Danielle Frisbie
For Danielle Frisbie, “love where you live – live where you love”, is more than a slogan. It’s a deep dedication to make a difference in the lives of her clients. Her commitment to community began at a young age. From helping family friends as they prepared newspapers for delivery on an old-school paper route to starting to babysit at age eleven, Danielle has always seen work as a way to create bonds with people. And whether it was those initial forays into the job world or later when she fibbed about her age at fourteen to get hired at a local restaurant in her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, Danielle displayed drive and tenacity in pursuing her goals. She might not have known it as kid rolling newspapers, but those traits would later contribute to her determination to do the very best for her clients.
After college, Danielle moved to Colorado to work in youth ministry at Doulos Ministries, which was both a home for troubled teens residing on the property and a Bible school. It was a rewarding and also intense day-to-day routine, so she took advantage of an additional assignment in community outreach assisting Wyldlife, a Younglife group for junior high school students. She had the opportunity to meet some incredible high-energy kids at Ken Caryl Junior High and felt privileged to positively impact so many young lives. After a year and a half in this role, she craved something different so headed to the mountains for the summer. As it turned out, her first day of orientation at Vail Resorts in Keystone would change Danielle’s life in amazing ways. She happened to meet her neighbor in employee housing, Rob Frisbie, the man who later became her husband of 26 years and as Danielle tells us, “her biggest supporter and rainmaker.”
Since Rob was from Colorado Springs, they decided to visit while searching for a new place to live. This simple visit to family turned into the two of them finding their permanent home base. Danielle quickly fell in love with the strong sense of community, the proximity to the mountains and so many of the things that still make this town special. Danielle searched for a job and combed through The Denver Post for job opportunities. Danielle says, “Without websites like Indeed, my job search was old school; I would sit on the living room floor with a newspaper and a highlighter, circling job listings that interested me and sending out my resume to companies. I answered an ad for a pharmaceutical representative for UCB Pharma's antihistamine line in Southern Colorado. I still maintain friendships with those on my regional team. Pharmaceutical sales was a perfect foundation for my lifelong career in real estate.” Maybe she can blame it on that first paper route, but Danielle had once again carved out a career path that allowed her entrepreneurial spirit to soar while forming strong relationships that would continue into the next stage of her life.
One of the first things she fell in love with in Colorado Springs were the similarities between some of the city’s established neighborhoods and the converted Victorian homes she grew up seeing in her college town. Home is truly the heart of the matter for Danielle. It was an easy decision to leave pharmaceutical sales to start a family, but she realized her next career step needed to be something that would allow her to follow her multiple passions--a love of working with people, being innovative and thinking outside the box. Her deep appreciation of history and homes contribute to making real estate a perfect fit. As is a theme in Danielle’s life, a personal connection is what truly lit a fire within her. Anne Marie Flynn of The Platinum Group, Realtors represented the Frisbies in buying their first home and encouraged Danielle to become a real estate agent. Danielle has a deep respect for Anne Marie’s professionalism and comforting style of business. Danielle says, “The invitation to join their group started what was a fifteen-year commitment to the firm. My experience and education there were gifts for which I am forever grateful.”
Danielle earned her real estate license in 2002 and her broker license in 2005. As a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, as well as the Colorado Association of REALTORS® and Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS®, Danielle has extensive knowledge of the real estate market and strives to be a trusted advisor through every step of the home-buying process. Over the decades Danielle has earned over a dozen certifications and designations to enhance her skills set. Leadership Academy, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, GUILD, Graduate Realtor Institute, and Accredited Staging Professional are some that she carries that differentiate her. In her first year as an agent, she achieved a total volume of 2 million dollars in transactions. Over the years, Danielle has become a top-producing agent with a best year of 55 million dollars in transactions. Her success is a testament to her hard work and dedication to her clients. She thrives on building relationships with clients and helping them navigate the complex world of real estate transactions.
