About Our Team

Brad is a Broker Associate and Commercial Senior Director for the Onward Real Estate Team. He has been a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker for over 20 years and a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designee since 2006, meaning he is an advanced investment specialist who works to minimize risk and maximize ROI. As a skilled negotiator, Brad has a unique ability to structure transactions to achieve clients’ goals. His entrepreneurial spirit is evident in each of his real estate ventures, including the commercial team, residential team, property management company and his development business. Brad has a reputation for substantial market knowledge, business acumen, and market insight. Clients speak highly of his preparation and integrity, and they value the commercial experience he brings to the table.

Brad’s wife, Melissa, leads the Residential Sales Team. They have been happily married for over 30 years and are proud parents to two grown children: Lindsey, who lives and works in Denver, Colorado, and Landon, who works for the Texas A&M Foundation in College Station. Each of them is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University.

Brad finds joy in his hobbies, which include cooking on his Green Egg, embarking on off-road adventures in his Jeep, and fly-fishing in the scenic mountains of Colorado. While he appreciates the charm of Waco, Brad considers it the “largest small town in Texas” and proudly calls it his hometown.

As a co-owner of the Onward Real Estate team, Melissa brings her former experience as an educator into the real estate business. She knows the value of effective communication and active listening skills in building rapport and achieving success and brings those skills to each of her relationships with clients. Her goal in working with her team of licensed real estate specialists is to utilize her expert market knowledge and negotiation skills to ensure a successful and smooth transaction for buyers, sellers and investors alike.

Melissa’s love of learning is evident in the professional designations she has achieved and the time she takes to educate her clients and help them navigate the home buying and selling processes. Her clients admire her level of preparation, professionalism and dedication to helping them achieve their goals. Clients speak highly of her integrity, patience and loyalty.

Melissa’s husband, Brad, runs the commercial division of Onward. Both of them are very active in their local Chambers of Commerce (Waco and Hewitt), and they love Waco and are excited about the continued growth of the area. They attend Renew Church Waco and support several local charities’ work. The Onward Real Estate Team believes in giving back to the community they live, work and play in.

Melissa and Brad have been married for over 30 years and are proud parents of Lindsey and Landon, all four of them graduates of Texas A&M University. They love the mountains and especially love spending time with their family in Lake City, Colorado – It is truly their “happy place.” Melissa enjoys hiking, kayaking, “jeeping” and watching her husband fly fish.

Kyle is the COO for the Onward team and Alliance Property Management. He grew up in Odessa, Texas, and graduated from Baylor University. A resident of Waco since 1978, Kyle is a seasoned professional who takes pride in the achievements of others.

Kyle’s leadership style doesn’t typically lead people to where they want to be, but instead, where they need to be. He is a relentless advocate for doing things the right way and providing the best possible client experience. His primary goal is to help the organization and the people within reach their absolute highest potential. He has found that motivated people who are well trained and taken care of are most likely to ensure that clients receive the time, attention, professional service, and results they deserve. Kyle’s four decades of leadership experience have proven this time and again.

He enjoys the outdoors, hunting, shooting sports, fishing, backpacking and golf in his spare time. Kyle finds his “why” in his relationship with Jesus, his wife Jana, their children Lauren and Jay and his three “perfect, sinless” grandchildren. Kyle teaches a Bible study class at Highland Baptist Church and enjoys various other volunteer opportunities.

Residential Executive Assistant and Transaction Coordinator Rachel Alston has resided in Waco since 2008. Having worked in many databases for different companies, she has developed an eye for details and a skill for research that serves her well as she helps clients find the perfect property. The ownership team at Onward is what sets the company apart for Rachel and the reason she’s remained a team member since 2020.

Rachel fell in love with real estate and grew a passion for home designs through her work at Onward. She strives to help buyers attain their homeownership goals and assist sellers in making maximum profit from their properties. Rachel has a reputation as a resourceful and reliable realtor who employs her intuition and diligence to offer a positive experience focusing on a fun, easy, and stress-free process. She aims to exceed client expectations by ensuring a smooth process from first contact to the closing table.

