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Meet the team

Gennifer MixSevier County, TN

Gennifer Mix

Gennifer obtained her real estate license in 2012 and is currently a local Realtor in The Great Smoky Mountains. She specializes in Short Term Rental Investment opportunities in Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Pigeon Forge, TN. She is married and a mother of two boys who attend The University of TN Knoxville and East Tennessee State University. In 2018, after 23 years of military service, her family retired to East Tennessee and began investing in Short Term Rentals in The Smokies. They currently own 5 properties with a goal of owning many more.

Rush ValentineEmerald Coast, FL

Rush Valentine

Rush is a Mississippi native that always looked forward to these vacations to the Emerald Coast. In 2014, after a weekend getaway to introduce his wife to the area, they decided it was time to call the Emerald Coast home. Rush, his wife Kristen, and a newborn daughter Mary Shelton reside in Santa Rosa Beach where he enjoys spending time on the beach with his family and playing golf at one of the many local courses. Rush has been with The Short Term Shop since early 2019, since then he has acquired a few investment properties of his own and helped many clients find the right property to jump start their investment journey.

Jose SantiagoSevier County, TN

Jose Santiago

Jose served in the Air Force for over 15 years before finding his new career in Real Estate. Currently, he owned 2 properties of which are both long term rentals in New Jersey and Knoxville and look forward to buying more. As your agent, he will dedicate his efforts to ensure you find the rental that’s going to put money in your pocket. Cash Flow Baby!

Jeana Maddux Sevier County, TN

Jeana Maddux

Jeana has been in the Real Estate business for over 15 years and most recently managed the Transaction Department at eXp Realty, which consists of over 35,000 Real Estate Professionals. She is originally from the Chattanooga, TN area, and visited the smokies for the first time while dating her husband. She was captivated by the beauty of the area and everything it had to offer. Since Pigeon Forge was only a 2-hour drive away, it quickly became her second home. She dreamed of moving to the area and selling cabins in the Smoky Mountains – At the first opportunity, she and her family made the move. Jeana feels blessed to be living her dream while helping others become successful with their Short Term investment.

Julie McCoy Sevier County, TN

Julie McCoy

Julie began investing in vacation rentals in 2017 while working full-time in the television industry. In less than a year, she had four vacation rentals in California and Tennessee, and realized her side hustle had replaced her regular income. Ready for a change, she relocated to Tennessee and began her career as a Realtor, working with investors to help them achieve the same financial freedom. She now owns nine properties, primarily in the Smoky Mountains.

Tim GrillotSevier County, TN

Tim Grillot

Tim is an Iowa native and has been in the real estate game since his first flip at 17 years old. He began his short-term rental career in Gulf Shores and quickly expanded to the Smoky Mountains. Tim holds several properties including STR and LTR. He spent 16 years in construction and 8 years in the automotive industry as an executive of a large corporation. Tim and his wife are minimalists living in an Airstream and he is a proud Dad, an avid car and motorcycle enthusiast, as well as an amateur runner. Tim was featured on episode 15 of The Short Term Show.

Derek TellierGulf Shores, AL

Derek Tellier

In 2017 after 20 years working for Harley-Davidson Dealerships, Derek was inspired by Luke and Avery to get into Real Estate investing. He began immersing himself in podcasts, books and Bigger Pockets to learn as much as he could. In October of 2018 he started the East TN REI Meetup that still meets the last Thursday of every month in Knoxville. In 2019 he purchased his first investment property, a single family BRRRR that he still holds as an LTR today.

As of Jan 2022 Derek has increased his portfolio to 14 rentals including 3 LTR and 11 STR (one of which is a house hack duplex). Flips, Buy & Hold, syndications and even Crypto, Derek has dipped is toe into several asset classes and used lots of different financing and lending options along the way. Derek considers himself a problem solver who will uncover every opportunity to get across the finish line.

Garrett SimmonsHigh Country, NC

Garrett Simmons

Garrett was raised in North Carolina by a family of real estate professionals. He attended Appalachian State University, in the heart of the High Country, where he specializes in short term rental investment properties. He bought his first investment shortly after graduating in 2016. In addition to short term rentals, he has experience with residential flips and residential long term rentals. He’s passionate about helping others take their next step towards achieving financial freedom. If you can’t find him working, you’ll more than likely find him on a golf course, or fly fishing in the potential backyard of your next short term investment!

Jonathan LazzarinoGulf Shores, Alabama

Jonathan Lazzarino

Jonathan is in the Gulf Shores, Alabama area. He comes from a family of real estate investors, and has helped his family buy long-term single family and commercial real estate investments. He also worked in residential real estate in the Houston area before moving to Gulf Shores to help investors find great STR opportunities. His favorite things in life are spending time with his wife and daughter, enjoying life to the fullest, and looking for the next great investment.

