When we sat down with Shelby Florenz in late 2021, she was a rising star in the Jacksonville real estate market. Just over two years later, Shelby has continued her ascent, becoming one of Jacksonville’s best REALTORS®. She has capitalized on her early momentum to create one of the most unique and authentic real estate businesses in town.

Shelby’s continued rise has coincided with her move to Compass; after five years with Sotheby’s International Real Estate, she has spent the last two with Compass, and the results have been nothing short of impressive; Shelby has closed over $20 million for three straight years, and was ranked 2022’s #22 highest-producing individual agent in Northeast Florida by the Jacksonville Business Journal.

“What Compass was offering and the opportunity that came from moving to the brokerage was huge. They are tech leaders and have a leg up on advertising,” Shelby shares. “I made the jump, and it's been awesome.”

While Shelby’s brokerage has changed, her approach hasn’t. She prides herself on her authenticity, trustworthiness, and drive to make those around her happy. She’s out to enjoy her success in business and life — and it shows.

Shelby was born and raised in Bozeman, Montana. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a degree in sports management and a minor in civic engagement and leadership in 2012. After earning her degree, she moved across the country to Florida, where she began her professional life working for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Shelby spent a year with the Buccaneers before making a small hop to St. Petersburg to work in community relations for the Tampa Bay Rays. Her connections to former Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley eventually brought her north to Jacksonville.

Shelby’s role as Gus and his wife Michaelas’ assistant shifted into a more personal role caring for the Bradley children. She became like family — so much so that when Gus was let go in 2016, he trusted her to look over his Jacksonville real estate.

“By that time, I’d fallen in love with Jacksonville,” Shelby reflects. “I had met my husband, and I knew I wanted to stay here. So rather than moving out to California with Gus and his family, I decided to get my real estate license and property manage the homes of several former Jaguars coaches,” Shelby offers.

As soon as Shelby dipped her toes into the real estate world, she was hooked. Although she initially thought she’d focus on property management, her attention quickly shifted toward real estate sales. Shelby was fortunate to have grown a strong network, which included some high-profile members of the Jacksonville community. She quickly leveraged those referrals into her first clients and a thriving sales business.

“I got great listings and clients quickly because the Jaguars coaching circle was revolving, and a lot of them called me for multi-million dollar properties. It was unbelievable,” Shelby continues.

Shelby quickly earned her clients' trust with a penchant for hard work and a commitment to authenticity. She also learned quickly from those around her, positioning herself as a steadfast professional despite her youth.

“Starting at First Coast Sothebys, a luxury brand at 26 years old, I was really young for my office. I was watching $5 million deals go down, and everyone was so sharp and professional. I realized this was what I wanted to do and how I wanted to be in the business. There was no other way to run my business other than top-notch.”

While Shelby is proud of her real estate success, it’s not the only thing that brings her joy. She and her husband, Billy, have two young sons, Callahan (4) and JoJo (2).

“The boys and my husband are my world,” Shelby beams. “I’m obsessed with being a mom. It’s the greatest thing ever.”

Shelby and her family spend a lot of time at the beach, exploring Jacksonville, and hanging out with friends. She aspires to be a great mom and wife, a good friend, and someone who treats everyone around her kindly.

“My future is simple,” Shelby shares. “I want to grow my business even more while keeping a great balance in life. I want to continue to enjoy it, be present with my kids, and enjoy every day, every moment in work and life.”