a leader,\u201d Joe said. \u201cFrom my DECA team to my fraternity to my sales team, I enjoyed helping others find their fit and work together toward success.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is with that trait that Joe and Cindy set out to launch the Joe and Cindy Team, now the JCT Group, in 2004.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had concerns about entering business together, of course,\u201d Cindy said. \u201cWe are both a little type A and like to call the shots, so working together and letting go of some of that control was a concern at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was 11 years ago. \u201cI attribute our success to our ability to recognize our strengths and weaknesses and to balance them,\u201d Cindy said. \u201cWe are both strategizers and thinkers, but Joe is the implementer \u2013 the action taker. I am more of the detail and quality control one. He creates the big picture from our idea and I break it down and perfect it as best as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the two set out to build their business, they knew they would face challenges. And, as a husband-and-wife team, they knew their challenges wouldn\u2019t be checked at the office door.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one will care about your business as much as you do,\u201d Cindy said. \u201cRealizing that is tough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOwning your own business isn\u2019t easy,\u201d Joe said. \u201cThere is a reason not everyone can do it, especially in a business like real estate where if you don\u2019t sell, you don\u2019t make money. You have to wear many hats as an agent and owner; you need to be able to prioritize. Because like Cindy said, when it\u2019s your business and you care about it \u2013 everything tends to be a priority and sometimes you can chase your own tail or spin in circles trying to handle too much at once. We\u2019ve both fallen into that trap and feel we\u2019ve worked our butts off without accomplishing anything because we spread ourselves too thin.\u201d<\/p>\n
While it isn\u2019t easy, The Welus will admit that since they\u2019ve gone on their own the fulfillment and the success has outweighed any challenge they\u2019ve faced.<\/p>\n
One of the challenges has been the evolution of their industry. Since they became REALTORS\u00ae, they have seen the rise and fall of the housing market. \u201cWe adapted by learning all we could,\u201d Cindy said. \u201cWe become certified to handle REOs and short sales and did it well.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the changing housing market has come a shift in the customers. As with most industries, the Internet and the easy access to information has changed the face of customer service. \u201cOur clients have evolved from asking us as REALTORS\u00ae for information to finding most of it themselves. Now, we have to dig even deeper and provide better customer service. On a listing side of real estate, our roles have now evolved into a marketing company more so than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe real estate industry went online \u2013 to mobile \u2013 to viral,\u201d Joe said. \u201cTo be relevant and credible \u2013 you have to be what the consumer wants. We strive for that all the time and adapt constantly. It\u2019s constantly changing and as REALTORS you have to get with it or face being left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year, Joe and Cindy made the decision to change their team name to the JCT Group. \u201cIt encompasses all our team members, not just Joe and I,\u201d Cindy said.<\/p>\n
While the name is changing the team\u2019s core values remain. The team has always been high-energy, propelled by the Welus desire for setting and attaining higher goals year after year. \u201cOur team is proactive,\u201d Joe said. \u201cCindy and I are avid sports fans and our culture follows that \u2013 we win and lose together. We all agree that winning is better for everyone so that\u2019s the goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today, the JCT Group has three agents. Joe and Cindy are joined by Joe\u2019s father, JW Welu, who also owns his own handyman and radon mitigation business, something that they believe benefits their clients. \u201cWe are in the process of expanding and adding three fulltime agents by this summer,\u201d Cindy said.<\/p>\n
In addition to the agents, the team is supported by three people that Cindy describes as vital to the success of the business.<\/p>\n
Ronyell Whitaker handles the REO and short sale department and contributes where the team has a need. Frank Richardson is the courier, making sure listings are stocked with brochures, paperwork is delivered, signs look fantastic and that everyone gets what they need. Joe\u2019s mother, Jean Welu is the voice of the team, handling the customer service and the bookkeeping.<\/p>\n
Recently, the Welus have also welcomed their daughter, Farrah, onboard as a part-time marketing assistant. \u201cShe\u2019s learning the business,\u201d Cindy said. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to have her here.\u201d<\/p>\n
All in all, the JCT Group is a joint effort. \u201cWe all work together to create our business plan, our marketing strategies and business processes,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n
Joe and Cindy like to be involved in the community. Having raised four children locally, they are committed to giving back a little bit more each year. \u201cWe enjoy sponsoring youth and high school sports teams,\u201d Cindy said.<\/p>\n
The Wounded Warrior Project is another near and dear nonprofit. \u201cAfter eight years in the service, supporting veterans is important to me,\u201d Cindy said. \u201cWe also take part in walks for breast cancer and MS research as we have family members battling those diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe both like to coach our kids when we can with Cindy having the upper hand on me in that category,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n
Outside of the office, Cindy and Joe devote much of their time to their four children. \u201cI love watching them grow and develop their own passions and talents,\u201d Cindy said. \u201cOur oldest, Rhett, is living on his own, out of state. We also have two teenagers, Farrah and Zyler, in the house and our baby, Preslee, will be 8 years old this summer. She\u2019s the one who keeps us young.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family often takes to the outdoors, enjoying archery and bow hunting. \u201cWhenever possible, I love riding my Harley Davidson with Cindy,\u201d Joe said. \u201cThose country roads bring peace away from the chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Cindy and Joe will admit raising a family and running a business has its challenges. Through support from each other and their kids, however, they feel they\u2019ve found success.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe and I are excited to be the Minnesota directors for Supreme Auctions, an International Luxury Marketing Company, with a proven new program to sell luxury homes with less market time for higher prices,\u201d Cindy said. \u201cWe look forward to teaching other agents about it and being a liaison for clients.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to their real estate team, Joe currently manages their separate real estate technology software company.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very excited and proud of what Joe is accomplishing with his technology and software company, Total Expert Inc. In my humble opinion, he\u2019s helping many agents grow their businesses while saving time and helping the industry as a whole,\u201d Cindy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel so lucky to have the chance to spend more time with my husband than most others,\u201d Cindy continued. \u201cIt is fulfilling to collaborate and build something successful with my life partner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t a job; anyone can have one of those,\u201d Joe said. \u201cThis is a lifestyle. Live it.\u201d<\/p>\n