Roxboro Community School (RCS) graduate Kelsey Pleasant Wahl said conversations with her middle and high school teachers helped her gain the confidence to pursue a degree and career in business.
She said, “Being a student in a smaller school, like RCS, was very beneficial. All of my teachers knew me and were invested in my education. It was not out of the ordinary for me to have conversations with my teachers about my family, activities outside of the classroom, or challenges I was facing personally. I will always be thankful for the teachers and staff members that went above and beyond to make sure my experience at RCS was exceptional. Throughout my time at RCS, I was encouraged to think about what I wanted to study in college and career paths I was interested in pursuing. I truly think this helped me feel confident in my choice to attend UNCW and the Cameron School of Business.”
Immediately after receiving her business degree, Kelsey said she “jumped right back in and started taking classes” to earn her real estate license. “I knew I wanted to sell homes and I was eager to learn about real estate and new construction. I joined the team at Bill Clark Homes as a sales assistant in a new construction community in Wilmington. That role quickly evolved. I was promoted to the lead sales position in less than 30 days. I’ve been with Bill Clark Homes going on four years now and I’m currently the lead sales agent in three communities,” she explained.
In 2020, Kelsey’s personal sales volume was $57 million.
Discussing her work, Kelsey said, “I work primarily in new construction, so I am very lucky to have several office locations in our beautiful model homes. I work with clients from start to finish. I guide them through selecting a home site, choosing a home plan, and all stages from breaking ground to completion.” She continued, “I love being a part of the full journey with my clients. It is very rewarding being the communicator of the excitement through the process and seeing how proud they are of what they’ve accomplished.”
Kelsey said she especially loves working with first time homebuyers. “The construction process takes several months, so I get to know my clients very well and have made some lifelong friendships with several individuals and families. The homebuilding industry exploded during the pandemic, which led to a whole new set of challenges in new construction. I had to have some tough conversations with clients about timelines, discontinued products, and temporary living situations. It was disappointing and frustrating for all of us, but there was a new level of excitement and celebration when their homes were finally complete and we were able to welcome them home,” she said.
Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys spending time with her family. She said, “I am very lucky to have family and friends that support me along the way and are always ready to celebrate my success. My husband, Zach, is a very good listener. He never complains when I come home from work all fired up and ready to vent after a tough day. My parents, sisters, and best friend have been wonderful at cheering me on and helping me push through times when I was overwhelmed and discouraged.”
Kelsey was salutatorian for her RCS Class of 2014. Her best friend, Makayla Maloney, was valedictorian. That is just one of the memories Kelsey has of her time at RCS. She also has fond memories of playing on a championship RCS volleyball team in 2009, with her mom, former RCS school nurse Yvonne Warren, coaching.
“I also enjoyed playing softball, organizing blood drives with the Red Cross Team, participating in Bulldog Day, and volunteering with Beta Club,” Kelsey said.