Next Gen Real Estate AJ Lewis and Associates, 3604 Lee Road, was the first African-American real estate brokerage on the East Side when it was founded 40 years ago by its namesake and has enjoyed a steady flow of business, all through referrals. But times have changed and so has the real estate market. That’s why AJ Lewis’ newest and third generation addition, Amber Lewis, is poised to maintain the company’s traditional residential business while expanding into new ventures, both in real estate and in marketing the company. “They say necessity drives innovation,” says Lewis, a 2002 Shaker Heights High School grad who earned her bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University and her MBA from Baldwin Wallace College. “My goal is to add some new blood. We’re looking for some new agents who are young and vivacious,” the 31-year-old Shaker resident explains. Lewis also wants to market the company online with a new website and through social media. She credits her father, Lionel Lewis, and her uncle, Lucius Lewis – who have run the company since her grandfather, AJ Lewis, passed away 20 years ago – with expanding the brokerage as far west as Avon Lake and south to Akron and broadening its clientele. An online presence has the capability to extend the company’s reach further and increase visibility, Lewis says. New real estate opportunities, including renovation and resale of homes, are on the table for Lewis as well. And thanks to Deborah Kerr, a broker and AJ Lewis office manager who is involved with several local non-profits, Lewis is also considering possibilities in housing for veterans and abused and battered women and children. Lewis is proud that AJ Lewis “has a lot of longevity in this community.” And with her enthusiasm and commitment to the family business, it seems there’s a lot more to come. Contact AJ Lewis and Associates, 216-752-9400. Planning for the Worst Nervous Nellies don’t make good friends, but they do make good insurance agents. Silas Buchanan, a State Farm agent in Shaker Heights for 24 years, specializes in worst-case scenario planning so his clients don’t have to. “Once you have a problem, it’s already too late,” Buchanan says. “I never want to put my client in a position where they say, ‘Why didn’t you tell me about that?’” So Buchanan, whose office is located at 3605 Lee Road, works to meet with each of his estimated 2,500 clients by phone or in person once a year. Those meetings enable Buchanan and his staff of five to stay on top of clients’ needs, provide personalized customer service, and make recommendations on additional insurance products. For example, Buchanan says customers often assume their homeowner’s policies cover their personal items, such as jewelry and sports cards collections, and disasters, such as sewer and drain backups. Many times, homeowners insurance only provides partial coverage and depending on a client’s needs, they often can benefit from an additional personal articles policy or a sewer and drain backup policy. Stop by Silas’ offices on Lee Road, or call him at 216-295-1414 to make an appointment to learn more about insurance products that are right for you. SL SHAKER LIFE | SUMMER 2016 9
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