Former COO, Whissel Beer Group

I build the machine behind the business.

For seven years I helped grow one of the largest real estate teams in the country, from 16 agents to around 150, and rebuilt how it ran at every stage. Now I help other teams see what to fix and what's worth building on.

Book a 30-minute call or find me on LinkedIn

Architected the merger of eXp Realty's two largest teams, eleven months from thesis to go-liveInman: the biggest merger in eXp history
The first San Diego team to close more than 1,000 homes in a year, #6 in the nation in 2025RealTrends
Seven years at Whissel Beer Group, six as EOS IntegratorSan Diego
Built inside sales from zero, and the largest Zillow Flex team in San Diego2020 onward

Chris VanderValk in a linen jacket and white shirt

Why it matters

Every stage is a different company

A team runs differently at every size. The policies, systems, comp plans and people decisions that work at one stage have to be torn down and rebuilt for the next. I've done that at every one of these stages, so I know what fits where you are now, not just what worked for us.

2–8agents
8–20agents
20–50agents
50–95agents
95–150agents

Past 150 it changes again. The 2025 merger took us into that stage.

Growth that stayed fair

We ran agent growth like a venture fund. Training was the seed round, and leads and resources opened up as agents reached each revenue level. It was fair to everyone and scaled without thinning out what each agent got.

What I do

Where I come in

The problems owners usually call me about. The operation, the systems and the numbers are one problem, so I work on them together.

I · The operating seatEverything still runs through you.

I take the seat beside you as your #2, the person who runs the company day to day. I run the leadership meeting, own the scorecard and quarterly priorities, and give every seat a clear owner, so decisions stop waiting on you.

I installed EOS in 2020 and ran it as Integrator through fast growth and a major merger.

II · Systems & AIYour data is a mess, so AI can't help yet.

Most teams don't find out until they try to use it. I build one data layer the whole team feeds, automate the repeat work, and put AI on top of it.

I built the automation layer and the dashboards leaders coached from, and had the company gathering context for AI in 2022 and 2023.

III · Mergers & integrationThe deal is signed. Now two teams have to become one company.

That means one plan, one scorecard, one CRM and one comp structure. The deal is the easy part. This is the work.

After the 2025 merger, I put both teams on one operating model and ran the CRM cutover.

IV · People, pay & marginThe pay plan that got you here won't get you to the next stage.

Pay has to change as a company grows. I design comp for agents and sales leaders so they share in the growth they drive and the margin holds.

I phased out capped plans for production-tiered splits, with existing caps grandfathered, and moved our agents over without losing one or moving anyone down a tier. Then we recruited our growth on it.

V · Your operatorYour ops lead has no one above them who has done the job.

I coach the operator you already have, or help you develop one from inside.

An early inside sales rep I developed became Director of Sales, and a listing manager became Director of Operations.

Already run on EOS? I ran it for six years as an Integrator, so I can step into your seat and keep your rhythm going.

How to start

One call, then a clear plan

Start hereThe Operating DiagnosticAbout three weeks inside the business for a fixed fee, credited toward any work that follows. You get a written read on what's breaking, why, and the three moves that matter most.
InstallLeadership rhythm, scorecard, systems and first quarterly priorities, so progress shows up every week.
Run, then hand offI work the plan beside you until the team runs it without me. Then we decide who takes the seat: a full-time COO, or an operator from your own team, with me coaching them.

Book a 30-minute call

Who I work with

Teams that have outgrown how they run

Real estate team leaders and brokerage owners, at any size
Founders of service businesses that have outgrown their systems
Visionary CEOs who need a strong #2 to run the company
Teams heading into a merger, an acquisition or a growth stretch

Something else? Ask. I'm open to the conversation, and I know a lot of good people if it's not me.

My story Questions owners ask

Contact

Tell me what's getting in the way.

Book 30 minutes and tell me where the team is and where you want it to go. I'll tell you what I'd look at first.

Calendar not showing? Open it on Cal.com.

Rather write first? Tell me about the team and what's slowing it down.

cvandervalk1@gmail.com

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Talk soon, Chris