Who's The Boss? Why Laurie Nugent Loves Working With Her Son Talbot Sutter ‘07

When Laurie Nugent’s son, Talbot Sutter ‘07, graduated from FSU and decided to open his own real estate brokerage, she was dead set against it. This Parent of Alumni, who comes from a long line of realtors, had been in real estate since the 1980’s and knew starting from scratch was a Herculean task. 

“I guess I knew how hard this business is and I wanted him to have more freedom in his life. So there was a big family fight, me against it and Talbot's Dad and brother for it,” she said. 

But Laurie is now glad Talbot didn’t take her advice too seriously. In fact, she is so happy with how things turned out that she now works for her son, having joined Sutter and Nugent, the brokerage he started. 

“It’s amazing! I have to pinch myself sometimes because of how lucky I am to be with Talbot everyday. Sometimes I take it for granted until I talk to another mom who tells me she only hears from her son once in a blue moon. Or another mom who tells me her son/daughter live in another state, then I remember how lucky I am,” she said.

Lucky, but not surprised. Since he was young, Talbot was a real estate prodigy of sorts. While attending Benjamin, this 14-year-club member would make the rounds with mom while she worked open houses on the weekends. 

“He was supposed to just pass out flyers but he always ended up talking with the buyers and sellers with great ease. Everyone would compliment me on my assistant and told me he was going to be very successful. If we had a couple houses open on the same street, Talbot would take one solo by the time he was a senior at TBS,” she said.

Laurie believes her son’s passion for the business coupled with his Benjamin education led him to start the firm along with fellow alumnus Jason Milner ‘07 and grow it into a high-end realty firm. 

“He is an example of a kid that took every single tool that TBS could give you from a hard work ethic, to sports, to scholastic preparation, to discipline, and most importantly the social environment, teachers and lifelong friendships he made there, and used these tools to make an incredible life for himself and a lot of young people,” she said.

Sutter and Nugent has closed more than $1 Billion in real estate transactions in the last three years alone and has grown to over 200 associates, many of whom are connected to TBS.

“Right now we have eight Benjamin alumni that work with us as well as some Benjamin alumni parents ” said Talbot, adding, “Benjamin alumni have been some of our biggest producers and have opened doors for us that have led into higher and higher arenas of business. The work ethic, punctuality, attention to detail, and professionalism that I see from a Benjamin graduate that we hire is truly second to none.”

Talbot says he has executed more than $180 Million in real estate transactions with his mother, but the biggest benefit goes beyond the financial metrics.  

“I always respected my mother and knew she was tough but after working with her hand in hand, I’ve learned what an absolute ‘beast’ she can be. Waking up and being the first one in the office on a daily basis is something that she has always done and has driven me to incorporate the same hustle into my business,” he said. 

So who reports to whom?

 “He is my boss but it's the greatest work situation I have ever been in because even if I make a mistake, which I do a few, I know that my boss loves me. How many people can say that!,” Laurie  said.

And the biggest perk of working with your son? 

“I love it when he and my daughter-in-law Adriana bring my granddaughters Scarlett and Sterling to work. I have a special place for them in my office. How great is that!” she said.