By Theresa Coates Ellis — Great people have emerged from the City of Manassas to share their knowledge with others.

Real estate veteran, Forrest Odend’hal, is a managing broker for Long and Foster Real Estate.  He is traveling the East Coast presenting seminars on investments and retirement. He invited me to a local session at George Mason’s Eagle Bank Arena this past week packed with 250 real estate agents, guests, including his wife, Kristy, and two daughters. Energizing the crowd with his expert knowledge, he is teaching motivated people how to succeed.

Forrest was one of my first residential real estate agents in the City of Manassas.  He  started his real estate business the same time I started in healthcare management more than 25 years ago. He had a dual career as a police officer and a real estate agent until 1999.  During a tough real estate market, he sold my house on Battlefield Drive quickly. The timely sale opened up the opportunity to move to a bigger home for my growing family on Waterford Drive.  We still live there today.

Not only did he invite me to a very informative presentation this week, he followed up with a phone call to answer any questions.  I love how Forrest and Kristy are growing their real estate business surrounded by great people, including family, and passing on their knowledge to prepare them for their future of financial independence and building community.

Forrest grew up in Manassas and is a Manassas City Public School Osbourn Eagle graduate.  He lives with his wife, Kristy, a top real estate agent and top producer, in the City of Manassas. Forrest and Kristy give back to the community. Last year, they opened their home for a successful fundraiser for Medical Missionaries — providing medical care to poorest of the poor throughout the world.

Their Long and Foster offices are located in the City of Manassas and Alexandria. To learn more about Forrest and Kristy, visit www.odendhalgroup.com.