Welcome to Lewistown, Montana – Population 5,000. A charming, quiet farm town in the heart of Montana where McKenzie was born and raised. There, he met his now husband of six years, Dane, who was in the military and about to be moved to Alaska. “I’ve always wanted to go there, and you miss all of the opportunities when you don’t even at least try.” He remembers the move to Anchorage being a slight culture shock, “When I moved here, it was a complete lifestyle switch. Figuring out the city, and figuring out who I was as a person.” McKenzie and Dane were married in 2017 and have now made the Mat-Su Valley their home, along with other members of their family who have followed from Montana.

 

After a brief time working in the dental field, his love of homes brought him into the world of real estate in 2019. He fondly recalls driving through one of his favorite hometown neighborhoods, Bonanza Hills -  “It was full of big, beautiful houses, up on this hill by the high school that I would drive through constantly, just to look at them.” Though he says commission-based income was a scary thought at such a young age, he leaped at 21 years old and has never looked back.

 

While excelling in his real estate career, McKenzie cherishes the opportunities to network and build connections with other professionals in the industry. Despite the competitive nature of the business, he believes in fostering friendships and collaboration with fellow realtors. “Even though other REALTORS® are competitors, we don’t look at it that way. I like the networking you get within the industry because that’s made me a lot of good friends.”  Collaborating with fellow professionals has not only expanded his network but has also fostered personal growth and mentorship opportunities. McKenzie actively engages in community events and open houses with fellow REALTORS®, lenders, and other real estate colleagues, and has been able to leverage these opportunities to connect with others and create meaningful relationships.

 

At only five years in the business, McKenzie has skyrocketed to top producer status. His 28 units and $11.2 million sold last year earned him Keller Williams’s Year-Over-Year Growth award in 2022.

 

McKenzie’s dedication to one area of his business plan has proven highly successful. As a realtor still fairly new to the area, he was able to build a significant client base by hosting open houses. “Open houses are how I built my entire business. I sat in two every single weekend.” He considers his empathy to be one of his greatest strengths – knowing when and how to connect with people as soon as they walk in the door. “You have to be purposeful with it. You can’t just say ‘Hi!’ and let them go, you have to make that connection.” He loves creating an experience in an open house and showcasing a home in a way that is unique to its needs.

 

That extraordinary growth in a such short period has not come without challenging learning experiences. McKenzie recalls that learning to balance the intense stress of real estate sales and building a business while maintaining healthy boundaries was something he initially struggled with. He quickly learned that setting those boundaries and prioritizing self-care and the well-being of his family was crucial to maintaining his upward trajectory. “About three years in was when I was finally able to make that work-life balance work. I have learned when I’m going to burn out and when it’s time to step away, but it’s not easy.”

 

While not native to Alaska, McKenzie enjoys taking full advantage of everything the last frontier has to offer. Long hikes and backpacking trips with his husband Dane and their three dogs are some of his favorite ways to spend downtime and rejuvenate. Crow Pass and Reed Lakes are among his recent hiking destinations. He also enjoys getting out of the cold for a fun trip to Las Vegas, where fun experiences, great shopping and unique fashion abound.

 

McKenzie expresses deep gratitude for his husband’s unwavering support and credits him as a driving force behind his personal and professional growth. “He knows that every single day, there’s something I can do to be a better person, whether it's something in my business life, friends, relationships, anything.” He also finds inspiration and mentorship in his coach, Sherri Mulhaney. Formerly a top-producing Wasilla REALTOR®, Sherri is now a successful real estate coach who has found her home on the sunny beaches of Mexico. “I love her attitude, and I’m always trying to feed off of that. There’s no stopping her – I’m learning all of the things that she did and implemented in her business so that I can get to where she was and how successful she was and still is.”

Ironically, Sherri is equally inspired by McKenzie and doats on what a superstar he is. She shares, "His attention to detail, his ability to communicate, and his conscientious approach to each transaction is something I wish all real estate agents had. He truly is a superstar." When asked what makes him different, she exclaims, "His follow-up. If you are part of his sphere, he will always make sure you know that you're a part of his tribe, And he never stops learning and furthering his education. I could go about McKenzie for days."

 

McKenzie's advice to new agents or those looking to start a career in real estate is to develop the determination and resilience to weather the challenges that come with this profession. “Make sure you have the grit and determination to stick it out when things get rough. Because real estate is a rollercoaster at all times. Start connecting with your sphere before you start, because you want to hit the ground running with people who know you and trust you, right when you get your license.”

 

As McKenzie reflects on his journey, he finds inspiration in a quote that serves as a constant reminder of his growth and his optimism about what is to come. “If the version of you from five years ago could see you now, they’d be so proud. Keep going.”