Eric C. Bumm, an Owensboro, Kentucky native, is proud of his hometown. He comments, “I can’t say enough great things about Owensboro and the people of Daviess County.” It made him who he is today.

 

The youngest of six kids, he attended a private Catholic elementary and high school. “I learned what it was like to be part of a team as a big family,” he reflects. “I was always active playing sports and attending other events that my siblings were participating in. That sent the trajectory of always wanting to be busy.” Eric’s childhood was formative, giving him the foundation for a strong work ethic instilled by his parents, that led him to a Team First attitude, and a love for the community.  

“My dad, Martin Sr., taught me to always leave things better than the way you found them.  My mom, Mary Ruth, was a talker and showed me the importance of always being kind to everyone you know and meet,” he comments. 

 

After leaving his hometown, Eric moved to Lexington to attend college at the University of Kentucky.

 

“I somehow fell into the nation’s greatest cheerleading program, which happens to be at the University of Kentucky,” says Eric. He played just about every sport growing up but found a niche and excelled in cheerleading, going from a beginner in the sport to a scholarship athlete in less than 6 months. Eric is a proud member of one of the 24 national championship-winning programs. He also met some influential people in the process.

“The gentleman who oversaw the program, Thomas Lynn Williamson (affectionately known as T. Lynn), became a dear friend and mentor of mine who shaped my approach to life post-college,” says Eric. Eric traveled all over the world, coaching the cheerleaders collegiately at the University of Texas at Austin before coaching in Hamburg, Germany, and also at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

 

“I also worked for a cheerleading company for 17 years that was based out of Memphis, Tennessee,” adds Eric. While living in Arizona during the 911 tragedy, I knew I wanted to return back home to Kentucky.  In 2001, he returned to Central Kentucky and in 2007 moved to Jessamine County, which he loves.

 

Despite his extensive background in sales, marketing, and management in the athletic apparel business, Eric's path eventually led him to real estate. When he got married, he saw the need for a new chapter in life. “I needed a change of scenery and wanted to pursue a passion versus a new job.”

 

The transition was facilitated by his association with T. Lynn, who was a savvy real estate investor himself but much more than that to Eric. Their connection grew, and T. Lynn played a crucial role in shaping Eric's approach to life. “T. Lynn is like a big brother and a dad to me,” says Eric. “He was incredibly impactful.”

 

Eric's formal entry into real estate happened in 2012, and he quickly fell in love with the industry. He had previously owned a duplex and a single-family home and was already familiar with real estate as an investment. What was initially a hobby transformed into a full-time career.

Eric is a REALTOR® for The Brokerage Real Estate Advisors and genuinely loves what he does.  Instead of marketing and selling athletic apparel or coaching cheerleading, he is marketing and selling properties as well as coaching and advising buyers and sellers about the intricacies of the local housing market. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

“I help people make one of the most important decisions of their lives,” he says. “I take a lot of pride in making sure that they have all the information available to make a good decision, which looks different for every client.” He loves that part of his job. The home buying and selling process is basically the same every time but the approach and strategies are different with every transaction based on the unique circumstances of each client.

 

 

Over the years, Eric has faced several challenges in his career. Getting into real estate later in life meant balancing work with his family responsibilities, including being a supportive husband and father. The challenge was to manage his time effectively and build his real estate business while prioritizing his family.

 

Eric's experience with T. Lynn and the values instilled by his family have helped him overcome these challenges. He emphasizes the importance of methodically taking steps and setting a strong foundation for success. He believes in the philosophy of "walk before you run" and the power of effective time management, clear communication, and setting expectations.

 

 

What motivates Eric every day is his desire to make his city, community, and neighborhood more attractive and a better place to live. As he says, “I want to make the community a better place.”

 

He has taken on real estate projects that aim to enhance the aesthetics of the community. This
includes 19 one-acre lot developments off Harrodsburg Rd called Kensington, a 20-acre farm in Wilmore, which he is subdividing into three tracks of land and a few more "to be announced soon" projects. They are all offering opportunities for homeownership in an environment where inventory is limited.
 
“It’s incredibly rewarding to help other people navigate the home buying process and equally exciting to bring these new projects to the market too,” he says.

  

Providing more housing options and improving the landscape is what it’s all about for Eric, a dedicated and driven man who is making a difference for his community.

 

 

Eric's family is at the center of his life. He is married to Dr. Jessica Popplewell, a dentist who has been practicing in Danville, Kentucky, for over two decades and has been very supportive and understanding as Eric has grown his real estate business. They have two daughters, Sophia Bumm and Presley Bumm, who are students in the Jessamine County school district.

 

It’s challenging to find a work-life balance. Eric says, “It’s a scheduling juggling act. If you can manage your time, you can be successful at real estate and still be a great dad and husband. You have to communicate with people and set expectations.”

 

Outside of work, Eric enjoys traveling with his wife, who shares his enthusiasm for exploring new places. They are fans of college sports and have season tickets for the University of Kentucky football and basketball games. Eric and his family have not met a beach they didn't like and find solace in warm-weather beach destinations. “We are Beach Bumms!” he says proudly. 

 

Eric and his family also have a special connection with local businesses. They frequent "The
Public Well" in downtown Nicholasville owned by Charlie Hensley, whom they consider part of their extended family. They also enjoy visiting the Dixie Café in Keene, a family-run restaurant in their community where everyone who walks through the door is treated like part of the family.

 

 

Eric's love for his work, his passion for making the community better, and his dedication to his family make him a truly exceptional real estate advisor. He is proud of his roots, grateful for his mentors, and committed to creating positive change in his community, one real estate transaction at a time. Eric C. Bumm is more than a real estate advisor; he's a community builder and a devoted family man who finds joy in every step of his journey.