Bees, Chickens, and a Realistic Outlook on Life: A Conversation with Kaitie

Not everyone finds healing in a therapist’s office. Some of us find it in a chicken coop or a beehive. I am one of those people, so you can imagine how delighted I was the first time I talked to Kaitie Brown, a Realtor, but also a very entertaining conversationalist & beekeeper!

Kaitie is a former 911 dispatcher turned real estate agent, and what struck me most—besides her dry humor and grace under pressure—was how much we had in common: an interesting career path, the same favorite store (Who Gives a Scrap) and a passion for small creatures with wings.

As a 911 dispatcher, she answered calls from people having the worst day of their lives. “You get two minutes on the phone, max,” she said. “And then you're done and onto the next person. It’s a people business, but it’s short-term people.”

The skills Kaitie gained in dispatch—calm under pressure, listening deeply, problem-solving in real time—translate surprisingly well to real estate. Now, instead of short bursts of crisis communication, she builds long-term relationships, helps people navigate emotional decisions, and stays with them through the entire transaction and beyond.

“It’s nice to come alongside someone,” she said. “And not hang up after two minutes. And not wonder what happened.”

She left law enforcement in 2022 and joined her father’s real estate business in Colorado Springs, CO Real Estate Inc. It turned out to be the right fit. Kaitie is one of those people who makes friends quickly and she's fun to be around. Shopping for a house can be stressful, and her grounded personality makes her a good guide in the process.

In addition to enjoying working with people who are buying and selling homes, Kaitie has interesting hobbies. Of course, there are the bees and chickens, but she also makes costumes!

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She makes costumes for theater productions and apparently for Halloween. I think this is very interesting since I also like to make things out of random discards from other people's craft collections (see: Who Gives a Scrap), but I'm usually attempting to make something for myself to wear to work. She's much more creative.

I also think it's interesting how many of my friends were in law enforcement or information technology before starting something of their own. They have a personality type known as "Realistic" in the personality testing world, so you would think they would be grounded, but dull. Actually, many of them are wildly creative in the realm of making useable things. Costumes, clothes, cat furniture... you name it, they can make it out of nothing.

The same realistic view of the world that lets Kaitie envision a space warrior with hair made from hose parts also lets her see the path to a satisfying home for her client. The client can be emotional because she is the anchor that prevents chaos and mistakes. She handles the grown-up details, while the client gets to dream about living in the new home.

With or without bees.

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