Growing Together is a blog series featuring people who have joined Peoples Company and their motivation to team up with a national leader in agricultural real estate services to pair experience with data-driven decision-making and deliver value to landowners. If you would like to learn more about partnering with or joining Peoples Company, please reach out to Molly Zaver, Director of Industry Partnerships, at [email protected].
What was your background before joining Peoples Company?
My entire career has been in real estate in one form or another. Prior to joining Peoples Company, I worked for a large real estate development company in the Des Moines metro, where I focused on land development. For the past 10+ years, my primary focus has been residential and commercial land development—acquiring farmland and guiding it through the development process into residential subdivisions and commercial projects.
I joined Peoples Company in the spring of 2025. Today, my role is split between land brokerage, with a focus on transitional and development ready land, and Diligent Development, where I continue to work on residential land development projects.
What led you to Peoples Company?
I had known several people at Peoples Company for a number of years and first met Steve through real estate-related events while I was attending the University of Northern Iowa. Tim Portzen with Diligent Development is also a longtime friend and someone I had worked with previously. Tim reached out to see if I would be interested in joining Diligent Development to help with land development projects. As the conversations with Steve and Tim continued, the opportunity evolved into a hybrid role that allows me to work with both Peoples Company and Diligent Development.
How has your business changed since becoming part of Peoples Company?
The biggest change for me since joining Peoples Company has been transitioning into the brokerage side of the business. Throughout my career, I have always been involved in acquiring farmland, but it was primarily for residential development projects. My role at Peoples Company now allows me to represent landowners and investors in the acquisition and sale of land while advising clients on all aspects of the development process.
I continue to work on land development projects through Diligent Development, but my brokerage role has expanded my experience beyond residential land. Today, I work with residential, commercial, and industrial development properties along with transitional farmland, while also having the opportunity to be involved in data center transactions and advisory roles.
What has been the best part of being affiliated with Peoples Company?
I have really enjoyed working on the brokerage side of the business. It has opened my eyes to the investment opportunities that are out there beyond development related assets. My role allows me to work on some unique assets and work with great clients.
Is there a success that you have had that wouldn’t have occurred if you were not part of the company?
Since joining Peoples Company, I have had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of land transactions. In my previous roles, my focus was primarily on residential land development. In my current role, I have been able to expand my experience across residential, industrial, and data center opportunities. I really enjoy the variety of deals I get to work on, as well as the diverse group of clients and partners we have the opportunity to work with.
What are some advantages of being part of Peoples Company?
The biggest advantage of being part of Peoples Company is the platform that Steve and the leadership team have built. The foundation, technology, resources, and brand are already in place, giving each of us the tools to be successful. From there, it comes down to each individual to execute, build relationships, and take advantage of the opportunities the platform provides.
What was the most challenging thing about becoming affiliated with Peoples Company?
The most challenging aspect of working at Peoples Company has been managing the volume of work. Being a part of Corporate Services and working closely with Steve and Jaxon, there is a constant flow of opportunities and projects coming through the door. Learning to prioritize, manage the workload, and keeping everything moving forward efficiently has been the biggest challenge.
What advice would you give to someone that is considering joining Peoples Company?
The biggest piece of advice I would give to someone is to make new connections. You never know where a simple conversation or relationship will lead. Some of the best opportunities in my career have come from meeting people, staying in touch, and being willing to have a conversation. Building relationships is one of the most valuable things anyone working in real estate can do.
What else would you like to share about your affiliation with Peoples Company?
Peoples Company is a great place to work and build relationships, both internally with coworkers and externally with clients. One of the things that stands out to me is the number of motivated individuals throughout the company who have built successful careers by taking advantage of the platform and opportunities available. It is exciting to be part of an organization where people are driven, entrepreneurial, and continue to push each other to grow.
Reach out to Eric Bohnenkamp at 515.529.5475 or email him at [email protected].
