"It’s difficult to transition from a career military person to a 'regular' civilian," says Pete O'Connor of Mastermind, REALTORS. "There are many different people out in the real world and not everyone wears the same exact clothing (the uniform) or is aligned for one goal (successful mission accomplishment)."

"With that being said, that’s probably been the thing that I’ve taken to heart and used the most in my post-naval life," he continues. "People are different and have different goals, ideas, thoughts, and ways of doing things. Understanding this has made me a better person overall in my personal and professional dealings with my customers and clients."

To say that Pete has followed in the family business is, perhaps, an understatement.

"I come from a Navy family." His father was a 30-year career naval aviator, flying missions from WWII through to Vietnam. Most of Pete's seven siblings served in the Navy as well. 

Pete joined the Navy in 1982 at 18 years old and served for 21 years of active duty. He followed that up with nine years in the Fleet Reserve. "I guess it was just a natural progression for me to do family-wise."

Pete grew up in Tampa, Florida, after his father retired from the Navy. By then his parents had created Rod O'Connor Real Estate. "I literally grew up in their Real Estate office. At times I would accompany one of my parents on a showing, or open house. I guess you could say that my career choices went hand in glove with my father's."

In the spring of 2001, Pete and his family moved from Norfolk, VA to Kenosha, as Pete’s last tour of duty in the Navy was PSD Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes.  He met his wife, Cari, while both of them were in the Navy, his wife coming off of Presidential duty for President George H. W. Bush. They met in Pensacola, Fl and in time started their family and raised their children in Kenosha, which they now call home.

"The biggest challenge I've run into as a Realtor is dealing with people trying to scam Real Estate from unsuspecting sellers. It’s terrible that people are out there trying to screw other folks over, out of their deeds and titles to their homes."

He gives credit to his time in the Navy for helping him navigate through these difficult situations. "Prior to each major deployment, there are 'workup cycles' that a ship must go through to attain qualifications for the ship and its crew to deploy," he notes. So much work and focus occur during that time, just like working toward closing on a home.

"Certain individuals would do things that would end up hurting the overall mission and the ship’s manpower force. I guess that makes me more on point in keeping my client's best interests in the forefront of my mind. My client has become my mission."

During one transaction, Pete remembers the buyer purported to be a multi-millionaire. This was during the Great Recession when sellers were desperate to sell. "That a buyer had entered into a contract for the sale of this luxury home. He had no intention of completing the deal, but we didn't know that. He wanted the seller to sign the deed then he would wire the funds after the fact."

"Through diligent efforts, we were able to spot the scam pretty quickly and saved our seller from essentially giving his home away. There’s much more to this story for sure, but that’s the gist of it. That one was a doozy."

In 2012 Pete started his first company, Power Realtors, and it was highly successful under his leadership.  In 2016 he sold that company and started Mastermind REALTORS®, and they’ve continually ranked in the top one percent of all brokerage firms in their MLS. "That attention to detail I learned in the Navy, the continual professional training, diverse makeup, community involvement, and overall good nature of each of us set Mastermind, REALTORS as a whole, head and shoulders above our competitors."

"The fact of the matter is that it’s the agents who make up the company and our successes, not me," says Pete. "I’m just the guy that came up with the idea for this company. Each of the Agents that I’m privileged to work with and for are the company. They alone are responsible for our many successes, and achievements. I’m very humbled and grateful to be working alongside and with them."