My appreciation for community, keen business instincts, and strong local ties inspired me to leave my old life and start a new career....(30 years ago).

Real estate wasn’t in my plans. My destiny, or so I thought, was to work in the family business. My father was the publisher of the Mount Vernon News. We were the 4th generation owners of the paper, and I knew I’d end up working there.

But first, I wanted to explore other things!

In college, I was very active in social groups—a lesson from my dad and grandfather, who had been deeply involved in the community. I joined a fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, one of the best decisions of my life...and became the campus rep for a beer company. That role eventually landed me a position at Stroh Brewing Company, which was the #1 beer brand back in the ‘70s.

One day, the call I knew would come finally did: it was time to return to the family business. My brother and father wanted me to oversee advertising and marketing. I became the public face of the newspaper which led me to Ellen, a lovely farm girl who I fell in love with and eventually married. Ellen and I welcomed 6 wonderful kids—Carl, Greg, Courtney, Emily, Martina, and Hilari.

I enjoyed many years at the newspaper. Things were changing in the newspaper industry, however, in the early nineties. I saw an opportunity to leave the newspaper business and pursue other interests.

For the first time in my life, I had no obligations to the paper. I asked myself—what’s next? Years earlier, Ellen had tried real estate, and although it wasn’t for her, I saw the appeal. The competition, the negotiations, the thrill of getting the best deal for a client—that stuff lit me up. I got my license in 1996, and since then, real estate has been my reason for getting out of bed.

Like any career, it’s had highs and lows. One of the toughest chapters came in 2006 when I got my broker’s license, bought an old building, remodeled it, and opened my own office—right before the market collapsed. Business came to a screeching halt with the crash of 2008 and I had a loan to pay. My banker listened to my story and said, “Dave, pay us when you can.” That moment stuck with me. Local people take care of local people—and that sense of community is priceless to me.
But life wasn’t done shaking us. Just one year later, we lost our son Carl to an accidental overdose. He was 27 and had been in and out of rehab. 

In our grief, we knew we had to do something; we didn’t want families to suffer the pain we were suffering. The weekend after Carl passed, we started Arms of an Angel Foundation, to raise awareness about opioids, heroin, and drug addiction. I’ve spoken to over 25,000 young people at schools, sharing Carl’s story and urging them not to give in to negative peer pressure.

The foundation is an integral part of who we are as a family. Ellen and I have been married for 44 years and we have 12 grandkids! It’s a joy to be a grandpa. I’m also a Cincinnati Reds fan—and never miss streaming a game—and my fraternity brothers are a huge part of my life. We golf and show up for each other in good times and bad.

Community means everything to me. I try to pass along any wisdom I’ve picked up along the way, and try to set a good example for those around me.
With 30 years of real estate experience and an in-depth knowledge of the community, I’m the kind of REALTOR® who embraces the grind. When a client asks me to sell a house, I don’t just list it—I actively promote it through emails, social media, and even the occasional meme. My approach to showing homes goes far beyond standard tours: I share local history, highlight traffic flow on nearby streets, and introduce clients to the area’s restaurants and stores. Over the years, I’ve sponsored local sports teams, food drives, and cultural events, forging strong ties with different groups. If my clients are new in town, I can help them connect with the community.

Negotiations are another area where my experience pays off. I know how to prevent deals from going sour and aim for outcomes that set my clients up for success. Sometimes I will talk a client out of a deal if I don’t think it is right for them. While I take my work seriously, I also believe there's always room for humor—I love dad jokes and enjoy peppering our time together with light-hearted moments. Some jokes might be better than others, but I promise there will be laughs along the way.

Sincerely,

Dave Culbertson