Meet Our Team
Meet Our Agents
Nicole Solari
Managing Broker
707-486-5400
707-486-5400
DRE# 01952567
nicole@solariteam.com
Broker Nicole Solari has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and in 2013, she left a successful career in Silicon Valley to pursue her passion full-time. Technical savvy, insatiable drive, and devotion to exceptional client service quickly put on top as the #1 producing agent in Solano County and top 100 agents in the Bay Area. Nicole is also recognized as the top 1% of all agents, nation-wide. But when it became clear that her unique brand of client-centered service required a different business model than the production-driven, big brand agencies, she launched The Solari Group.A Georgia native and graduate of the University of Georgia, Nicole brings her natural Southern charm to managing a growing roster of agents and clients alike. Clients say that Nicole is a dedicated, attentive, highly-skilled negotiator that has their best interests at heart and the knowledge and connections to make their housing dreams come true. Nicole takes her continuing education seriously and holds many designations including GRI, CRS, SRS, SPRES, CLHMS and is a GUILD member of the Luxury Home Marketing Institute. Nicole runs her business with honestly, integrity and discretion, she prides herself in being a problem solver, highly skilled negotiator and master of contracts. Nicole also owns and operates two property Management companies, and volunteers her time to animal rescues. Outside of her work she is devoted to her family, her husband Neil, who also works with her, son Evan and two rescue dogs, Aubie and Oakley.
Dylon Baker
Realtor®
707-330-0152
DRE# 01990381
dylon@solariteam.com
Living in Solano County for most of his life has given Dylon Baker an in-depth knowledge of the community. That’s one of the reasons why his buyers find their dream homes and his sellers get the best offers. Clients remark on his diligence, honesty, preparedness, and real estate expertise. He is dedicated to providing service that never stops. From the beginning of the transaction to its end, Dylon shows up at the highest level.
Before Dylon began his career in real estate, he was in the home remodeling industry. Running hundreds of projects taught him how to see through the ordinary to create the extraordinary. He now uses that talent to help clients understand the potential value within the houses they’re considering buying or selling.
Dylon has the drive to match his clients with the home that they love while making the entire process as easy as possible!
Maggie Celestini
Realtor®
707-592-8532
DRE# 01878565
maggie@solariteam.com
Maggie Celestini is a real estate specialist and a top producer who has extensive knowledge of the local market. She grew up in Italy and South America, which gives her a multicultural perspective and fluency in Spanish and Italian. Her mission is to consistently go above and beyond her clients’ expectations, and she makes it her business to educate them throughout the real estate process so they have the knowledge to make the most informed decisions.
Her easy-going personality, positive and relaxed attitude quickly puts buyers and sellers at ease. Clients know she is an expert who will look out for their best financial interests and negotiate contracts to their benefit. They also appreciate her thorough understanding of financing options and the legal aspects of real estate.
A UC Berkeley graduate, Maggie has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and an Associate’s Degree in Business from Solano Community College. During her 25-year career at Levi Strauss & Co., she traveled the world, working closely with international business partners while establishing herself as a personable, customer-focused professional and skilled negotiator, skills she brings to her real estate practice.
Maggie enjoys the outdoors, cycling throughout Solano County’s valleys, hiking in Hawaii, running at Lagoon Valley, and spending quality time with family and friends. She lives with two animals, two grown children, and her husband.
Jason Traylor
Realtor ®
707-205-9070
DRE# 01994474
jason@solariteam.com
Jason Traylor has years of customer service management experience under his belt. He ran several high-volume Starbucks Drive Thru stores in Southern and Northern California and he also owned his own landscaping business as a Landscape Contractor. These experiences taught Jason several important skill sets, including marketing, graphic design, and the importance of a strong social media presence. Jason started his real estate journey doing curb appeal consulting and flipping landscapes.
Jason is a driven and grounded person with a genuine heart to do good. He works hard and loves when his clients become lifelong friends. He wants his life to have meaning and helping people reach their home buying or selling goals is very rewarding to him. Jason is not in real estate to get rich; rather, he's passionate about getting people into homes and making a difference in people’s lives.
When not helping achieve their real estate goals, he has a passion for film, basketball NBA, and Hiking.
Evan Petit-Frere
Agent
707-439-6476
DRE# 01952567
evan@levelupbrokerage.com
The city of Travis Air Force Base is where real estate agent Evan Petit-Frere calls home. Coming from a military family, Evan understands the importance of uniformity, transparency, and integrity, especially when helping his clients make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.
