“That negative mindset affects everyone around you.”

Dustin Kooy, Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams Preferred Realty and founder of Duncan Home Buyers and Sky Development, joins our hosts Jeff Williamson and Brian Prairie to talk about his journey into a leadership role that he never expected.

Dustin started off in construction at a young age and worked as a lineman for 13 years. While working with ComEd, he knew there was something more out there and started to lean into his interests of real estate. He purchased his first rental property at 23, and never looked back. 

After a back injury took him off the line, he dove head first into property investment, management, and rehabilitation. As he grew in his experiences and systems he was able to source more deals and grow his businesses to where they are today. 

Join the conversation as they discuss the power of mentorship, resilience, skills growth, utilizing team strengths, ripple effects, and more.

Meet Your Guest

Dustin Kooy

Dustin is Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams Preferred Realty and founder of Duncan Home Buyers and Sky Development.

A 13-year ComEd lineman, Kooy believed there was more for him and walked away from the position in 2020. He had already been investing in properties, but it wasn’t until he began exploring Downtown Kankakee that he discovered what he felt was his calling.

He is passionate about rehabbing homes, rentals, office spaces, and historical properties. Dustin is fully invested in the Kankakee, Illinois area and is committed to bringing restoration to the city.

Dustin and business partner, Erik Wojtecki, have built an incredible and dedicated team to further their growing vision. Dustin’s wife, Jamie, also works alongside him and holds similar passions.

About the Leadership LevelUp Podcast

Being a boss and a leader are very different. A boss tells you what to do and a leader partners with you in the process. Jeff, being a leader of leaders, has a vast knowledge of best practices and exercises to discover leadership traits. Brian shares stories with Jeff about the ups and downs of his leadership quest while talking to business and community leaders to discuss their personal leadership journey. Who influenced them? What do they do when they have a bad day? What gives them inspiration? Do french fries or tacos or ice cream make them feel better after a bad day? Through laughter and casual conversation, Brian and Jeff explore all aspects of good leadership.

Meet Your Hosts

Jeff Williamson

Brian Prairie

Show Sponsor

Pathfinder: A full-service creative & marketing agency with a mission to provide strategic storytelling to our clients. There is no greater impact in this world than a story. Storytelling is how we learn, remember, and feel. The world has used storytelling since the beginning of time to entertain, teach, inspire, and innovate. Pathfinder’s mission is to provide strategic storytelling for our clients. How? Through inventive business services and pioneering campaigns that help organizations find their own path and carry out their vision.