Rachel’s favorite pastimes include spending quality time with family, knitting, quilting and reading.

Our trusted accountant Donna has lived in Waco for 40 years. A member of the team since 2015, she enjoys the diversified portfolio Onward offers, with a focus on both commercial and residential management and development. Above all, spending time with her work family is what she loves most about her job.

Suzannah Bowden is a native of the Waco area, where she was born and raised. She currently serves as the Director of Marketing for the Onward Real Estate Team and Alliance Property Management, where she brings her expertise in marketing and branding to promote the company’s services and reach a wider audience.

In addition to her professional work, Suzannah is passionate about giving back to her community. She volunteers her time as a board member with NonProfit Go, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping nonprofits achieve sustainability, build capacity, and enhance community services throughout the nation. She is also a board member with the Miss McGregor Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to deserving young women in McGregor, TX.

During her free time, Suzannah loves to explore Waco and all that it has to offer. She’s always on the lookout for new restaurants, hidden gems, and fun activities to try out with her friends and family. Whether it’s trying out the latest food trucks or hiking a nearby trail, Suzannah approaches life with an adventurous spirit and an open mind. Her love for her community is evident in all that she does, and she’s always eager to share her enthusiasm with others.

Trey Chamness is a highly skilled Commercial Buyer/Tenant Specialist, who is deeply committed to helping his clients navigate the complexities of the real estate market with ease and confidence. With a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Digital Media from Baylor University, Trey brings a unique perspective to his work, leveraging his experience in the film industry to effectively negotiate contracts, manage projects, and build long-lasting relationships with his clients.

In addition to his professional achievements, Trey is an accomplished golfer and a former member of the Baylor Club Golf team that clinched the National Championship in 2014. He is an active member of his community and regularly attends Harris Creek Church. Through his past work as an Assistant Coach and After-school Program Leader at Waco Montessori, Trey has developed a strong commitment to service and values building meaningful connections with others.

Whether you are in the market to buy, lease, or sell commercial real estate, Trey is dedicated to providing you with exceptional service and support throughout the entire process. His unwavering dedication to helping his clients achieve their goals, combined with his strategic problem-solving skills and unwavering work ethic, make him a valuable asset to anyone looking to navigate the real estate market with confidence.

Anna is Onward’s Commercial Transaction Coordinator and Commercial Executive Assistant. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she moved to Waco in 2011. Her real estate career began in an administrative role with Onward in 2013, and shortly after realizing her love for the job, she earned her license in 2015. Anna is thankful for the opportunities that Onward and Keller Williams have provided for her to further her career and enjoys the variety of responsibilities that come with commercial real estate. Passionate about helping others achieve their goals, Anna works hard to meet clients’ needs every day.

Sarah is an experienced property manager with over a decade of experience in the housing market. Originally from Southern California, she relocated to Texas in 2009 and quickly established herself as a future leader in the industry. After gaining experience in housing markets from Austin to Dallas, she chose to make Waco her home. Always up for a challenge, she decided to make a change from the multi-family housing industry and join the Alliance Property Management team.

As the Property Manager, Sarah is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of our portfolio of residential and commercial rental properties. With her strong work ethic and passion for the industry, Sarah is committed to building and maintaining strong tenant relations and helping clients maximize the profitability of their investments.

Sarah is also an avid outdoors enthusiast and animal lover. When not managing properties, you can often find her hiking, camping, or exploring nature and wildlife.

As a Waco native for 18 years and a member of the Onward team since 2021, David Gardner has found that his time as an Onward Agent allows him to work with like-minded coworkers and clients. The team approach of Onward is what David values in his position, having the ability to collaborate with colleagues while serving the people of central Texas. He is passionate about his work, his family and his community

Commercial Buyer Tenant Specialist Derek Houser is drawn to commercial real estate because of its fast-paced environment that allows him to help clients succeed. Derek is a Leadership Waco Class Alumnus with 15 years of experience in financial planning and business ownership. Having lived in Waco since high school, contributing to the city’s growth and seeing it expand and thrive is special for Derek. Derek values Onward’s high-performance track record and ethical standards that create an environment for him to brainstorm new ideas and strategize to maximize clients’ results.

