The Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors® Team

Carol Shaffer, Managing Broker/Owner of Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®
Client-First Philosophy
There are many qualities and skills that go into being an excellent real estate professional - integrity, in-depth community and market knowledge, marketing savvy, effective negotiation skills and a high-quality professional network, all of which are hallmarks of how I work.

That said, in my experience as a local real estate professional, I've also found that providing the very best service is essentially about putting my clients first. This means keeping myself accessible, being a good listener as well as a good communicator, and responding quickly to your needs.
This "client first" philosophy has always been my approach and it requires me to continually improve my skills and ways of doing business. In addition, I've found that the latest technologies are enabling me to do everything I've always done, only much more quickly and efficiently. They've also helped me to extend the range of services I provide to my clients.
So when you decide that you'd like to buy or sell a home in the Tri-State area, please contact me.

Tracy Schutte, Realtor® with Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®

Lisa Hapke, Designated Managing Broker of the Mt. Sterling office, Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®, 

Meet Lisa Hapke, broker for Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®, in Mt. Sterling since 2017. Lisa prides herself on using effective marketing strategies combined with professionalism and confidentiality to guarantee her customer the best service possible. She is committed to helping her clients buy with confidence and sell with success, offering consultations, property closings, and real estate showings.
She started in real estate to provide her community with quality professional services. She's looking forward to growing her business to continue to serve Mt. Sterling and the surrounding areas. She'd like to personally invite you to contact her for buyer consultations, broker services, homes, commercial properties, farmland, and more!

John & Debra Walter, Brokers, Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®

How are lucky are we to have husband and wife duo, John & Debra Walter. Debra has been in real estate since January 2013 and John since 2015.
Debra loves being there for people when during one of the biggest purchases/decisions of their lives. She enjoys working for Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors® because of the professionalism and real estate savviness.
Her best friend would describe her as intelligent, kindhearted, and persistent. And if she could travel anywhere, she says, “I would have about 10 vacation homes if I could, but if I had to choose one place it would be Chesapeake, Virginia because that is where my son and his wife live.”  

Karissa Russell, Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®

Originally from Hamilton, IL Karissa Russell now lives in Quincy, with her husband and two children. She began her real estate career in 2022 and is loving it! In her free time, Karissa enjoys spending time with her husband and kids. Karissa says her best friend would describe her as driven, outgoing, trustworthy and loyal.
Karissa joined Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors® to be part of a strong “girl gang”. “Carol is so knowledgeable, and I know she will push me to be a strong agent.”
If Karissa could have a vacation home anywhere, she would have one in Destin, Florida. Her family vacations there every year, and she just loves the white, sandy beaches, the clear water and that it’s family-oriented.

Chris Baird, Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®

A hard-working, energetic, adventurous father who loves trying new things is how Christ describes himself. He's a person who strives to become better in everything he does. He loves to learn, create, build and help others. His favorite part about being a realtor is that he enjoys adding value to peoples' homes and lives. To take something as complex as buying and selling a home and make it a pleasant, rewarding experience is my goal.
Chris chose to work with Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors® because he knows we have high standards to honesty, integrity and ethics of putting clients first.

Jane Phillips, Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®

Kimberly Howard Stramler, Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®

Kim was born and raised in Mt. Sterling, IL. She's a graduate from Bradley University. She moved to CA and held several executive roles in sales and marketing. She recently decided to move back to Illinois and will be joining Bower and Associates as a Broker.  
Her love of real estate started with buying rental homes and continued with flipping homes over the years. 

Kim will bring her "customer first" attitude from her executive roles and combine it with her ability to help you get the most money for your home.

Stop by and see Kimberly at the Mt. Sterling office!!

Amy Hildebrand, Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®

Born and raised in Golden, IL, and now residing in Camp Point, IL, Amy Hildebrand has been married to her husband Darren for 27 years. Together, they have two adult children, Brianna (25) and Dalton (24). For over three decades, she has dedicated her career to education, serving as a 7th grade math teacher and 7th & 8th grade P.E. teacher at Central Jr. High School. She plans to retire after the 2025–2026 school year. 

Known by friends as determined, loyal, and compassionate, she has recently been inspired to pursue a new path in real estate after hearing positive experiences from brokers at Bower & Associates Inc., Realtors®, one of whom encouraged her to get her license. Her goal is to go above and beyond in representing clients during the meaningful process of buying or selling a home. 

When asked about a dream destination, she’d choose Florida for its warm weather and the opportunity to relax by the water and on the beach.