Luke CarlEducator

Luke Carl

Luke is our education and self-management specialist. He bought his first investment property in 2012. He has since done every trick in the book; House hack, BRRRR Method, HELOC, 1031 Exchange, Single Family, Small Multi-Family, Apartments, LTR, & STR. He has over 3000 reservations on his STR resume, and is the creator of the Enemy Method. He currently holds over 100 doors in 6 markets in 4 states. He is an avid runner, has 2 children, and a Rockstar wife.

Anya DykesSevier County, TN

Anya Dykes

Anya has lived in Sevier County for 12 years. She’s very passionate about real estate and the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Her goal is to help clients achieve their goals and help provide long term wealth for their families. She’s got her own STR and have another 1 on the way.

Ilias Irby Sevier, TN

Ilias Irby

Ilias currently resides in the Sevierville area where he deals exclusively with STR investors. Originating from Colorado, Ilias spent most of his growing-up years in sunny Southern California, where he eventually purchased his first LTR in early 2019. Before that, he worked in construction and home foundation building for many years. His knowledge of foundation work has been beneficial for him and his clients when he is finding them a stable and long lasting STR. After marrying his high school sweetheart, he relocated to TN in late 2019 to be closer to family. Eventually, he obtained his TN real estate license and began investing in STRs with his clients. He currently owns and manages 2 STRs with another on the way. He hopes to get his hands dirty in a couple of BRRRRSTRs and expand his portfolio. He loves sharing his insight & passion for real estate with not only his clients but anyone who will listen.

Kaitlin GlennSevier, TN and NC Smokies

Kaitlin Glenn

Kaitlin was born and raised in Sevier County, TN. She has knowledge, love, and respect for the Smokies. She began her real estate career working for a local real estate attorney for 3 years when she quickly decided that her talents would be better used as an agent. Kaitlin has a short-term rental property in Pigeon Forge, TN is currently working on a BRRRR investment property in Knoxville she is also rehabbing a commercial property for a new business to come in Pigeon Forge! She loves being able to help investors discover the beauty and the cash flow that the Smokies has to offer.

Levi and Darah TrenthamSevier County, TN

Levi And Darah Trentham

Levi and Darah’s family legacy runs deep within the Smoky Mountains. Levi was named after his great grandfather, Levi Trentham, who is known as “The Prophet of the Smokies” and still has a cabin standing in Elkmont to this day. They’re a real estate team that helps investors find cash-flowing properties in the Smoky Mountains. They currently own three short-term rental properties with plans of owning more. They love spending time with their two kids, helping others reach their investment goals, and building long-lasting relationships with their clients.

Natalie WalthourSevier County, TN

Natalie Walthour

Natalie started with The Short Term Shop as an investor in the Smokies in early 2020. The cash flow from her Smokies STR allowed her to leave her 13-year career as a teacher to pursue her dream of helping others build their STR portfolio. Natalie will be able to help you from the perspective of both experienced investors and agents.

Susan SmithSevier County, TN

Susan Smith

Susan has been in the Real Estate business for over 12 years here in the Smoky Mountain Area. She moved from Texas to Tennessee in 2008 after visiting the area and fell in love with the Mountains. Shortly after moving she became a Realtor® and began helping people with their dream of investing in the Smoky Mountain Market. Susan purchased a home on the beautiful Douglas Lake in Sevierville in October 2020 and is actively looking for another investment in the area.

Zeke GoodmanSevier County, TN

Zeke Goodman

Zeke is from Knoxville, TN, and is married with two beautiful children. He grew up vacationing with his family in the Smoky Mountains and has since fallen in love with the area. He started real estate investing in 2021, he now has 2 short-term rentals in the Smoky Mountains and plans on purchasing more in the near future. He is also house hacking his first home and planned to turn it into his first long-term rental to further diversify his portfolio. When he is not busy being a realtor, you will most likely find Zeke in the gym or traveling with his family. He truly loves helping others find investment properties and helping them on their path to financial freedom.

Dillon CateSevier County, TN

Dillon Cate

Dillon is a native of Sevier County, Tennessee, and comes from a family of real estate brokers. Prior to joining the team, Dillon worked for a real estate development company as well as an investment/consulting firm. With his experience, he has the expertise needed to guide both new and experienced investors in the process of purchasing well-performing STRs in The Great Smoky Mountains. Dillon currently owns 2 investment properties and is in the process of expanding his portfolio.

