Hello SE Region!

It is hard to believe that my time as your Regional Director has officially come to an end. It seems like just yesterday I was onboarding and receiving your overwhelming warmth and hospitality.  The past three years have been deeply life-giving for me and my family.

When Manly and I decided to obey the Lord’s calling to join this leadership team in Georgia, we were saying goodbye to the life we built for 50 years in South Louisiana. We didn’t know everything He had in store, but we knew we were being called. Years ago, I made a conscious decision to view everything I do as an assignment from God—not just work, plans, or personal ambition. While those drives certainly exist inside me, they aren’t my ultimate filter. God is. When He calls, I go.

Serving as your Regional Director was a true assignment, and I understood the gravity of that calling. I hope I have stewarded my time here well—that seeds were planted, gardens were watered, and harvests were reaped. My intent was to spend at least 10 years doing the work right alongside you. My 411, GPS, and EOS plans were all aligned around building here in our award-winning region.

Yet, God’s plans are always bigger and better than anything I could imagine. In these moments of transitioning from one assignment to another, I’ve learned there is only one posture to hold: simple obedience. So here I am, stepping into another assignment to plant, water, and reap in a new field.

Interestingly enough, He planted this vision during a “Sacred Pause” in the spring of 2023. While spending a weekend at a retreat center—fasting, praying, and seeking His Word—God showed me that one day I would build a sabbatical retreat center. A place where business leaders could step away to simply rest, restore, think, breathe, create, and align.

Having led sabbatical retreats over the years, I have had a front-row seat to what happens when a leader surrenders their own plans to accept God’s. Creating a space to step away from the grind is rare, sacred, and holy work.

With that, I am stepping out to pursue this God-sized dream. Manly and I are currently in the process of securing 35 acres in the mountains of Western North Carolina to build this haven of peace. We covet your prayers in this season. The financial scope and the wisdom needed to build this retreat are far bigger than us. But we’ve learned over the years that God doesn’t call the equipped—He equips the called. And we are called.

Alongside this retreat, I will also be growing my coaching and speaking business. Following the release of Trailer Park CEO, new doors have opened to travel internationally and share business principles rooted in faith. I’ll also be taking on select coaching clients who want to grow their businesses with intention.

I would love to stay connected with you as this next chapter unfolds. My cell (504.559.0548) and email (dawncazedessus@gmail.com) will stay the same, and you can follow along on social media for updates on the retreat, upcoming newsletters, and future project announcements.

As I hold my morning cup of coffee today, I toast every single one of you. Thank you for being such a meaningful part of my story, my journey, and my assignment. I hope you’ll come visit me in the mountains soon so we can share a cup of coffee together on a Sacred Pause of your own.

Much love, and as always… Onward and UPWARD!

– Dawn Cazedessus

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I am sure you have heard by now, but my time at KW is coming to a close (at least for this season). While there have been many tears (not just mine), it seemed the right moment and as with all things good it is sad to move on. Since 2017 I have been with KW, first as an MCA, then the regional tech trainer, and on to the director of technology for  the region, where I served tens of thousands of real estate professionals and leaders (it really is crazy to think about).

What many of you may not know, however, is that Keller Williams and the Southeast Region changed my life in ways you might not imagine. I was not in the best place mentally and financially when Kathy Gipson recruited me to be the MCA at KW Hoover. She expressed that she was looking for a business partner to grow the market center, and that was how she always treated me. This was one of those critical moments of my life where I found I needed to make a lot of tough decisions, one of them being to stay where I was comfortable and unhappy, or to do something different.

We all know I made the leap, came over to KW, and my life has never been the same. Under Kathy’s leadership, coaching with Jennie Schlipp at MAPS, and my first BOLD experience with Scott Tombs, as well as countless other leaders like Kathy Wheeler and John Chambers, I started to see that I was capable of far more than I had ever dreamed. I found myself, for the first time in my life, excited to come to work. I found myself excited to make a difference in the lives of those around me.

But this is not where it all ended. No. No. No.

When I joined the KW Southeast Region things only got better as I was given the unique opportunity to work alongside the best in the industry on a variety of initiatives during one of the wildest times in Real Estate. I got to work alongside leaders like Bob Kilinski, Kay Evans, and Cheryl Sadoti as well as Anna Kilinski, Dawn Cazdessus, Mike Ray, Lisa Romine, Alex Alicardi, and so many others. In this time, I was able to do something that fed both my heart, and my soul, in giving back to all those around me to help them grow and expand their businesses, as well as their lives.

Though I am moving on to a new opportunity, my personal mission has not changed. I am here to help you live your best life, whatever that may be. Life is difficult and strange, but there is one thing I know, when we work together, when we show kindness, when we give more than we take, everyone wins. Even you.

Thank you for making my life better.

– Patrick Mauldin