Tammy Hines, Tammy Mitchell Hines and Co., Fairview Heights and Columbia

By ROBERTA CODEMO
    Tammy Hines never envisioned owning her own business.
    She had always dreamed of being a television reporter and graduated from Webster University in St. Louis with a degree in media communications.
    After four months as a weather girl in St. Genevieve, Mo., she hated what she was doing and left. Her dad asked her to join him in his real estate company in 1995 and she went on to earn her real estate license.
    “I loved it,” she said.
    When her dad retired in 1997, he sold the business and she went to work for Strano and Associates Real Estate in Waterloo, where she stayed for 10 years.
    During that time, she made the decision to open her own company in 2008.
    “It made sense financially,” she said. She opened her first office in Columbia with one staff person and in 2014 she opened a second office in Fairview Heights.
    Her staff includes seven employees and six real estate agents.
    “Our business continues to grow every year,” she said.
    Her company philosophy is simple: Everybody deserves a home and great service whatever their price range.
    “I’m very client focused,” she said. “That’s a huge part of our success.”
    The company has been named the number two team by its board of Realtors and she was named one of the top 30 agents under age 30 by the National Association of Realtors in 2002.
    Among the services, she lists homes for sellers and helps buyers find their dream home, as well as selling homes for buyers and agents. She also does property management, connecting individuals with real estate agents throughout the country.
    Marketing is a large part of her business. Her marketing team publishes a quarterly magazine filled with helpful tips and all their current listings that is available at 300 locations.
    Her agents drive company cars with the company logo wrapped on the car and she owns three moving trucks that her clients get to use to move for free.
    “I believe in going above and beyond,” she said.
    Over the years, her role in the company has evolved. Currently, she works on growing her company, marketing and customer service.
    “I miss meeting with clients,” she said.
    She works closely with her employees and loves seeing them grow in their roles.
    “I help them meet their personal and professional goals,” she said. “My agents are thrilled when they can help a client achieve their dreams.”
    Community service is very important to her.
    “I’m thankful to the people who helped me when I was younger,” she said. “It’s a way to give back.” She believes in volunteering, and this year will teach a Dave Ramsey class to high school students.
    A Columbia native, she and her husband live in Columbia with their two children.