Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Rhoades.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Robert. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I attended the Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, New York, the nation’s premier culinary academy. In 1999, I graduated first in my class, and after working at restaurants in San Francisco and the Napa Valley, I returned to Texas to be the sous chef for Jeffrey’s Restaurant in Austin, working alongside nationally renowned chef David Garrido.
The 2000 presidential election brought more Texans to Washington DC than just the Bush family, and in 2001, I moved to the nation’s capital to open Jeffrey’s at the Watergate Hotel as chef de cuisine, overseeing all restaurant operations, room service, and the Potomac Lounge for numerous politicians and celebrities.
Anxious to get back to my roots after a few years on the East Coast, I returned to Texas in 2003 and accepted the executive chef position at Hudson’s On the Bend in Austin. During my tenure at Hudson’s on the Bend, I also performed regular live cooking schools and taped demonstrations for guests at the restaurant and for televised broadcasts.
In 2005, I traveled again to Washington D.C. to interview for a position in the nation’s most famous kitchen: the White House. That summer I was invited to return as assistant chef, but after careful consideration, I decided to continue my career in the Texas Hill Country and pursue my dream of opening my own restaurant. I took my first steps toward that dream in March 2009, partnering with Chef Blank to open Austin’s first gourmet food trailer, The Mighty Cone, on South Congress Avenue in downtown Austin. In 2010, I accepted a corporate executive chef position at Eddie V’s and opened their Dallas and downtown Houston (Galleria) locations.
By 2011, my wife and I now had a family of three children, and I was ready for a change that would allow me more flexibility with my scheduling. I began studying for my real estate license and by the end of the year I had retired from the restaurant industry and joined my mother, Nadeen Rhoades-Stepp working as a real estate agent. Her 35+ years of experience have been a great mentorship have played a tremendous role in my success in the real estate field.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The toughest part was the transition from the chef career to real estate. People say Realtors work crazy hours, but to me, it was far more flexible than a restaurant career. As a chef, I often spent 12 to 14 hours a day, 6 days a week inside a kitchen, away from my wife and kids.
With real estate, I’m able to work from home and usually schedule appointments around family time. Making a career shift in your 40’s can be challenging, but I’m a fast learner and have an incredibly strong work ethic, both of which have helped me tremendously along the way.
Please tell us about The Rhoades Team.
We specialize in helping Houston area home sellers and home buyers achieve their dreams! Our goal for buyers is to help them find the house that’s perfect for their needs and family. For sellers, our goal is a fast sale and a high profit.
I think what sets us apart is our amazing team — we are definitely a one-stop shop. My mother, Nadeen Rhoades-Stepp, has been in real estate for almost 40 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. She’s seen and done it all! Kim Rathert, our executive assistant, is also an experienced licensed Realtor who handles all of our transaction processing.
My wife, Vannessa Rhoades, owns a home staging company and provides Rhoades Team clients with individual consultations and discounts on staging services. She also handles our online and social media marketing.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have gotten into real estate sooner!
Contact Info:
- Address: 13103 Louetta Rd Ste J
Houston, TX 77070 - Website: http://www.TheRhoadesTeam.com
- Phone: (713) 515-3463
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_rhoades_team/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRhoadesTeam/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRhoadesTeam
Image Credit:
Stephanie Cheney Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