In Evan’s eyes, clients are more like family or a brotherhood where service comes before self. He listens intently to help clients get clear about their criteria and what’s most important to them. Clients consistently feel like he has their back in tough negotiations that deliver the most favorable terms for them, and because of that, he is able to form long-lasting bonds. That is why he makes it his duty and obligation to go above and beyond to deliver the quality service clients deserve.
After spending seven years in the customer service and technical field with AT&T, Evan decided to leverage his knowledge, experience, and transparency to pursue his dreams in the real estate field. After meeting with Nicole Solari and the tight-knit, cohesive Solari team, he knew it was a perfect match. Being backed by a strong, knowledgeable group has given him the opportunity to excel and “level up” at a much faster pace.
Evan loves being around people and in his free time, you can find him enjoying Solano County’s cultural beauty with his fiancé and two sons. He loves hiking, dancing to live music, local events, and trying great restaurants in and around the surrounding area!
Garrett Forbes
Realtor ®
707-975-0896
DRE# 01975558
garrett@levelupbrokerage.com
Garrett Forbes
Level Up Realty
Former actor and model turned Realtor®, Garrett Forbes has a natural ability to relate to almost anyone. The gift of easily attuning to people from all walks of life and understanding their needs on deeply human levels afforded Garrett substantial success in the entertainment industry. Taking his skills and high level of empathy into real estate, Garrett has been able to repurpose that gift into a career that’s aimed at giving back. His focus has always been to help others express themselves and find their niche. And nothing’s more niche than home.
Offering clients a professional approach infused with creative energy, Garrett prides himself on providing an industry-forward, client-centered service that’s grounded in his commitment to hard work and ethical business. Inspired by the opportunity to help people from all walks of life, Garrett believes that every individual deserves a place to call theirs. He’s honored to work in a field that enables him to assist a diverse array of individuals in finding their way home.
This passion spills over into other areas of his life: Garrett has maintained active involvement in a spectrum of charity organizations, including The American Red Cross, World Wildlife Fund, Veterans Home of California, Salvation Army Napa, Uganda Well Project, and LGBTQ Connection. Garrett believes that bettering the world is as much an honor as it is a duty, and he’s humbled to do that every day, one client at a time. Everyone deserves to feel safe. Everyone deserves to go home.
Jim Filippi
Broker Associate
707-880-2555
DRE# 01448068
jim@levelupbrokerage.com
When I first embarked on my residential real estate and finance career, it was to be your advisor, rather than your typical real estate professional who just takes your order. I’ve spent the last 15 years enhancing myself through education and industry experience, in order to deliver a better experience to you. I accomplish this through Service, Experience, and Relationship.
SERVICE
I am unique in the services I provide my clients. By working with a practitioner who is a licensed Realtor and a licensed loan originator, you don’t have to deal with multiple professionals to obtain the same goal.
I may have a few professional titles, but unofficially, and rather more importantly, I’m a professional guide. This may sound a little out of place considering you aren’t touring the Serengeti, but rather, you are buying or selling a home, or obtaining a mortgage.
Think of it this way, if you were to drive across the country to visit the Statue of Liberty, you likely couldn’t get there by jumping in your car and driving. It is probable that you’d consult a map, or use GPS navigation of some sort to guide you to your destination. Your real estate transaction is usually the largest and most complex deal you will experience throughout your life. For that trip to be successful, you need a professional to guide you there. This is where I come in, to guide you through selling your home, searching for your new home or obtaining mortgage financing.
EXPERIENCE
It may seem a little presumptuous to be a self-proclaimed professional. In the legal world, an expert is one who possesses special skills or knowledge about a particular subject. To that end, I’m not your typical agent, so let me highlight what makes me your professional.
EDUCATION: I hold a Juris Doctor degree, two Bachelors of Science degrees, one in Business Administration, the other in Law, and an Associates of Science degree in Administration of Justice. I am also taking the California Bar Exam in July 2019.
LICENSING: I hold a Real Estate Broker license, the highest license offered by the California Department of Real Estate. I am also licensed as a mortgage loan originator by the California Department of Business Oversight.
CERTIFICATIONS: I am certified as an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), a Military Relocation Professional (MRP) and a Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) by the National Association of Realtors, and a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist by the Institute of Consumer Financial Education.
ACHIEVEMENTS: I have been selected as an MVP by my peers at multiple employers and have received awards for excellence in customer service.
RESPONSIBILITIES: I have been a leader in the mortgage and real estate industry since 2007. As a Team Leader and Branch Manager, I’ve been selected to lead real estate and mortgage professionals in our area.
