The Memphis Invest Team
We would love to introduce you to the Awesome Team Members who have been with our team for five or more years. We hope you love learning about our unique culture, our core values and our team as much as we love sharing.
Drew Clothier
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Anything from the office candy jar
On the weekends I’m usually: Having fun with family
2 words that best describe me: Honest & Happy
3 of my favorite things: Family, Friends & Sports
My Memphis Invest super power: Buying houses
Most frequently used emoji: 👍
Terry Clothier
ACQUISITIONS TEAM
Favorite office snack: Chips and Dip
On the weekends I’m usually: Catching up
2 words that best describe me: Determined & Confident
3 of my favorite things: Reading, Buying Houses & Visiting Grandkids
My Memphis Invest super power: Red Bull
Most frequently used emoji: ⚽
Laurie Brooksbank
CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Chocolate
On the weekends I’m usually: Outside
2 words that best describe me: Frank & Friendly
3 of my favorite things: Family, Travel & Mountains
My Memphis Invest super power: Delivering the news or
getting the mail
Most frequently used emoji: 😁
Carol Henderson
CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Chips
On the weekends I’m usually: Spending time with my family
2 words that best describe me: Happy & Friendly
3 of my favorite things: Avery, Harper & Riley,
My Granddaughters
My Memphis Invest super power: Longevity
Most frequently used emoji: 😁
Cyndy McCrary
CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Jif peanut butter cups
On the weekends I’m usually: At the Lake
2 words that best describe me: Energetic & Go Getter
3 of my favorite things:Family/Friends, Cooking & Being Outdoors
My Memphis Invest super power: Organized-MUST use color on charts/graphs!
Most frequently used emoji: 😂
Jerry Thornton
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM
Favorite office snack: Pistachios
On the weekends I’m usually: Half day visiting rental properties and the rest of the evening with family
2 words that best describe me: Dedicated & Motivating
3 of my favorite things: Family, My PS4, Rental list
My Memphis Invest super power: Hot List Fireman
Most frequently used emoji: 💯
Ryan Flannery
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Chicken
On the weekends I’m usually: Watching sports and hanging with my family
2 words that best describe me: Sarcastic & Fantastic
3 of my favorite things: Family, Sports & Travel
My Memphis Invest super power: Problem solving or eating chicken
Most frequently used emoji: 🙄
Ryan Woolbright
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Peanut M&Ms
On the weekends I’m usually: Binging on Netflix or playing with my nephews
2 words that best describe me: Sarcastic & Dependable
3 of my favorite things: My son of course, Saturdays & Merlot
My Memphis Invest super power: Reading Kent’s mind
Most frequently used emoji: 🍷
Mark Anderson
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Anything chocolate
On the weekends I’m usually: In the yard or at the ball field
2 words that best describe me: #dadlife, #dadjokes
3 of my favorite things: Family, Sports & Salesforce
My Memphis Invest super power: Reports
Most frequently used emoji: 🌮🌮🌮
Emily Lee
FINANCE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Chocolate
On the weekends I’m usually: Spending time with my family
2 words that best describe me: Dependable & Positive
3 of my favorite things: The beach, Reading & Keeping my grandkids
My Memphis Invest super power: Making chocolate chip cookies
Most frequently used emoji: 😂
Deidre Sandifer
FINANCE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Apples and peanut butter
On the weekends I’m usually: Cheering on the Crimson Tide!!! RTR2
2 words that best describe me: Sarcastic & High Maintenance
3 of my favorite things: New Shoes, Beach Trips & Puppies!
