If you had asked a younger version of Amy Briggs where she imagined her career path would lead some day, ‘top-producing Realtor’ certainly wouldn't have crossed her mind. But a well-timed conversation changed everything.

“One day, when I was a graphic designer, I stopped over at the ReStore to look around on my lunch break,” Amy recalls. “I ran into Russ Meyer, a college friend who also went to school with me for interior design. Russ told me that he was a Realtor and he thought I would like it, too.”

At the time, Amy was pregnant with her first son and unsure of her next step; but she knew one thing — she was tired of the 9-5 grind while living paycheck to paycheck. 

“I had nothing better to do,” she laughs, “so I started online classes that week, got my license, and became a Realtor a few months later.”

A burning desire to be her own boss and be rewarded for being a hard worker set Amy on her new career path in 2014. Fast forward to over a decade later and she’s a consistent top producer with Keller Williams Lincoln who closed over $15.2 million in volume across 62 transactions last year. 

Armed with two bachelor’s degrees from UNL in Business Administration and Interior Design, Amy first worked for a major architectural firm, STG, in Austin, Texas. When the 2008 recession hit, she moved to Lincoln, where she worked as a graphic designer until real estate called.

“I loved [real estate] immediately. Everything was so different from my previous work experience, but I embraced it,” she recalls. “Russ was very encouraging and it felt like a natural fit.”

Initially, Amy juggled both careers while raising her young son. That burning drive and her clear refusal to be boxed in fueled her quick success in the industry. Amy’s early career was also shaped profoundly by the generosity and insight of others, most notably Brenda Carlson, her long-time mentor. 

“Brenda is a fantastic wealth of knowledge and I still ask her questions to this day!” Amy acknowledges gratefully. “She is my rock.”

With so many deals under her belt, Amy’s advice for aspiring agents is based on her own personal experience starting out: “Find yourself a good mentor,” she suggests. “Having someone you trust and someone you can ask all the questions to goes a long way!”

Ask any of Amy’s clients what makes her different, and they’ll likely mention her empathy, in addition to the meticulous eye and care she brings to every deal. 

“I truly care about the people I’m connected with and work with,” she emphasizes. “I’m determined to make the process easy for them and take on the obstacles that come along the way.

“I feel like what I do is actually important,” she continues. “This is one of the biggest decisions of someone’s life. I enjoy being busy and figuring out the puzzle. Every transaction is different and requires a different approach.”

Her background in interior design has recently taken center stage, a move that’s already paying off. 

“I just started staging my own listings this past year and it’s really helping my business by adding value,” Amy affirms. “I do as much and as many as I can with the furniture I have and it’s making a big impact.”

From deep-cleaning homes to ensuring her professional photographer shares her attention to detail, Amy is extremely hands-on. And she believes that kind of care builds trust, something she refuses to take for granted. 

“I run my business with heart and integrity,” she elaborates. “I hope that word of mouth from me doing a good job will continue to carry me on, as a quarter of my business currently comes from repeat clients and referrals.”

Amy was raised as a self-described “Army brat,” moving every two to three years to places such as Germany, Holland, Georgia, New York, and New Mexico before landing in Lincoln, where she finished high school.

After a year spent exploring Oregon and Europe, Amy attended UNL and eventually planted roots in Nebraska to be closer to her brother and his growing family.

Her own family is now firmly rooted in Lincoln as well. Amy and husband Beau, her supportive spouse of eight years, have three children: Gypsy (Amy’s stepdaughter), Oliver, and Arden.

“Beau was a stay-at-home dad for the past five years, until recently,” Amy offers. “That really helped me build my business and my career.”

The Briggs share their home with a friendly black Lab named Hammer and four backyard chickens — Reba, Lucy, Quinn, and Edna — whose eggs are in high demand these days from family and friends. 

When she’s not showing homes or shuttling between listings and school drop-offs, Amy enjoys designing and updating her own house, gardening, and planning her next travel adventure. 

“We all recently got our passports … so there’s really no excuse now,” she grins. “It’s time to start making these trips we’ve all been dreaming of. I want my children to experience the world like I did when I was younger!”