VOLUNTEERING: I serve as a board member and law enforcement liaison for the Northern California Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (NorCal COPS), which serves to assist families and co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
In addition, I have been selected as an Honorary Commander for Travis Air Force Base for the 2018-2020 term.
RELATIONSHIP
We will work together, first to provide you with an award-winning customer experience, but ultimately to build a lasting relationship. I stay connected with my clients long after the closing and continue to be your resource for everything residential real estate and financing related. If you have a question 10 years after you close, give me a ring!
My business is referral-based, which is something that cannot be done without delivering what I promise. By providing a WOW experience to my clients, they have awarded me by returning for future transactions and referring their family and friends.
It’s time for you to see why Real Estate and Lending are Better Together. So, allow me to guide you to your new home. Call me today!
Tereza Tejbusova
Realtor ®
707-486-5400
707-345-6979
DRE# 02081878
tereza@levelupbrokerage.com
Born in the Czech Republic, and having moved countless times, Tereza Tejbusova has learned firsthand how good it feels to come home. Home keeps you grounded, stable, and calm even if everything else is uprooting. Tereza knows that finding your home is a deeply personal endeavor, and she’s excited to be a part of it. Bilingual in English and Czech, Tereza relishes the opportunity to engage with people from all cultures. She’s well-traveled and has a depth of experience with and a deeply empathetic spirit for people across a spectrum of backgrounds and world views.
Coupling her natural skill set with a background in hospitality and a degree in law, Tereza has built a professional platform that highlights unparalleled service and unprecedented attention to detail. While good agents excel at keeping up, great agents set the pace. Tereza prides herself on offering a level of service that keeps clients consistently informed and prioritized. She knows that communication is the key to healthy relationships and successfully closed transactions. While it can sometimes feel daunting, Tereza knows that real estate is exciting, and she’s excited for you. You’re ready to go home. Tereza will get you there.
Ian Winget
REALTOR | NOTARY PUBLIC
650-269-5565
DRE# 02070694
ian@levelupbrokerage.com
After having earned my Master’s Degree in International Business in Queensland, Australia, I moved from Australia, to Napa, California in 2007. Napa is where I began my career in “direct to consumer” wine & spirits marketing, customer service, and hospitality at Domaine Chandon.
Seven years later I met the proprietor of Napa Valley Distillery and we began working together to launch Napa Valley Distillery’s Retail, Website, E-commerce, and (the first in Napa) Spirits Club businesses.
While working at NVD, I became very passionate about the local Napa Real Estate market, and began studying for my CA Real Estate License. Once fully licensed, I choose to leave NVD and pursue a full time career in service-oriented, concierge-inspired, compassion-infused, successful Real Estate.
I very much look forward to helping you realize your Real Estate dreams in the near future!
A little about me: My favorite activities:
+ Travel – 35 countries … and counting!
+ Hiking
+ Education – Sensory Analysis and production of foreign and domestic wine
+ Walking my Puggle, Susie Q
+ Volunteering for Napa Food Project to raise food for the Napa Food Bank
+ Volunteering for The Napa Animal Shelter as a dog walker
+ Bicycle Riding
+ Home Coffee Roasting
+ Specialty Coffee Brewing
+ Making Cocktail Bitters
Formal Education:
+ CA Department of Real Estate License (DRE#02070694)
Year Earned: 2018
Location: Sacramento, California
+ National Association of REALTORS Membership
Year Earned: 2019
Location: Napa, California
+ Notary Public License
Year Earned: 2017
Location: Napa, California (CA Secretary of State)
+ Master’s Degree: International Business
Year Earned: 2005
Location: Bond University: Queensland, Australia
+ Bachelor’s Degree: Anthropology
Minor: French Language
Year Earned: 2001
Location: University of Colorado: Boulder, Colorado
I measure success through the satisfaction of my clients.
Call me today. I am looking forward to working for you soon!
Sincerely,
Ian Winget | REALTOR
Email Me: ian@ianwinget.com
Text/Call Me: 707-266-6528
Emily Whitman
Realtor ®
707-372-9881
DRE# 02003133
emily@levelupbrokerage.com
Real estate agent Emily Whitman believes that anything can be achieved through hard work, and it’s that mindset that makes her clients’ experiences working with her so successful. She strives to be her clients’ trusted go-to agent, someone they can lean on with confidence and know will always do right by them.
Born and raised in Fairfield, California, Emily has been exposed to the real estate industry her entire life: Her father is a contractor, her mother and aunt worked in escrow, and she had lots of family friends who were lenders and real estate agents. She began her career in teaching and childcare but eventually transitioned into property management and real estate. She was drawn to the industry out of a desire to help people achieve their goals, and she prides herself on her transparency and honesty. Her chief aim is to be an educator and a trusted ally during a sometimes tricky process.