My Memphis Invest super power: Nagging
Most frequently used emoji: 👸
Ashley Claunch
PORTFOLIO ADVISOR
Favorite office snack: Gummies
On the weekends I’m usually: Mom’ing
2 words that best describe me: Laid Back
3 of my favorite things: Vacations, Family & Naps
My Memphis Invest super power: Kent Sr.‘s button pusher
Most frequently used emoji: 🙄
Rick Luebbert
PORTFOLIO ADVISOR
Favorite office snack: Trail mix
On the weekends I’m usually: Fishing
2 words that best describe me: Problem Solver
3 of my favorite things: My Wife, My Dogs & My house
My Memphis Invest super power: Client Whisperer
Most frequently used emoji: 👍
David Meeks
PORTFOLIO ADVISOR
Favorite office snack: Coffee and Advil
On the weekends I’m usually: Spending time with family and friends
2 words that best describe me: Unpredictable & Experienced
3 of my favorite things: Family, Friends & Traveling
My Memphis Invest super power: Sarcasm
Most frequently used emoji: I’m an adult, I don’t use emojis
Allen Nason
PORTFOLIO ADVISOR
Favorite office snack: Red Bull
On the weekends I’m usually: On a patio with friends or at the lake
2 words that best describe me: Fun & Positive
3 of my favorite things: The Beach, Pizza & Free Time
My Memphis Invest super power: Talking on the phone
Most frequently used emoji: 😂
Michelle Carmichael
IT TEAM
Favorite office snack: Mixed Nuts
On the weekends I’m usually: Spending time with family and friends
2 words that best describe me: Loyal & Perfectionist
3 of my favorite things: Fall, Music & The Mountains
My Memphis Invest super power: Numbers 🤓
Most frequently used emoji: 🤔
Ashley Tinker
PORTFOLIO ADVISOR
Favorite office snack: Coffee & Doughnuts
On the weekends I’m usually: Spending time outside & enjoying dinner dates with my husband
2 words that best describe me: Chatty Cathy
3 of my favorite things: Traveling, spending time w/ friends & family, and everything fall
My Memphis Invest super power: Encourager
Most frequently used emoji: 😊
Aushia Jones-Bishop
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM
Favorite office snack: There is always random food in our office so I have no idea which is my favorite
On the weekends I’m usually: With my kids & Apollo (my dog)
2 words that best describe me: (I can’t be described in 2 words. There is a good possibility that I am more than 1 person)
3 of my favorite things: Music, Silence, & Horror movies
My Memphis Invest super power: Making people laugh
Most frequently used emoji: 🤔
Nate Gray
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Favorite office snack: Chocolate!
On the weekends I’m usually: Spending time with my family and working on some sort of project
2 words that best describe me: Very serious
3 of my favorite things: My family, the Beach & Ole Miss
My Memphis Invest super power: Customer service and my memory
Most frequently used emoji: 💥
Joshua Weatherman
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM
Favorite office snack: Cookie Butter and Pretzels (will change your life)
On the weekends I’m usually: With my family
2 words that best describe me: Practical & Ambitious
3 of my favorite things: Lake Season, Family, & Ski Season
My Memphis Invest super power: Rental Ranger, like a Power Ranger, but way cooler
Most frequently used emoji: 😂
Missy Blazek
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM
Favorite office snack: Almonds & Pickles
On the weekends I’m usually: Watching football, Outdoor activities, Fishing
2 words that best describe me: Hardworking & a little sassy
3 of my favorite things: Spending time with family, Working out/sports & Baking
My Memphis Invest super power: Per DFW Staff, I’m known as ‘mama bear’ - I take care of all my cubs
Most frequently used emoji: 😜
Marq Cobb
PORTFOLIO ADVISOR
Favorite office snack: Red bull and Pepto
On the weekends I’m usually: Exhausted from chasing my 3 young, highly energetic dependents around
2 words that best describe me: Focused & Loyal
3 of my favorite things: Cold weather, duck hunting, & Univ. of Georgia Football
My Memphis Invest super power: Endurance. 10+ years and I’m still here getting after it.
Most frequently used emoji: Adults don’t use those
Dave Smith
RENOVATIONS TEAM
Favorite office snack: Coffee
On the weekends I’m usually: Sitting in my chair doing nothing
exciting
2 words that best describe me: Independent & Dependable
3 of my favorite things: Hanging with the fam, Building things & Watching movies
My Memphis Invest super power: Fixing things
Most frequently used emoji: 😂
Matt Rowan
RENOVATIONS TEAM
Favorite office snack: Whatchamacallit
On the weekends I’m usually: Working in the yard and hanging out with my wife and daughter
2 words that best describe me: People Person
3 of my favorite things: Family, Jeeps & Woodworking
My Memphis Invest super power: Leaping tall rehabs with a single bound
Most frequently used emoji: 👍
Ashley Ware
ACQUISITIONS TEAM
Favorite office snack: Peanut butter and bananas
On the weekends I’m usually: Traveling
2 words that best describe me: Ambitious, Positive
3 of my favorite things: Coffee, yoga, reading
My Memphis Invest super power: Making people smile
Most frequently used emoji: 🤦♀️
What is the WOW Group?
The WOW Group is a special recognition given to all of our real estate investment clients who have five or more properties in their portfolios. We watched with amazement as this elite group of real estate investors grew to over 261 clients who owned nearly 1,600 homes.