Maria KellySevier County, TN

Maria Kelly

Maria and her husband have been a resident of Sevier County for more than 10 years now. Over that time, she worked closely in the community and became very familiar with the area. Maria has a passion for real estate and she looks forward to helping you with all your investment needs.

Yok ReNorth Georgia Mountains, GA

Yok Re

Yok is our specialist in the Blue Ridge, Georgia market. He’s been a part of real estate deals from condos in metro Atlanta to ranches in Montana. Not only does Yok understand the cabin lifestyle, but he also lives it. From fly fishing to hiking to kayaking, he does it all. His deep understanding of the local real estate market assures you, that you will have an opportunity at purchasing the cabin of your dreams. His long-standing relationship with other local realtors can give you a leg up on acquiring the right property. Before working in real estate, Yok was a preferred marketing developer for Facebook, so pick his brain when it comes to the marketing of your new Short Term Rental.

Cheryl RobbEmerald Coast, FL

Cheryl Robb

Cheryl worked for title companies in Florida and Virginia, before obtaining her Real Estate License in 2018. Her background knowledge in real estate transactions helps her clients make informed decisions. She specializes in Short Term Rental Investment properties along the Emerald Coast to include 30A, Destin, Miramar Beach, and Panama City Beach. She’s lived on the Emerald Coast for the past decade, so she sure knows the area too well. Cheryl is the proud mother of two sons, and typically can be found on the sidelines of lacrosse and soccer fields or a jujitsu tournament.

Holly HudsonOrlando, FL

Holly Hudson

Holly purchased her first home in Las Vegas and quickly experienced the volatility of the market during the crash. Fast forward a few years, she and her husband have purchased multiple cabins in the Smokies only to quickly discover the real joy of owning properties and the freedom it presents. Soon after, Holly felt a need to guide others towards experiencing the same opportunity. She finds fulfillment in helping others find investment properties and guiding them towards the path of financial freedom.

They now live in sunny Florida where she loves the vibe and potential in ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’! She has properties in Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida and always looking to add more. When not immersed in real estate, she loves to spend time with her family: traveling, experiencing the world, and meeting the people who make it great.

Austin LewisPensacola/Perdido Key/Navarre, FL

Austin Lewis

Austin is a Pensacola native and has a deep connection with the beautiful gulf coast. He has a beautiful wife and a son on the way. Austin has worked both in the mortgage industry as a mortgage processor and in the tourism industry as a charter boat captain. After indulging in his passion for real estate investing a few years ago, he decided to become an agent to help others invest in their future of financial freedom. If he isn’t helping you and your family get into your next property he is either looking for one of his own or enjoying the outdoors with his family.

Chad Simmons Sevier, TN and NC Smokies

Chad Simmons

Chad grew up in Upstate New York and originally built and ran a Digital Marketing and Brand Management service for Real Estate Professionals. After leaving New York and moving to the Greater Knoxville area, he decided to become licensed and start working as an Agent himself. Serving the Sevier County, TN and Swain County, NC markets Chad is passionate about helping seasoned and new investors alike find massive success operating and growing their Short-Term Rentals.

Pete AppezzatoEmerald Coast, FL

Pete Appezzato

Pete grew up around construction and real estate in NJ working for his father’s construction company. After college, he moved to NYC and began his career equity trading on Wall Street, then opened a restaurant which he eventually sold. Around 2010, he fell into Airbnb and soon had 5 Manhattan apartments and an Airbnb management business. In 2018, he picked up 3 units in Philly, while selling real estate in NJ. To escape cold weather, Pete decided to move to Destin and couldn’t be happier to be living in this beautiful area. Pete loves helping his clients purchase investment properties and share his STR knowledge. When not selling real estate, he is usually in the gym, biking, traveling or on the beach

Shelly Gillum Sevier County, TN

Shelly Gillum

Shelly, a mother of two beautiful girls, has lived in Sevier county for 15 years. The past 14 years, Shelly worked as the Director at a cabin resort in Gatlinburg Tennessee and is familiar with the tourism industry in Sevier County. Shelly is committed to helping families to create ongoing wealth as they build their STR portfolios in the Smokies.

Wayde HallOrlando, FL

Wayde Hall

Wayde is our specialist in the Disney/Orlando market. As a massive Disney fan, Wayde not only bleeds Disney he enjoys the lifestyle. A Season Pass holder for both Disney and Universal, he is spruced with ideas for the full Disney experience. With his expertise he has personally incorporated STR’s, LTR’s, flips, house-hacking and sandwich-leases in his investing carrier. Also, an avid outdoorsman for fishing, whitewater, scuba, he does it all. Rest assured that his understanding of the local market will lead to the home and experience of a lifetime. He has a long-standing relationship with Orlando Real Producers, and award winner for 35under35, most influential and explosive realtors in the Orlando area under 35 in Central FL.

