After more than 15 years in residential real estate, Elizabeth Heil was ready to expand her business in a new direction.
An agent with REMAX Achievers in Columbus, Ohio, Heil spent the past eight years purchasing, renovating and managing short-term rental properties. While residential sales remained her primary focus, that hands-on experience gave her a deeper understanding of the investment side of real estate and fueled her interest in commercial opportunities.
As her knowledge and confidence grew, so did her desire to help other investors identify and pursue similar opportunities. What she needed was the education, connections and support to take the next step.
She found those resources through the REMAX network.
Finding Mentorship Through REMAX
While Heil had been considering commercial real estate for some time, attending the REMAX Global Commercial Symposium – the premier annual event designed specifically for REMAX Commercial professionals – helped move those plans forward.
At the 2026 event in Seattle, Washington, she connected with Kristie Kimnach, Executive Director of REMAX Commercial. She also met Nathan Bragg, Director of the Commercial Division at REMAX Time Realty in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Both encouraged and advised her as she explored the commercial side of the business.
After the symposium, Bragg continued to mentor her on commercial real estate fundamentals, property presentation and marketing strategies.
“Nathan taught me how to present a property and introduced me to tools I could use, including AI,” says Heil. “He’s been a real morale booster.”
Bragg also encouraged Heil to pursue her CCIM designation, one of commercial real estate’s most recognized professional credentials, providing essential knowledge and skills.
“As soon as I enrolled in CCIM, I knew it was for me,” she says.
Heil is now working toward her full CCIM designation and has joined the Ohio Business Brokers Association to expand her knowledge and connections even further.
