Meet Marty Kennard

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marty Kennard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marty, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I worked for Corporate America for over 20 years, most of it with Target Corporation. After leaving my last position, my goal was to create a lifestyle that would put me in control of my time…and the trick to do that, was to build up businesses and investments that would sustain me without ever having to return to Corporate America. Nothing against it – my time working for large companies grew me in many ways, but it also gave me the resources which allowed me to work for myself.

Most of my businesses are in real estate, and my sand volleyball bar and grill. I actually didn’t set out to get into one particular line of business, but as opportunities arose, they just happen to be in areas I’m passionate about!

What should our readers know about your business?
The story I want to tell, is how I transitioned from Corporate America and being an employee, to becoming self-sufficient as a multi-faceted business owner.

When I left Target in 2010 after 17 years of workgin with them, I decided to take some of my savings and invest in real estate. I did this in part since just a few years prior, I lost over 6-figures in my retirement due to the stock market crash, and I didn’t want to risk putting money in there again and risking losing any more. I wanted more security, more control.

I bought my first investment home in cash, a duplex in north Dallas, that was being used as part of the FreeMan House organization. They sold it to me, rented it back from me, and signed a 5-year lease. As an unsavvy investor, this all sounded great – I was going to get monthly passive income for the first time in my life! Only later did I learn I could have done much more efficiently if I focused on ROI, and some of the principles I learned when I joined Lifestyles Unlimited.

I wanted to buy more rental homes, but I quickly learned I needed a w2 paying job to qualify…so I reentered C0rporate America with the sole purpose of feeding my new home-buying habit, so that is what I did. I had three corporate jobs, each about 18 month stints, and over the combind 4.5 years I accumulated about 10 rental homes.

Then…enter Rob West. Rob had been running Champagne Volleyball for nearly 3 decades, but never had a home base to permanantly call his own and run his leagues. I played competitive volleyball my entire life, but never really took owning a place seriously until Rob approached me to buy one with him. And so we did…and after 9 years of success, I can say it’s been a fun ride that continues on. I can now brag we own of the largest sand volleyball bar and grills in America with 24 sand courts.

So now…I’m not sure what to call myself…an investor? Entrepreneur? Since I own 7 active LLCs and divide my time as needed, while trying to continual grow as a person and a leader, I prefer to call myself a Life-Maestro.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Favorite spots? DFW is so diverse, so taking someone to one just wouldn’t do the trick. But, I usually recommend they get a taste of Fort Worth by visiting the Stock Yards, and then visit either the shops at West Legacy or the Star, and maybe even walk old Main street in Grapevine. I know there are a ton of things to do near downtown and uptown, but I personally don’t go there that often, so I would have to defer to one of my friends that live or frequent down there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My life, much like my careers and businesses, are a result of a hodgepodge of people and organizations. I would like to first credit Pastor Dennis Rokser for clearly helping me understand and believe the Gospel while attending the Duluth Bible Church in northern Minnesota. For my real estate endeavors, I credit the books of Rober Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad), Del Walmsley (Lifestyles Unlimited), David Fisher (real estate trainer & success guru), and Alex Clark (LU multi-family mentor). For my volleyball business, I credit Rob West who convinced me to go into business with him. With my VRBO, I credit Maryann Wahab who has become a short-term rental expert. For my Christian Transitional Living home investments, I credit Troy & Barb Freeman (www.FreeManHouse.org). For my coaching endeavors, I credit Keith Waggoner (success coach) and Giovanni Palavicini (friend & coach). And, since most of my leadership experience was with Target, I credit them for 17+ years of lessons and real life experience leading large teams and projects. I have way too many Target stories to the annoyance of my team…

Website: www.SportsGardenDFW.com