Chuck Smith
I graduated from Georgia Tech in 1985 as an Industrial and Systems Engineer. Before entering the real estate field in 1996, I had been designing and installing computer systems while focusing on Productivity Improvement and Quality Management. I spent much of my time managing projects and interacting with high level management. This gave me an excellent opportunity to build my interpersonal and financial management skills.

During that time I was actively participating in many real estate transactions both with and without real estate professionals. It seemed that combining my experience in real estate, from an owner’s perspective, along with my technology background, I could effectively assist homeowners in maximizing their real estate objectives.

I believe in helping people meet their needs, not mine. I am very service oriented and strongly believe in Integrity Selling, which provides a congruence of knowledge, skills, and values. In support of my values, I have affiliated myself with an office that meets my high standards of service and is recognized both locally and nationally as putting the client first.

I have two adopted children and understand those issues important to families such as schools and neighborhood support. My daughter Zhanna is from Kazakhstan, and my son Max is from Peru. Horses have recently become very important in the life of my daughter and I. We have two horses, stabled about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta. “Duke”, a Missouri Fox Trotter and “Coke”, a Tennessee Walker.

Marshall A. Berch
Having been born and raised in Atlanta has given me a true knowledge of the city and its real estate market. I attended college at Georgia Southern University and have been a member of the Atlanta Board of Realtors and an active member of the Million Dollar club for the last decade. Real Estate affords me the opportunity to use my education and experience to truly serve my clients with the highest standards.

Assisting people in the purchase or sale of their home is a passion for me. My business partner Chuck, and I share the belief that meeting our clients needs and exceeding their expectations is what this business is about. Chuck and I feel it is important to be flexible and change with the industry to keep current of the most effective ways to properly serve our clients.

I have a variety of hobbies which include camping, fixing up houses, assisting in the community and being a parent volunteer at my children's schools. I am a member of the board of trustees at my younger sons school and have always worked for better and positive education for children.

Joan Kaplan
Resourceful, adventurous and creative, I love to travel, renovate homes and talk (a lot). I was raised in St. Louis MO and attended Bradley University in Peoria IL before moving to Atlanta where I discovered my passion for real estate.

In 1995, after selling a mail order catalog business I co-founded, I worked at Delta Airlines where my husband and I traveled extensively. On one memorable flight, my seatmate described his success as the owner of dozens of residential rental homes, inspiring us to purchase our first investment property. For six years, I dabbled in real estate by buying, selling, rehabbing and renting homes. When friends, acquaintances and friends-of-friends started asking for my opinions and ideas, I knew it was time to become licensed so others could benefit from my knowledge and insights.

Whether I’m in the locker room at the health club, scouring an estate sale, in an aisle at the grocery store or at my daughter’s ballet class, I’m hearing, connecting and contacting potential buyers, sellers and renters. I’m always talking and looking, hunting and scoping out that ideal buyer or that next great home.

Jayson Janowski
I was born into the life of real estate. At the age of eight, I began sitting in on Sunday open houses and advertising my mother’s name as I passed out business cards up and down the streets of Decatur. Attending Druid Hills High School gave me a complete insight on how Dekalb County School systems operate. I graduated with honors from the University of Georgia earning my degree in Real Estate. Upon graduation I returned to the Emory area, to embark on my dream in the competitive field of real estate. I am known to many for my love of sports, strong family ties, and positive interaction with people.

Vickie Bracewell
I consider myself a native Atlantan having lived here all but the first year of my life. I have lived in Dekalb County all that time attending Briar Vista Elementary and Briarcliff High School from which I graduated in 1980. I went on to the University of Georgia where I met my husband Bob, also a Briarcliff graduate. We married the Saturday after I graduated and have been married now for 22 years. We have a daughter, Anna – 17 who is a senior at the Dekalb School of the Arts which is housed strangely enough in the old Briarcliff High School building. Anna is a dancer and is devoted to the Decatur City Dance Company and Decatur School of Ballet. We also have a 14 year old son, Will, who is in the 8th grade at Henderson Middle. Will is the consummate athlete, participating on the basketball, baseball and track teams at Henderson as well as the Rowdies soccer team. We live in the Briarcliff Woods subdivision and are active members of the Briarcliff Woods Beach Club and Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

For the past 2.5 years, I have been an onsite sales associate at several new construction subdivisions in the Decatur, Lake Claire and Avondale areas. I made the decision to go back into resale market and feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such a seasoned and well respected group here at the Chuck and Marshall Group. I look forward to working with you to make your real estate transaction a smooth and enjoyable experience. Please give me a call if I can help in any way.