In the first installment of the Hometown Hustle series, James Gaskin and co-host Abbey Hearn sit down with Eric Workman, one of Renovo’s most tenured originators. Eric shares his journey from working in construction to becoming a top-producing lender, while helping his team approach $1B in originations.

The conversation dives into what makes the Chicago real estate market unique, why it’s often misunderstood, and how consistency, relationships, and local expertise have fueled Eric’s success. The episode also explores team building, company growth, and what it takes to scale in a competitive lending environment—all with a dose of personality and rapid-fire fun.

What You’ll Learn:

• Chicago is a highly resilient and often misunderstood real estate market.
• Success in lending comes from consistency, reliability, and strong relationships.
• Building a dedicated, in-house team improves both efficiency and client experience.
• In-person collaboration accelerates growth, training, and problem-solving.
• The best clients are long-term, professional investors seeking true partnerships.
• Local market expertise provides a major competitive advantage.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction to the Hometown Hustle series and Eric Workman

2:05 – Eric’s background and entry into real estate

3:31 – Early days at Renovo and company evolution

5:03 – Approaching $1B in loan originations

6:40 – Building and structuring a high-performing team

8:51 – Delivering consistent customer experience and borrower loyalty

10:50 – Importance of in-person collaboration and team culture

13:15 – Scaling production and training new talent

15:55 – Chicago real estate market insights and trends

19:32 – Challenges and complexity of investing in Chicago

22:30 – Building a client base of professional investors

24:30 – Value of expertise and local market knowledge

26:05 – Transition from operator to lender

27:19 – Early exposure to real estate and career path

31:49 – Advice to younger self and betting on yourself

32:57 – Favorite Chicago neighborhoods and lifestyle insights

34:07 – Chicago food debate: pizza, hot dogs, and more

36:18 – Personal interests: bourbon, music, and podcasts

39:50 – Rapid-fire questions: movies, food, and fun facts

42:03 – Closing thoughts and series wrap-up

Links

Renovo Financial - https://renovofinancial.com/

James Gaskin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-gaskin-b675593/

Abbey Hearn on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbey-hearn-37aa7526

Eric Workman on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-workman-1681996