Meet the Team!

Curious about the driving forces behind one of Anne Arundel County's leading real estate teams? We think there's no better way to kick off our blog than to give you a better idea of who we are. Read on for the team's history, as well as each team member's background. Then, check back regularly for more information on everything from what we're working on, to market updates, and even spotlights on your favorite Maryland neighborhoods! 

We'd be remiss if we didn't start this introduction off without a description of our fearless leader, Josh Shapiro. You likely already know the basics - that he's a licensed Realtor and a Maryland industry leader - but did you know that his favorite specialty is in educating his clients on the benefits of real estate investment? After growing up in Virginia, he attended the University of Delaware where he studied accounting. That finance background led him to research real estate investing in 2013, before purchasing his very first rental property in Baltimore in 2014. As that first property started to snowball into more properties, he realized he’d caught the investing bug, and decided to pursue his own real estate license to better equip himself for these transactions. However, as word of his success and his new licensure got around to friends and family, referrals started coming - he realized his side business had rapidly turned into a full-time business! It was only once he’d fully committed to building his real estate business that he was able to work out how to properly balance his new-found client base with his original love of investing. When he’s not helping clients rise to the top of the market with competitive offers and hot listings, he’s managing multiple rental properties through his property management company, while also playing an active role in flipping local properties.  Josh’s background in accounting and finance allows him to offer a unique perspective of the investment and numbers side of real estate.  His financial background, coupled with his relentless advocacy for his clients, has made him a rising star in the industry and a trusted resource for buyers, sellers, and investors alike.

Melissa Reynolds' onboarding was what officially changed the dynamic from a one-man operation to a team. Melissa originally joined Josh in 2017 as his assistant while on maternity leave from her job as an Algebra II and Pre-Calculus teacher and Community Development leader at Arundel High School. Prior to teaching, she attended West Chester University for her Bachelors in teaching, with a concentration in secondary math, then moved on to La Salle University to receive her Masters in education. After deciding to extend her leave from teaching indefinitely, she decided to make the leap from assistant to licensed agent, and wasted no time in making a name for herself as a sought-after Realtor. Her clients love her friendly personality and brilliant customer service, as well as her dedication to finding the perfect home for every buyer and the best offer for every seller. When she’s not showing homes and attending closings, Melissa juggles being a mom to two young boys, and spending time with her two horses and her dog.

Karissa Collier is the newest addition to the team, having passed her licensing exam in July 2020. She received her business degree at Barry University, where she also minored in graphic design. A Pasadena local, she is eager to use her lifelong familiarity with the region to match clients with their perfect homes. With her loyalty, strong work ethic, and friendliness, it's easy to see how she's so rapidly become so well-loved among her clients and sphere. In addition to her real estate career, Karissa is the Varsity Brands marketing director for the Northeast Hub, coordinating and hosting international cheerleading competitions, as well as an instructor at All Seasons Athletics. When she's not negotiating winning offers for her clients or traveling for cheerleading competitions, she loves boat outings on summer days, and spending time with her big family.

Sarah O’Neill joined the team in the summer of 2020 after staying home for five years to raise her two young children. Prior to her hiatus, she was an executive assistant at a boutique hedge fund in D.C. Her background as an assistant, as well as her experience in high-level customer service, have prepared her for the client-centered, fast-paced, ever-changing world of real estate. She is excited to be learning so much from her team as she navigates her new career in the industry. When she is not handling transaction coordination and team operations, she enjoys trying to keep up with her two young children and perfecting her cooking skills.

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As a team, we've become one of the top-producing teams in our brokerage and in the region. The team’s growth is referral-based; we're focused on building and nurturing long term relationships with our clients and other industry professionals. It should come as no surprise, then, that taking the time to genuinely get to know our clients, their families, and their individual interests and goals has led to us being recommended by 100% of our past clients. 

Stay tuned to our blog to learn more about the team, what we do, and what makes us tick. We'll even be doing a monthly deep-dive into each team member, where you can learn what drives each of us, what got each of us into real estate, and maybe even get to ask your own burning questions!