All in the Family: Longboat Key's parent-child real estate teams

It’s not uncommon for children to follow in their parents’ footsteps, and that rings true among Realtors on Longboat Key. Much of Longboat’s real estate work is done by parent-child real estate teams. Meet several of the second generation of agents who followed their parents into the business.

Michael and Drayton Saunders, Michael Saunders & Co.

The relationship of Michael Saunders & Co. founder/CEO Michael Saunders and her son, Drayton Saunders, president, is all about knowing what roles to play.

“We always had a great mother-son relationship,” Drayton Saunders said. “But we’re also business partners, and she’s also my boss. We have three different hats to wear, and we had to work to get the different roles right. The first one was easy, and the other two, we had to work on.”

Drayton Saunders joined his mom’s company in 2003. Before then, he was living in Santiago, Chile and owned a bagel and coffee shop.

“I think every entrepreneur who starts a business would love to keep their children close, and the dream would be to have them join you in the business,” Michael Saunders said. “It really is great to work shoulder-to-shoulder with someone with the same goals and values. You have almost this unspoken common language that comes from him being raised by me.”

The Saunderses have also learned from each other.

“What I’ve learned from him is we may have the same end goals in mind, but there are many different ways to get there,” Michael Saunders said. “Welding together my knowledge and background with his new vision and new ideas is great. He brings a great perspective that comes from being in a different generation. I am one lucky mother and business person.”

Barbara and Ryan Ackerman, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

After working in commercial real estate in Miami for 15 years, Ryan Ackerman joined Barbara Ackerman in October 2014. The mother-son duo proved to be a powerhouse, ranking No. 1 for real estate groups in Sarasota and Manatee counties in 2015, with $77.7 million in sales.

“Working with her is the best,” Ryan Ackerman said. “The reason being is your parents and your family have each other’s back, everyone is on the same page, and everyone is working toward the same goals.”

The Ackermans' different approaches and backgrounds help round each other out.

“Coming from commercial, it’s more of an easier sell, whereas residential is more of an emotional sell,” Ryan Ackerman said. “I had to change that, and my mom helped me. She has this ability to take complicated situations and come up with solutions. She’s helped me fine tune that.”

Barbara Ackerman has also learned from her son.

“He has this energetic approach and a great knowledge of technology,” she said. “And being in his 40s, he’s hitting the market of the up-and-coming executives who see Florida as a place not only to invest in but to actually live in.”

Barbara Ackerman said working with her son is beneficial because of its lack of competition.

“You really do have a group approach with a family, and you’re not in competition with each other,” she said. “You’re there for each other no matter what.”

Gail Wittig and Ian Addy, Michael Saunders & Co.

For Gail Wittig and son Ian Addy, trust is key.

“Ian can go away on vacation and not worry about anything while he’s gone, and I can do the same,” Wittig said. “It’s a wonderful thing working with someone you can truly trust. Whatever decision he makes when I’m away, it’s what I’d decide anyway.”

Addy was selling real estate in Tampa when he decided to team up with his mom in 2008.

“I knew I loved real estate from in Tampa, and when I had the opportunity to come here to Sarasota, where I grew up, it made so much sense,” Addy said.

Addy said he and his mother have similar work styles.

“We have the same work ethic," he said. "I’m very thankful we work extremely similar, and it seems to be a wonderful fit. It’s just a wonderful thing to learn from her years of experience.”

Wittig most enjoys seeing her son every day.

“Most parents don’t get to spend this much time with grown children," she said. "It’s a good partnership, and it’s fun to do it together."

Joyce and Mark Huber, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty

Joyce Huber and her son, Mark, decided to go into business together 20 years ago.

“He’s terrific and really is a good Realtor,” Joyce Huber said. “I enjoy working with him, and people like him.”

Joyce Huber is now semi-retired but helps out when needed. For the mother-and-son team, working together requires flexibility.

“You have to understand both sides of the coin, get along and agree to doing things you might not normally,” Mark Huber said. “As a partner, you have to. You have to get along together and make agreements in order to be successful.”

Although working with a family member requires some compromise, the Hubers enjoy working together in the same industry.

“I guess it’s part of our genes to be in real estate,” Joyce Huber said. “I was a teacher, and either you’re a teacher or you’re not. You can’t make one. I feel that way with a Realtor.”

Gabe and Charles Buky, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

Charles Buky has always had a close relationship with his father, Gabe, so it was only natural when the father and son began to work together 15 years ago.

“I’m lucky that not only do I have time to see my family outside of work, but I get a lot of extra time most people don’t have in work," Charles Buky said. "Personally, I feel very blessed to be able to get that extra time.”

Gabe Buky has a background in architecture, and Charles Buky has a financial background.

“We decided to combine our two backgrounds and go forward,” Gabe Buky said. “It’s been fantastic. It’s the best possible situation. He’s the perfect son.”

In addition to the different backgrounds, the pair complements each other with their generational gap.

“Newer generations are a little more up-to-date on technology and things like that that are always changing,” Charles Buky said. “I think I’ve taught him that, and he’s taught me his knowledge of the market. He has a very calm demeanor, and no matter what happens, he always finds a way to solve a problem.”

For the partners, working together comes easy.

“We just know what each other is thinking,” Gabe Buky said. “We’re on the same page with everything. It’s absolutely incredible.”