January Johnson Emerald Coast, FL

January Johnson

“January is a Panama City, FL native who returned to her hometown after 33 years spent in California and Texas. In 2014, she bought a small vacation home for herself in the historic St. Andrews neighborhood of Panama City while living in Houston, so she knows what it’s like to buy property while out of state. In fact, she never even saw her first short term rental in real life until the day before she closed on it! This is the power of having good people “on the ground”!
She got bitten by the STR investment bug when she started renting her vacation home on Airbnb in early 2015. Seeing a terrific opportunity, she moved back home in 2016, earned her FL real estate license that same year, and continued to add to her STR portfolio. Together with three other experienced hosts, she moderates Airbnb’s Bay County Host Club Facebook group and hosts quarterly local meetups. To her knowledge, she’s the longest-running self-managing host in the City of Panama City, and she has informally coached many people in FL and elsewhere to become successful hosts as well.
She loves working with enthusiastic investors like you who want to build generational wealth while also staking out an unforgettable vacation spot for you to enjoy with friends and family, and she looks forward to showing you around!”

Nap DeCiutiis Emerald Coast, FL

Nap DeCiutiis

Nap (Napoleon) has lived in and out of the Emerald Coast since 2004. He is a retired Navy EOD Master Chief with three children, ages 19, 9 and 6. He has owned multiple properties across the United States and Internationally, currently with two properties he has self-managed for the last 12 years. He resides in Panama City Beach and covers the Forgotten Coast and the Emerald Coast area of Florida.

Kelsey Ardoin Galveston/Crystal Beach, TX

Kelsey Ardoin

Kelsey is a REALTOR® in the Galveston/Crystal Beach market, where she works exclusively with investors purchasing short-term rentals. She obtained her real estate license to purchase personal investment properties and help other people do the same. While exploring different investment strategies, Kelsey listened to Avery’s Bigger Pockets podcast, and that changed the entire trajectory of the investment path she and her husband are now on. It started with buying a cabin in The Smokies as clients of The Short Term Shop, and their portfolio now includes a beach house in Crystal Beach, which she enjoys using with her husband and three kids. She plans to purchase many more investment properties in the near future.

Prior to becoming a real estate agent, Kelsey was a news reporter, worked in marketing for a Fortune 500 oil and gas company, and managed the day-to-day operations of a home inspection company she co-owned with her husband. All of these roles pale in comparison to the thrill of getting a client under contract on a STR. Kelsey is passionate about real estate and is a persistent advocate for her clients’ best interests.

Christine Nix North Georgia Mountains, GA

Christine Nix

Christine has lived in Atlanta almost all her life. She has been in real estate in one way or another for many years whether it was managing rental properties for her parents, doing fix and flips with her husband, or selling primary residential real estate. Since she became a part of the Short Term Shop Team she is super excited about helping clients find great properties in the Blue Ridge mountains and seeing them realize their dreams of financial freedom.

Bradley Klein Myrtle Beach, SC

Bradley Klein

Originally from the United Kingdom, Bradley permanently moved to Myrtle Beach, SC in 2015. Having spent 5 years in a management position, he started looking for his next big career change. And after representing himself in the purchase of his first home, he was hooked. Bradley has been a Realtor since 2020, passionate about helping investors achieve financial freedom by purchasing short-term rental properties along the Grand Strand. When he isn’t hustling for his clients, you can find Bradley traveling the world, enjoying the great outdoors, and exploring ways in which he can grow and improve.

Jay Lawrence NC Smoky Mountains

Jay Lawrence

Jay was born and raised in Altamonte Springs Florida but now lives in beautiful Waynesville North Carolina. He became a real estate agent after spending 15 years in the computer world as an IT professional. He left the computers behind to pursue his true passion in real estate and hasn’t looked back. Growing up in a family of real estate investors, he understands the importance of finding the best investment for a portfolio and enjoys helping others do the same in his awesome market. When Jay is not out doing real estate things, you can find him at the local axe-throwing pub, or heavy armored combat doing medieval reenactment.

Avery Carl Sevier County & Emerald Coast

Avery Carl

Avery Carl was named one of Wall Street Journal’s Top 100 and Newsweek’s Top 500 agents in 2020. She and her team at The Term Shop focus exclusively on Vacation Rental and Short Term Rental Clients, having closed well over 1 billion dollars in real estate sales. Avery has sold over $300 million in Short Term/Vacation Rentals since 2017. An investor herself, with a portfolio of over 100 Doors, Avery specializes in connecting investors with short term rentals with the highest ROI potential, and then training them to manage their short term rental from their smart phone from anywhere in the world.