Each salesman is trained six months. “Most of that time is spent on the data base,” says Clothier. The data base the salesmen use is the brainchild of Jack Scharff Jr., who formerly worked with MicroAge in Memphis.
“We bought the system from Micro Age,” says Clothier. “The system is networked with the sales representatives, sales department, transportation department, and the information systems department.” The data base holds the 250 accounts the wholesale operation uses.
“(Our operation) is mainly telemarketing,” says Clothier. “Our sales people have built up relationships across the country.” So his sales force would have accurate, up-to-date information on goods, Clothier has invested $100,000 in a computer system. This includes four facsimile machines and 19 computer terminals. On the computer screen, sales people have access to product names, cost, quantity, list prices, availability date, geographical location and destination point.
“If you want to do this business, you have to know what’s happening across the country. That’s how we’ve been able to make the company grow,” says Clothier.
When Clothier has a question about benefit packages, payroll, or corporate accounting, he asks his wife Sherry, who shares an office with him. Her brown desk is located along the eastern wall in the office.
“She and I worked together when I was a store manager in Dallas,” says Clothier. “She was a cashier and also worked in the personnel department of the company’s corporate office. She knows the hours and commitment it takes to make it in our industry.”
His wife is not the only family member working at the company. A younger brother Terry is the sales manager. His son, Kent Jr., 21, heads up the transportation/information department that monitors loads from wire to delivery, and 19-year-old Chris works in transportation.
“We are only as successful as the people who work for us,” says Clothier. “We are continuing to do what we do best. Ours is a relationship and service business. We’re not the biggest operation or company in this industry, but we try to be the best.”
How the Clothier Men Took Over the Investment World, One Good Transaction At A Time
By now, I’ve interviewed numerous real estate pros. There’s something about Memphis Invest’s Chris Clothier that is disarmingly genuine. I catch up with him between meetings on a Thursday in early Spring - despite his hectic schedule and calls that continue coming in, he gives me his undivided attention. I lead with a strong question that cuts to the chase,
“What’s the one big thing about your company that I should know?” Without missing a beat, he responds, “You can have anything you want in life, if you help other people get what they want.”
Over the past twelve years, Memphis Invest has built an impressive track record of getting people what they want in life. Their investors average a substantial 7% on returns - a fact of which Clothier is clearly proud. Memphis Invest, I learn, is more than just a turnkey provider - it’s a long-term investment management company. It’s the go-to for investors who want all the great returns of investment without the hassles that crop up. It’s where investors turn to when they want to make their money work harder without having to work harder themselves -- Chris and his ace team are the ones who field the property repairs, midnight resident phone calls, find the right properties in the right markets, and secure the best vendors to handle necessary renovations. Not only do they handle all of this, it’s what Memphis Invest does best.
A family-owned company, Memphis Invest was founded by Clothier patriarch Kent Sr. The company has grown organically after planting it roots many decades ago. Kent started out in the supermarket industry, managing a billion-dollar supermarket operation by the young age of 32. Kent brought his expertise in the grocery industry with him to Memphis and began American Wholesale Grocers in 1987. By 1995, he built the enterprise into a $50-million venture, which he sold in the late 1990s. He went on to pursue his passion for real estate and ended up being asked to speak at real estate investing associations. Friends and fellow investors kept turning to Kent for advice, asking him for his assistance in finding and managing investments as successfully as he had been finding and managing his own.
One thing led to another, and Memphis Invest took shape, carrying with it a mission to give people what they want in life. Two of his sons, Chris and Brett, both successful in their own right, joined the Memphis Invest management team and the dream began in earnest. The company decided to expand into Texas, adding offices in Dallas and Houston. The markets they target today -- Memphis, Dallas and Houston -- are among the strongest in the country for growing investment dollars. Key factors that make these markets desirable, as Chris puts it, include “affordability, economic growth and temperate climates.” Chris points out that the temperate climates translate to less weather-related wear, tear and maintenance for their property owners - for example, no snow removal. “The markets we offer give our clients a high level of comfort,” Chris explains, and I can see why.
Mission & Core Values
We Manage The Risk And Preserve Your Capital
We make it easy for investors to purchase the right property, at the right price, with the right team, from anywhere in the world by managing risk, protecting capital and providing exceptional customer service and property management.
Our core values provide a roadmap to follow when making decisions, and they keep our team members focused on what's most important. The core values at Memphis Invest permeate the entire company, including Premier Property Management. They establish a customer-focused business strategy that's geared towards continual improvement and always doing what's best for a client.
