Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Bradley Gordon takes pride in helping dreams come true in his communities. His grandfather built homes on the North Shore and was involved in some pretty amazing ones, including Michael Jordan’s. In high school, Gordon’s job as a greeter at a local car wash gave him the confidence to speak to hundreds of people each week. He puts that same skill to use every day in the mortgage industry.

“Real estate is all about making relationships and socializing,” says Gordon, a senior loan consultant with Key Mortgage Services Inc. “What can be better for a person like myself, who loves to talk a lot?” It also helps that he has a photographic memory and can recall a client’s life story or phone number without having to write it down. “I like to know about them,” he says. “And I like them to know about me.”

After 19 years in the industry, Gordon still appreciates that the harder you work, the better you do. He’s earned Key Mortgage’s Founder’s Club status each of the seven years he’s been with the company, and before that, he was named a National Achiever throughout his four years at Chase Bank. “Growing up with hardworking parents is the key jolt of who I am,” he says. “I have followed in their footsteps.” Responsive, friendly and personable, Gordon always leaves clients with the feeling that they’re working with a friend they’ve known for a long time.

Gordon’s motto for living is, “You only live once, so make sure you bring your A-game so there are no regrets looking back when you are older.” He always tries to live his life with happiness and doesn’t understand why so many people are negative. His family is everything to him and his No. 1 motivator.

A lifelong fan of Chicago sports, Gordon never misses a Bears game. In his free time, he loves hanging out with his beautiful wife and their baby girl and is looking forward to welcoming a baby boy due Oct. 1.