Rising Stars: Meet Jenna Kazmierczak

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Kazmierczak.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
So I was born in Poland, Ohio + Then didn’t go back from vacation one year and grew up the rest of the time in Oak Island, NC. I then attended Carolina University, where I ran track for the first two years and then stopped so I could study abroad [ I did a summer semester in China] and then pursue more photography/videography when I got a job filming weddings with a local high-end media company. I could have graduated early; however, I applied to some internships out in California [ I eventually wanted to get into the action sports industry, and that is where everything is based] and ended up landing one, so off to LA I went. The first one was with Style Network, and while working that one, I landed a second one with E! Entertainment. While working the second one, I also landed another internship with a drone company who did a lot of work in the surf and skate industry. Score! Since I was able to finish my last senior portfolio class online while living out in California, I started applying to jobs in the action sports industry. I worked a few surf events before landing a job with a motocross brand, Thor MX, after applying to a random and vague Craigslist ad. Since California was so expensive though, I started a side business sewing custom bikini bottoms. Although it was really cool working for them, I still wasn’t making enough to even start a savings account. After working for them for a few years, my grandpa who was currently living in Ohio, was moved down to North Carolina to live with my dad. The thought of getting to see him every day again was enough to get me thinking about moving back to North Carolina. Since I was basically getting into a bunch of debt out in California, I reached out to my former boss at Hart to Heart Media, whom I filmed weddings with in college, and he offered me a job again on his filming team. It was bittersweet because Bryce, my significant other, was staying in California for the time being before finally making the move in 2022. After moving back, I was able to get myself out of debt, purchase land and spend the last 9 months of my Grandpa’s life with him every single day. In the midst of filming weddings [on the weekends, mostly in Asheville, Hilton Head, and Charleston], a family friend reached out and asked if I wanted to be his assistant for his home inspection business. I said yes and started working for him in early 2018. In 2018, when Hurricane Florence hit, inspections were dead because nobody was lending, so I decided to get my real estate license. Two months later, in December of 2018, I was a licensed Realtor! I continued to film for another season and eventually phased that out since weekends were big times for open houses and buyers to come down. When I phased filming out, I replaced that by starting my own photography company. I started filming a lot of portraits and families but eventually started shooting real estate photos as well. I knew I needed aerial photography as a part of my tool kit, so went and got licensed by the FAA to learn the rules as well as make me eligible to offer it as a commercial service and also eligible to obtain insurance. I continued working for Paul Gawron with Smithville Home Inspection until March 2020, when I finally went full-time with real estate and photography on the side. My two internships with NBC networks, as well as working for Thor MX and Smithville Home Inspection, I was project managing, trafficking advertising, designing graphics and marketing, and helping plan photoshoots and events. While working for Paul, I realized that real estate could capture every single one of my favorite aspects of previous jobs and combine them into my own business. One of my other “jobs” while working for Paul was to “entertain” other parties at inspections so he could focus on inspecting. During this time, I would ask questions about their plans for the property, what they do for work, where they are from, where their Christmas tree is going, among many other things. While I was helping Paul, I was genuinely enjoying connecting with these people and getting them excited about their exciting yet daunting purchase. I had never thought I would do anything in “sales,” but when you look at every other aspect of real estate, it honestly felt like a no-brainer to go get my license. I worked for a local firm for a few years while I got my business and network off the ground, but when the firm, unfortunately, imploded from the inside, I decided to break off on my own and start my own firm. I always knew I wanted to do that but didn’t expect to so soon. At the same time, I also didn’t want to regret it 5 years from now when I hopefully have a family of my own. Getting things moving now seemed like the logical yet scary decision. Since I knew I needed a physical location for my real estate firm once I broke off on my own in order to provide for agents and the public as well as SEO purposes, I snagged up a space in Kure Beach, 2 blocks from the pier. Seeing as I don’t really need the full area for desks and such, I opened up a mini surf shop on the other side called Bluetide Surf + Lifestyle. I have surfboards, surf and beach rentals, fitness and yoga gear, martial arts gear, my own photography prints, along with snacks and drinks. I am hoping to host some events for realtors, buyers, and sellers, host open mats for my martial arts community, along with some surf demo days as well. Having my own surf shop has always been a goal of mine, and the fact that it was a happy accident makes me smile even more. Since I am sitting in my office most days as well, it’s a way to connect with the community in yet another way who may even become clients down the road as well. Being as we get a bunch of walk-in traffic due to the location, I have received a bunch of inquiries on property management. This division is legally set up, but am still in the works of hiring a property manager as well as dialing in what exact services we will offer. Property management in-house adds a whole extra life cycle of a transaction instead of pushing it to a 3rd party and then hoping they come back to you if they want to buy or sell. I hope to continue growing Salty Air Living in order to create a whole lifestyle brand that helps people take full advantage of the coastal lifestyle. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Money obstacles are always hard. Never count on money from a closing until you hear it is recorded either. I am also on the younger spectrum of things as far as realtors go. I have had agents try the bully or passive-aggressive method to try to get their way in negotiations, which just shows me what not to do, so I guess I should be grateful. Haha. Growing up, my parents had their own businesses worked from home, which allowed us luxuries such as going on frequent vacations since all they needed was internet to work. I knew I was never a cubicle job worker, and having such inspiring and hard-working parents really motivated me from a young age to go after what I want to do and to be an entrepreneur as well. They have always supported me in every endeavor I wanted to go after even if the risk scared them. For that, I am forever grateful. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Salty Air Living is a local boutique firm hoping to connect with agents who want to create a brand around themselves, have access to top-level resources, and aren’t going to get lost in the masses of the larger and more corporate-style companies. Their voice and ideas will be heard. I want Salty Air Living to be a place people want to be and to stay. I hope to have the public see Salty Air Living as an open friendship where they can reach out and connect not just about real estate but for any aspect of the community and area. I want the public to know that we may not be the heels and suit type firm, but are guaranteed to work hard for you and make sure you’re receiving a humanized experience and that you feel comfortable and confident with us being on your team. 

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was quite shy for a long time. I came more out of my shell whenever we just decided to not go home from vacation one year and to stay in NC. I was able to be myself and who I wanted myself to be in NC, where nobody knew me yet, and it really helped build my confidence. Shy or not though, I was very competitive when it came to sports. Sports were my life and eventually earned me college scholarships in three different sports. The beach and nature have always been my happy places. I love just wandering [barefoot whenever I can] and exploring new and old places by myself or with my pups. I don’t like having a set place to go or see, but just taking things in as they come about. I think this type of personality, mixed with seeing my parent’s hard work ethic building their own businesses throughout my life, really helped give me the confidence to just go for it when it came to starting my own businesses. 

Contact Info:

• Website: saltyairliving.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/saltyairliving
• Facebook: facebook.com/saltyairliving
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-kazmierczak/
• Other: wavelengthimaging.com