When Emily takes time off, she loves spending it outdoors hunting, fishing, and hiking. She also enjoys her ranch life, where she gardens, takes care of her animals, and walks her dogs. She wants to help bring the outdoors to others, and she avidly supports Field of Dreams, Inc., a nonprofit that provides field adventures for members of the military, their families, and special needs kids.
Brooke Kimbell
Realtor
707-724-1092
DRE# 02005754
brooke@levelupbrokerage.com
I have grown up in Vacaville and lived in areas of Solano and Sacramento counties. I started off in the collection industry learning about the benefits of credit and the importance of building it for your future. After spending 10+years in the collection industry I dove into Real Estate marketing. I worked for a local company HomeSwing LLC , selling real estate websites, CRM and lead management systems. For a year in a half i had learned as much as i could to help me with marketing and have worked with several seasoned agents all over the US with their marketing, websites and how to be successful before I decided to become a Realtor. My experience in credit, marketing and customer service has provided me with a superior skill set with the needs of my real estate clients. I pride myself of my work ethic , and dedication to help others find their dream home or starter homes. I am never too busy to answer the phone , email , or text message so feel free to reach out at any time!
Mario Moreno
Realtor ®
415-533-4140
DRE# 02052784
mario@solariteam.com
Mario Moreno started his career in real estate as a loan officer in 2003. He became well-versed in the industry and helped many clients purchase homes until the financial collapse of 2008, when he was forced out by economic necessity. He then joined his brother in the transportation business, eventually managing a fleet of over 40 vehicles and drivers. In 2011, he founded a transportation corporation and worked in collaboration with FedEx Ground.
Mario had always enjoyed the real estate industry, so when the market began to recover in 2013, he started buying, fixing, and selling houses. In the process, he learned about legal procedures, marketability, construction costs, how to determine a home’s real value, and about the many other aspects involved in flipping properties. Opportunities grew, and in 2015 he founded Moreno Properties. Mario worked diligently and found that many houses were in excellent condition and priced reasonably but were not suitable for flipping. He realized that selling these properties as a real estate agent would be more effective and joined The Solari Group, a firm with great marketing and advertising strategies, in 2018.
Mario’s extensive real estate knowledge, his experience in both buying and selling homes and investment properties, his passion for the industry, along with the support of a solid team make him a prime negotiator who always obtains the best value for the buyer and an equitable stress-free sale for the seller.
Gwen Broussard
Realtor ®
415-724-8036
DRE# 01725684
gwen@levelupbrokerage.com
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Gwen Broussard studied at San Francisco State University, with a concentration in Accounting and Business Administration. Gwen’s love of numbers and passion towards helping individuals and small businesses brought her to tax preparation and accounting. Gwen has worked on over 2,000 tax returns, bookkeeping, and accounting projects over the years and excels at analyzing and executing efficient and cost-effective measures for all her clients. Gwen opened her own firm, Broussard Financial in 2001 in order to accommodate an ever-growing roster of clients and to offer a range of complementary business services. In addition to being a certified professional tax preparer, Gwen became a licensed California real estate agent focusing on residential sales and loan acquisition financing as well as a California Notary Public. Gwen provides beneficial insight into the tax ramifications of real estate purchase and sales for all her clients.
Kevin Ortega
Realtor®
707-366-8065
DRE# 01950561
kevin@levelupbrokerage.com
Kevin is a licensed Realtor at The Solari Group. He specializes in first time home buyers and investment properties. He primarily works the Solano County market.
Scott Tonnesen
707-246-5670
DRE# 01352612
scott@levelupbrokerage.com
As a fifth-generation native of Fairfield, California, Scott Tonnesen has an uncommon connection to his community. Fully invested in seeing his hometown thrive, Scott has dedicated his career to its economic growth. Scott began his career working at his father’s appraisal company and his love of the industry has never wavered. A professional real estate appraiser from 1982 to 1995, and a mortgage banker and real estate agent since, Scott is passionate about helping others establish roots in the community that has always grounded him.
As a resident with over thirty-seven years of real estate experience in Solano County, Scott offers his clients an unprecedented level of expertise and insight into the residential community. Committed to ethical and honest relationships with every client, Scott holds fast to the principle that you should always say what you mean and mean what you say. Scott believes good business is founded on transparency and he’s dedicated to staying in constant communication with his clients throughout the process.
As a mortgage broker, Scott has the uncommon opportunity as an agent to walk his clients through both a home search and home financing process, which results in a high level of efficiency in the transaction and comfort for each of his clients. Scott relishes the opportunity to work through a variety of client needs and has vetted experience in all types of loan transactions.