ShaLynna graduated from Baylor in 1990 with a degree in business and a real estate license. Afterward, ShaLynna managed as many as 20 single-family properties while teaching full-time for the next 20 years. After 28 years in education, 23 of which were for the local school district of Midway, she retired from teaching and joined the Onward Team full time in July of 2021 as a Residential Specialist. For ShaLynna, residential real estate allows her to combine her passions of exploring properties and helping people find their perfect homes, relieving clients of any stress involved in the home buying process. Her interest in real estate and her loyalty to serving her clients with the highest integrity means she provides service above and beyond clients’ expectations.

Administrative Assistant Ashley Rosales came to Waco in 2017 to attend Texas State Technical College, where she studied graphic design, received an internship at Onward, and in 2021, officially joined the team. Ashley has found the Onward team to consist of hardworking, trustworthy people she is proud to work alongside. With the support of her coworkers and the excitement of having something new to learn every day, Ashley is currently working to earn her Real Estate License.

Xavier Rosas serves in a number of roles on the team, primarily as Onward’s Commercial Marketing and Research Coordinator.  He gathers data, images, and other components to then prepare the marketing packages for the team’s commercial listings. Since obtaining his real estate license in 2022, he also works with buyers and tenants to assist them in acquiring commercial property.

Xavier is also a Co-Owner of 2812 Media Productions, a local media production company, where he has amassed over 2 years of experience in filmmaking and video editing. As a nearby Mart native, Xavier sees Waco as a place of economic growth and opportunity, and he looks forward to the area’s continued development and innovation.

Adam is the Director of Commercial Operations for Onward and has been a team member since 2014. Adam was born in Michigan and moved to Central Texas in 2003 to attend Baylor University. He received his Real Estate License in 2015 and worked in residential real estate before joining Onward. Adam has a passion for everything commercial real estate entails, from financial analysis to property analytics to putting deals together that benefit clients. As the next step in his career, he plans to work toward obtaining his CCIM Designation. Waco’s culture and central location, with big-city amenities and small-town connections, have helped Adam find fulfillment personally and professionally in his role at Onward.

Former coach and teacher Jeff Young is a Buyer/Tenant Representative on our commercial team. Since 2018, Jeff has lived and worked in Waco, helping each new client determine their need, assess each property’s risk and reward and find one that will help them thrive. As a former coach, Jeff highly values the concept of teamwork and finds that Onward has that built into their foundation. For the last two years, Jeff has been in the top 20% of agents in the Waco market. Jeff enjoys the challenge of his everyday job and works hard to ensure each client can achieve their long-term goals.

In his spare time, Jeff enjoys volunteering for Hoops Huddle and coaching the 7th and 8th-grade girls basketball team at Vanguard. He and his wife Dianne enjoy going on weekend trips to explore the state of Texas. Their children have followed in Jeff’s footsteps, working in the teaching/coaching profession

Trisha Young, the Field Manager with Alliance Property Management, is excited to be back working with the Alliance and Onward team. She has previously been part of the Onward Real Estate Team as a Residential Specialist, leaving for about a year to work exclusively in interior design. She jumped at the chance to come back to the Alliance and Onward team to take on the newly established role of Field Manager. This position allows Trisha to use her experience in real estate sales, residential renovation, as well as interior design. Holding this position gets her out in the field, which is a big plus for her! She gets to help people in our community find a good fit for their residential rental needs, work with contractors making sure that the properties are primed for new tenants, and provide homeowners with staging consultations to enhance their prospects on the Real Estate market with the Onward Residential Sales team. 

Originally from New Mexico Trisha has lived in Waco for about 29 years. She has also lived in Europe at three different times in her life, and would love to go back. You can find an influence of the old west combined with rustic European in much of her creative projects that she enjoys doing in her spare time. Trisha has two grown daughters and step-son that she is glad were raised in Waco, saying that Waco has definitely grown a lot since she moved here, but it still has a small hometown feel, which was a good environment for raising a family. Her daughters, step-son, as well as other family still live in the central Texas area, so Trisha’s plan is also to stay close by for many years to come.