Despite her success, Danielle’s early years in real estate were far from glamorous. Balancing appointments and scheduling while keeping her kids a priority was challenging. Rob, who runs a successful business of his own, helped her through the tough times. These moments taught Danielle the importance of being flexible and being available for her clients no matter what. Those early struggles—ask her about the non-existent air conditioner she purchased after one memorable closing—enhance Danielle’s understanding of the wide array of circumstances her clients deal with during the process. She prides herself on being a good communicator, detail-oriented and able to navigate an ever-changing market. As one former client says, “Her integrity, professionalism, and industry knowledge are second to none.”
If Danielle could offer advice to other real estate agents, it would be simple. “Be true to yourself, make every transaction a win-win for all parties, and always remain positive. If I could have given myself any advice when starting out it would have been to not sweat the small stuff!” Also, Danielle stresses that choosing your broker wisely is imperative. A supportive and trustworthy partner can make all the difference. Danielle says, “In Colorado Springs, there are exceptional leaders, such as Chris Cowles, who invited me to a sales meeting at The Cutting Edge, Realtors. Upon walking into the room, Danielle knew that she had found her forever work home. Despite being a young company, it boasted a strong collaborative and welcoming culture with experienced leaders. The Cutting Edge, REALTORS ownership team now, which includes Chris Cowles, Amy Kunce-Martinez, Gary Martinez, Rob Edgin, Lorraine Amos, and myself, have decades of experience and a shared commitment to our culture of being ‘Stronger Together.’ I feel comforted working alongside my partners and agents every day.” The partner team has been one of the most supportive elements of Danielle’s professional life and she is continuously grateful knowing they have each other's best interest at heart.
When asked what life events have had the largest impact on her, Danielle replied, “Moving out of my mother's house at the age of fifteen has had the most significant impact on shaping who I am today. Despite being a good kid, I was headstrong, and being on my own at such a young age was challenging. I was constantly on the go, juggling work, sports, youth group, and school. Initially, my friends' families took me in, but I then spent a year living with various relatives, including my aunt and grandmother, before heading off to college. Choosing to be independent at a young age forced me to survive, but it also instilled a desire for success to justify the path I had chosen. This experience has made me driven, fiercely loyal, protective, and dedicated to what and those I love. Also, I must mention my grandpa. He was always my support, my role model, and my sounding board as a kid. He had so many attributes that I admired. He was wickedly smart, a savvy businessman, loving and compassionate, always positive, constantly smiling, ready with a sincere compliment, and a gentle kind soul.”
In terms of family, Danielle and Rob have two sons, Logan (21), and Spencer (19), and two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Lucy, and Joey. Danielle says, “My spunky mother lives with us, and my adventurous father resides nearby. Our sons attend college in Colorado, with Logan at Colorado State University majoring in real estate business, and Spencer studying biology at The University of Denver. We are so fortunate to have them close by. Growing up, we enjoyed weekly Sunday dinners with extended family and friends. Family is essential to me.” Danielle’s caring and supportive nature shine through in every interaction in both her personal and professional lives. She is authentic, funny, and willing to do whatever it takes on behalf of those in her life.
Apart from work, Danielle’s top priorities are spending time with family, as well as traveling. She also enjoys discovering new and unique restaurants in the area, hiking, socializing with friends, and playing pickleball. However, her job remains a true passion and she considers her team members a second family. Everyone has perfected their role in their team. Jennifer Holms, the team director, is amazing at keeping the group accountable to their schedule while always being positive support. Brenda Cordero, the bilingual agent is incredible at bridging language barriers who has a heart for the Lord which is constant encouragement. Ashley Moran, whose background as a Nurse Practitioner makes her a natural at caring for her client’s needs while she is a champion multi-tasker. Honorary Frisbies- Jennifer, Brenda, and Ashley, are always by her side, and she feels blessed to be surrounded by such a supportive and caring work family every day.
In closing, Danielle shares her final thoughts, “I hope this article emphasizes the importance of relationships, as they are the cornerstone of my business and life. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with friends, family, colleagues, and those who entrust me to represent them with their real estate needs. My friends and family provide me with motivation, comfort, and laughter, and they are my ultimate reason for everything I do. All of these relationships are based on a deep connection that is at the core of my life and work.”