- Always Do the Right Thing
- Deliver a Wow Experience
- Give Superior customer Service
- Never Stop Improving
- Be Accountable
- Be Honest
- Be Open Minded
- Be Humble
- Have Commitment
- Have Passion for What You Do
The Crucial Part of Investing In Real Estate Everyone Forgets
People start investing in real estate for a lot of different reasons. They usually boil down to one primary goal: financial freedom. Maybe that freedom is for retirement, and said investor is building up a fund to serve their twilight years. Other investors may be looking to secure independence in the now, to free themselves from a 9-to-5 and discover the free to travel, live, and be.
The dream of financial freedom is a great one, and we know it’s possible to achieve through real estate investment. It’s something we’ve seen time and time again, firsthand.
That said, real estate investors, in their pursuit of their financial goals, often overlook what we believe is the absolute most crucial part of investing in real estate.
We’re talking about customer service. Customer service? In real estate investment? You bet!
For the real estate investor, customer service usually means property management. You see, the problem is that real estate investors, in their quest to achieve financial freedom, tend to look strictly at the bottom line. And because of that, they don’t always place the value on customer service that it deserves.
These real estate investors think that by cutting corners where they can, by maximizing profits and minimizing costs, they’re following a solid investment strategy. But trust us. They’re not.
Buying cheap houses is not a good investment. Relying on cheap property management is not a good investment. It’s something we’ve learned from experience and something we’ve seen over and over again in the industry. It might seem good. Sometimes the numbers make sense. But it really never adds up in the long run.
Why do investors settle for less in property management?
If it doesn’t make sense not to choose premium property management, why don’t more investors do it? Why do so many settle for less?
They’re only looking at the bottom line
It’s logical to look at the numbers. Numbers just don’t always tell the whole story. It makes sense to say, “I can save money by going with a middle-of-the-road property management company,” and so that’s what a lot of investors do. While there’s not necessarily anything wrong with that, they are missing out on the advantages of truly great property management.
They don’t realize the difference it makes
When you’ve never experienced a premium or luxury product, imagining how much better it can really be to imagine. If an investor has only ever come to expect average service and that’s been the pinnacle of their experience, their point of reference is skewed. Until they take a chance on something better, that’s all they’ll ever know!
Why is premium property management worth it? Increased Resident Satisfaction and Retention
When you invest in premium property management, owners know that their managers are taking care of their residents. They offer attentive, quality services that ensure residents feel well-cared for, listened to, and comfortable while they rent. Instead of begrudgingly paying rent each month, they feel that their home and the treatment they’ve received makes the cost worth that much and more.
When residents feel respected and well-treated by the management, they’re more likely to stay longer, which reduces turnover and the length of vacancies as word spreads about their good experience.
Increased Value for Owners
For owners, premium management means never worrying about your investments. It means having clear, constant access to information and reports, consistent, thorough updates, and never having to worry about being out-of-the-loop. It means your investments can truly be as passive as humanly possible. You can let go of the day-to-day details because you’re working with true professionals at the very top of their industry.
Improved Reputation and Desirability
Your property managers are, in many cases, your face to the public. These are the people your residents see. Much of your reputation (and that of your properties) hinges on the reputation of your managers. If your management is sub-par, it will impact both your reputation in the community and your ability to fill vacancies when the word gets out.
On the other hand, when you have truly standout property management—the kind that goes above and beyond—you know that your managers will curate the best of the best residents, who know that you have a reputation for excellence. Not only will you have the advantage of your passive income, but the immeasurable value in a good reputation.
While settling for passable property management is fine, real estate investors owe it to themselves to place real value on excellent customer service if they truly want to accelerate their real estate investment business
REVIEWS
"Aloha, Thank you and the whole Memphis Invest team for coming out to Hawaii to visit with us. I hope the islands treated you all well and that you all had a great time. Just speaking for myself, I am very appreciative of being invited to catch up with all of you n person and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with your team. Memphis Invest is a world class organization with some of the best people I have ever met and OUTSTANDING customer service! I look forward to growing my portfolio and continuing doing business with your organization for many ears to come." – Reid G., Waipahu, HA
"Thanks SO much for meeting us and providing a tour that was perfect. We're always amazed how professional and courteous EVERY member of the team is from Mr. Kent on down. We feel so lucky to invest with such an amazing company with endless talent; grateful indeed!" – Bret & Gleny, Hendersonville, NC
"Premier Property is a great company to lease from. I never had an issue getting a maintenance request taken care of and Jerry and his team made me feel like a priority when it came to upgrading to a new home." – Zjonathan P., Memphis, TN
