by Fred Seely, Editor
So, who is this guy?
He says he's a real estate agent and others say he's successful, but he sure doesn't look the part.
Spiked hair. Earrings. Two tattoos (and a third to come.) And he's often seen wearing a pink suit.
Meet Andrew Bell, a man you've seen often in these pages for all sorts of reasons. He's the president-elect of the Jacksonville WCR, a NEFAR award winner when he was in the mortgage business, a graduate of NEFAR's Leadership Academy and a presence at almost every meeting that's held around here.
He's so knowledgeable about smartphones and tablets — and such a good speaker — that he's in demand to teach classes on them throughout Florida.
He has a gift of gab that most would envy.
If you're like those who write and edit this newspaper (and, in this case, you are) you wonder what he's all about.
"I'm me," he says. "What else can I say?"
Well, if you get around Bell, you find he has lots to say.
So, read on:
His career
He grew up at the beach, the son of Realtor William Bell, and his first step into the business world was with Sound Advice, selling car stereos and home entertainment systems.
"It was okay but there was no flexibility. I asked myself, 'Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?' The answer is 'No.'
"I took a shot at the mortgage business and signed on with Ameriquest. It was apparent early on that their business ethics didn't match mine and I moved on."
(He was right: Ameriquest became the poster child for bad business practices in the mortgage crisis.)
He landed with Wells Fargo for a year and a half, then moved to Rels Title. Along the way, he worked the real estate community for business, going to offices and taking every networking opportunity. He made friends.
About three years ago, Rels shut down.
"I asked God what to do and He said to get a real estate license," said Bell.
Getting a license is one thing, as anyone who is reading this knows. Doing something with it is another.
And that's where Bell had an advantage: he knew many in the business from his previous career.
"I think networking is an absolute must in any business," he said, "and I had participated in everything available. I was in NEFAR. I went to the Great American Realtor Days in Tallahassee. I got active in WCR."
The latter produced a key contact: Watson executive Audrey Lackie is a longtime leader of the Jacksonville chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors and, early on, she saw the energy that Bell brought to the table.
"She's a straight shooter," said Bell. "I asked her about selling real estate."
Lackie made him think about it. She told him to take a sheet of paper and write down the pros and cons. And to give it more thought.
"She's smart," said Bell. "She didn't want me to get into something I couldn't handle. She didn't push me to Watson, either. There's a reason that she's successful: she wants people to make the right decision.
"I can't thank her enough: she made me feel that I can do what I want to do."
Now, he thinks the decision was right. He's with Watson, working in the South Beach office.
For Lackie, her encouragement was a right decision, too, not only for Watson but for WCR.
"I met Andrew in 2006 the year that I was planning my (WCR) presidency and knew I wanted him on my leadership team," said Lackie. "I just knew he would be the best choice to help us to market our chapter.
"Boy, was I right!"
Getting things done
Let Lackie do the talking here:
"Andrew has developed into a wonderful leader, mentor and speaker. I am very excited for WCR for next year as Andrew has spent countless hours in planning, placing the right people on the right bus and in the right seat. He has great energy, enthusiasm and a great sense of humor."
Technology
"I'm no tekkie," Bell said. "I only know enough to do what I need to do. But I think I know that very, very well.
"I have maybe 100 apps on my phone. I use maybe 10 regularly, but the rest have a use when I need them."
Too much interest in technology can be a waste of time, he warns.
"Don't be one of those people who use their devices just to use them," he said. "I try not to do anything that isn't productive."
That's what he preaches at seminars, not only here but around the state. As the technology world expands, there are more demands for people who are hands-on in the business.
The pink suit
"I met Paul Gruenther at Watson when I was trying to get business for the mortgage company," said Bell. "We had lunch and became good friends. WCR was having its fashion show and they asked us to dress like the Blues Brothers. That would fit the show's theme.
"Well, not to brag, but we were a huge hit. The SMC people asked us to dress up for the Laurel Awards. We did the RPAC Auction for NEFAR.
"But we wanted an identity of our own and we came up with the idea of pink suits, to show that we wanted to help the fight against breast cancer."
A problem? Where do you find a pink suit? Not quite something on a rack at Dillard's.
"Easy to solve," said Bell. "My daughter's godmother is a seamstress. I asked her and she said she could make any kind of suit we wanted." So, Stella Corrales made suits for the boys.
The name change? "We decided on the 'Moves Brothers' because real estate is all about moving."
Now, they do 6-10 events a year.
"Paul has been a great friend," said Bell. "He is always honest with me. When I do something wrong, he tells me. And, he's always there for me."
Earrings? Spiked hair?
"I always have had sort of spiked hair," he said. "I pierced my ears when I was 19. That's what guys that age did. Sound Advice could care less how you looked as long as you knew your stuff so all this followed me to the business world.
"When I got into the mortgage business, I thought it over and decided that I'd be who I am. I've had spiked hair forever, I've had earrings. Take me or leave me, it's your choice.
"I know people say things behind my back. Don't care. It's who I am."
One thing that needs to go, he says: the extra baggage around the waist.
Tattoos.
Left arm: a memorial to a daughter who was born prematurely and lived less than two months.
Right arm: his daughter.
Leg: his son. "Haven't gotten that one yet."
Public speaking
"I was always sort of shy. I didn't have much confidence.
"It all changed at my daughter's funeral. I spoke"
How hard is that? Ask anyone who has done it.
"People came up and told me how much it meant to them," he said. "I told myself, 'Maybe I can do this.'"