Oleg Bortman

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Oleg Bortman, and I was born in Ukraine. I moved to the United States with my family in 1979 in pursuit of the American Dream. After earning a degree in biology from York College, I began my career in pharmaceutical sales and eventually became a Regional Sales Director for a Fortune 100 company. Although I built a successful career, I always felt there was something else I wanted to pursue.

That opportunity came in 1999 when I purchased my first investment property. What started as a single investment quickly grew into a passion for real estate. Over the years, I expanded my portfolio from New Jersey to Nevada and eventually Arizona, learning firsthand how real estate can create wealth and open doors to new opportunities. Moving to the Southwest was a turning point for me, and I began to see that I wanted to do more than invest in real estate myself. I wanted to help others discover its potential, too.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

I love the lifestyle and opportunities that Phoenix offers. The weather is amazing, and there’s a real sense of growth and possibility here. So many people are moving to the Valley from larger cities around the country, which creates exciting opportunities, especially in real estate. With relatively affordable property prices and a lower tax burden, there’s also a great opportunity to build wealth and achieve financial freedom. I love being in a market that’s growing and evolving, where there’s still so much potential for the future.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

In 2012, I met my current business partner, Tucker, at an open house, and that chance meeting turned into something much bigger than either of us could have imagined. We have very different personalities, but we share the same values: hard work, integrity, and always putting the client first.

Together, we founded The Brokery and grew it from a two-person operation into one of Arizona’s leading independent luxury real estate brokerages. Today, we have six offices and more than 150 agents, and we are on track to reach $1 billion in collective sales volume in 2026. It’s been exciting to see how far we’ve come while staying true to the values we built the company on.

At The Brokery, we truly believe real estate is about much more than buying or selling a home; it’s about building relationships and helping people make smart decisions with one of their biggest investments. Our local market knowledge, personalized service, and commitment to integrity allow us to guide clients with confidence, whether they’re buying their first home, selling a luxury property, or building a real estate investment portfolio. At the end of the day, we want our clients to feel like they have a trusted partner they can turn to long after the transaction is complete.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

My biggest advice is to be patient, stay committed to your vision, and find a mentor who can help you navigate the challenges of building a business. One of the hardest parts is believing in your vision before anyone else does, and the early years can feel lonely when you’re working toward something others can’t yet see, so having the right people in your corner makes a huge difference. Looking back, I wish I’d had more mentorship along the way, which is why we’re so committed to helping our agents learn, grow, and avoid some of the costly mistakes we made. Building a business takes time, resilience, and a willingness to learn, but if you stay true to your values and keep moving forward, the payoff can be incredible.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

I had a client tell me that he had never seen the level of customer service and professionalism that our team provided. That means a lot, because the client experience is always our number one priority.

Where do you see your company in the future?

We see The Brokery continuing to grow while staying true to what makes us different: being locally owned, relationship-driven, and deeply invested in our agents and the communities we serve. Our goal is to reach $1 billion in collective sales volume in 2026, but growth for us is about more than numbers. It’s about building a lasting legacy, creating opportunities for our agents, and continuing to raise the bar for what an independent luxury brokerage can be. We want to expand our reach without losing the personal touch and culture that got us here in the first place.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about real estate is that agents do very little work for a really big commission. The reality is that you’re essentially on call 24/7, answering your phone even during personal time, managing emotions, navigating challenges, and often acting as the middleman between multiple parties to keep deals moving forward. There’s also a tremendous amount of work that happens before a deal ever closes, from building relationships and marketing properties to negotiating offers and coordinating all the moving parts, and you don’t get paid until the transaction closes. Much of that time and effort is invested upfront with no guarantee of a paycheck.

At the end of the day, a good agent does so much more than open doors. They’re an advocate, a negotiator, a therapist, and a trusted advisor through one of the biggest financial decisions someone will make.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

I have always loved house music in general, and I don’t really have a favorite artist. That definitely was, and continues to be, my favorite genre! As far as my favorite athletes growing up, I loved Michael Jordan (basketball) and Pelé (soccer).

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I’d like to shout out Tucker Blalock, my amazing business partner and the co-founder of The Brokery. Thank you for your service as a Marine. You continue to give back and are an incredible friend.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can learn more about my story in my book, Always Ahead, available on Amazon. It tells the story of The Brokery in depth, as well as the stories of twelve entrepreneurs from different industries who started with very little and built successful businesses through grit, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to their goals.