Excited to instill confidence in each client during what can feel like an exciting but intimidating process, Scott thrives on the opportunity to help you find your way home. Proud of his roots, Scott regularly invests his own time into his community’s growth through volunteerism. Ultimately his career is an extension of that investment. Home simply grounds you, and for Scott, that’s worth buying in.
Teri Buchanan
Realtor ®
707-815-1336
DRE# 01326975
teribuchanannapa@aol.com
Senior Real Estate Specialist Teri Buchanan provides concierge-level real estate services to first-time and experienced Napa and Sonoma Valley buyers and sellers. Her real estate experience in San Francisco and the North Bay exceeds 20 years, and she knows the Napa and Sonoma Valleys like a native. Before becoming a Realtor, Teri was the managing partner of a San Francisco marketing communications firm, where she supported real estate developers and allied professionals for years. She found her way to Napa in 1992 and has called it home ever since.
Her clients routinely say, “Teri is the best agent I ever worked with.” And that’s her goal – to be the best agent any client has ever worked with. Having relocated herself, she knows the stresses and joys of starting fresh. She tailors her services to make each transaction as stress-free as possible, and Teri’s service is always top-notch, whether her clients are buying an entry-level condo, selling a large family home, and downsizing locally or out of town.
Gregory Manitsas
Realtor®
707-968-1471
DRE# 02098990
gregory@levelupbrokerage.com
Gregory is a Bay Area native who is truly passionate about real estate. As a buyer’s agent it is his goal to place you into the best possible property at the best possible price. In addition to helping you purchase a property that you love and are excited about Gregory also wants to help you invest your money wisely. It is his fiduciary duty to look out for your best interest. He is available for residential and commercial acquisitions both large and small in the Napa-Solano area and beyond. If you’re looking for a craftsman bungalow in Vallejo, a hobby farm in Vacaville, a wine country estate or anything in between please feel free to reach out to Gregory. He is here to help you find what you want.
Neil Solari
COO
707-486-9057
DRE# 01215245
neil@levelupbrokerage.com
There is hardly a name that resonates more with longtime Napans than Solari. Beaulieu, Inglenook, Beringer, and the Solari family's Larkmead comprised the Big Four of Napa wineries at a time when Napa Valley was just beginning its climb to global fame as a top global wine-producing region.
Neil's great grandfather immigrated to Sonoma County from near Lucca, Italy, in the early part of the 20th century. The elder Solari bought the family's Calistoga vineyards in 1948. His oldest son - Neil's great-uncle -inherited the family vineyard and wine-making operation.
Neil's side of what he proudly calls his "big, noisy Italian family" set out to carve its own path and found success in the halls of education. His grandfather and both of Neil's parents were local educators, and his sisters are college professors today.
But, Neil resisted the pull of either "family business," instead earning a BA in Law and Political Science at UC-Santa Barbara.
He began his career with Weyerhaeuser Realty Investors and soon discovered he had a knack for talent-spotting and development. He moved up in that field, serving for a number of years as a recruiter and leadership development executive at Robert Half International. He ultimately became Vice President at the prominent local recruiting firm Nelson and Associates and was Vice President/Global Talent Acquisition and Development at PRO Unlimited when his wife Nicole's real estate brokerage took off.
Neil is now Chief Operating Officer - and a licensed REALTOR@ - at Level Up Realty - The Solari Group. Among his other contributions there, his gift for talent spotting and development is proving invaluable. Noting that "you can't put a price on smarts in the people you work with," he says he's always on the lookout for talent. He looks first for "people who are indispensable to their current employers, regardless of whether they're in the real estate industry." Then, he says, if that intelligent, indispensable person also brings high integrity and a relentless work ethic to their job, "you have the foundation of a great Solari team member."
In late 2018, Level Up Realty's Solari Group joined Side, Inc., a real estate tech/back office firm funded by industry-leading Silicon Valley investors. With Side providing administrative, legal, and marketing support, Solari Group agents can focus on their clients and the details that make their sales or purchases easier and more rewarding to them, both personally and financially. This support enables quicker sales, higher closing prices, and matchless customer service. And it broadens this hyper-local agency's network of support far beyond its Fairfield and downtown Napa offices.
"Being part of this larger group gives us the advantages of scale while preserving our local focus," Neil explains. "And our clients are the ultimate beneficiaries."
Reach Neil at the office, 1700 2nd Street/Suite 222, Napa CA 707-486-9057
Email: Neil@LevelUpBrokerage.com
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