May/June 2002 - Ned Pettus - Realtor Promoted to City of Columbus Fire Chief

Ned Pettus --
CBR Member appointed City of Columbus Fire Chief

   Long time Realtor® broker and fire fighter, Ned Pettus, was promoted to the position of City of Columbus Fire Chief on March 26, 2002. After 25 years in the Department, he is the first black fire chief and also the first to work under a 1999 city charter amendment that limits him to a maximum of 10 years as chief.

  Ned got his real estate license and joined the CBR in 1975, two years before joining the fire department. In 1987, he got his broker's license and opened his own brokerage. In 1989, Lonette got her license so she could start helping with the business. Ned and his wife, Lonette, operate Pettus Realty.

  “I had a passion for real estate when I started in 1975, but my family was still growing during that time period. When I entered the fire service in 1977, I developed a passion for it as well. It also provided me with a prospect/client base for my real estate practice. I began by developing the leads and initiating contacts, and then turned the clients over to my wife/office manager. Many clients now bypass me and call Lonette directly.”

  “I feel wonderful about the two careers - firefighting and real estate, they have been complimentary for me, and a career on the side is actually a part of the culture of being a firefighter. Most firefighters have some type of job or trade that they ply during their off duty time. Some are plumbers, electricians, contractors, remodelers, teachers, Realtors®, and even a few attorneys, as retired Fire Chief Stephen Woltz is. My current Public Information Officer is in his third year of law school, and one of my Deputy Chiefs is working on his Ph.D. in Public Administration.”

  With a focus in the Linden area, Ned was active in several community housing organizations including the Community Housing Partnership (CHP). They averaged between 4-8 agents up until about three years ago when Ned's career with the Fire Department began to catch fire.

  As Ned moved up the ranks in the fire department, he became less active in the real estate and Lonette became more active in handling their business. Lonette hopes to get her broker's license this summer, may take on a couple agents and will focus on investment property and property management.

  Of her husband, Lonette offered, “I'm very proud of Ned. He's worked hard both on the Fire Department and as a real estate broker. He has been a total support system for me in whatever endeavors I have attempted. He has trained me well as a real estate agent and office manager. I feel confident in taking over the brokerage after I obtain my broker's license and feel the company will continue to grow in a positive way.”

  Ned and Lonette have four children, two of which took some real estate classes in college. One of the two, Ned Jamar, is now a firefighter. The other, Tanisha, will be joining the business soon.

  As the fire chief position has a 10-year term limit, Ned says “I plan to weigh my options at the end of the first five year contract and determine then, if I want to continue in the Fire Service, practice real estate exclusively, teach at Columbus State Community College (or some other college), or relocate and do whatever I want.”