Growing up in the countryside near Ottawa in Waukesha County, Tara Meinholz learned early that hard work wasn't something you talked about—it was something you lived. The middle of three sisters, Tara spent her childhood outdoors, four-wheeling, building forts, hunting alongside her father and grandfather, and playing sports. She also entered the workforce at just 14 years old, an experience she credits with shaping the work ethic that has carried her through every chapter of her life.

Family has always remained at the center of Tara's story. The unexpected loss of her younger brother, who was born during her senior year of high school, profoundly changed her family's perspective and strengthened their bond.

"My brother passed away unexpectedly when he was 21, and that loss deeply changed me," Tara shares. "It made me realize how precious time really is. I'm much more intentional now about taking photos and videos, being present, and spending time with the people I love."

Those experiences continue to influence both her personal life and her career.

Before entering real estate, Tara built an interior decorating company in her early twenties, helping clients transform homes, condos, and businesses. What began as projects for friends gradually expanded through referrals, allowing her creative eye to flourish.

When she eventually returned to Wisconsin after living near Washington, D.C., she realized interior decorating offered fewer opportunities than it had on the East Coast. Rather than leave behind her passion for homes, she found another way to pursue it.

"I knew I still wanted to be working with homes and helping people," Tara says. "Getting my real estate license made sense to me. I knew it would still allow me to use my decorating eye in a different way."

Licensed in 2007, Tara discovered the profession blended creativity with meaningful relationships. From staging homes to helping buyers envision possibilities, she found herself doing the work she loved while guiding clients through major life transitions.

Real estate became even more personal after one of the most difficult periods of Tara's life.

Following her divorce, she found herself rebuilding from almost nothing.

"I had nothing in my bank account, a car that barely ran, and I honestly struggled just to put food on the table," she recalls. "My first goal was, I didn't want to be standing at the grocery store having to add up my cart before checking out."

Step by step, Tara rebuilt her life while raising her four sons—Christian, Cayden, Dreyk, and Kamdyn. Looking back, she believes those years became an important lesson for her children.

"I'm really proud that my older boys got to see me go through that and rebuild," she says. "I think it showed them resilience, hard work, and that you can truly create a new life no matter where you start."

Nearly a decade into her career, Tara opened Roots Realty with a vision that differed from the traditional brokerage model. Rather than focusing on size, she wanted to build a boutique company centered on support, collaboration, and genuine relationships.

"I really wanted to do things differently than what you typically see in larger brokerages," Tara explains. "I wanted it to feel more personal, like family."

Today, Roots Realty celebrates its 10-year anniversary with five agents who, according to Tara, naturally found their way to the brokerage without active recruiting.

"We're all very supportive of each other and genuinely feel like a small family," she says. "I'm so dang proud of what we've built."

As broker and owner, Tara has discovered another passion: mentoring new agents and offering the guidance she wishes she had received early in her own career. But her greatest fulfillment still comes from serving clients during life's biggest moments.

"Real estate is never just about a house," she says. "It's the home you raised your kids in, a divorce, a growing family, or becoming an empty nester. There's so much heart tied into every move."

That perspective shapes every aspect of her business. Drawing from her design background, she helps sellers prepare homes to maximize value while helping buyers recognize a property's potential. More importantly, she strives to create lasting relationships.

"My best advice is to be genuine," Tara says. "Don't treat people like a deal, treat them like people."

Outside of work, Tara treasures time with her four boys, whether they're traveling, relaxing at the family cabin, hunting together, or exploring the outdoors. She also remains deeply committed to giving back, supporting causes ranging from families facing housing struggles to childhood cancer organizations and therapeutic horse farms.

Looking ahead, Tara is preparing a complete rebrand of Roots Realty to commemorate its milestone anniversary while continuing to grow the brokerage she built from the ground up. Through every goal, she carries with her the same philosophy that's appeared on the back of her business cards for more than a decade: "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe."