John Trautman has over 23 years of real estate experience that he’s channeled towards helping to educate others. 

Earlier on in his career, John applied his natural leadership skills to becoming a Finance Manager for the largest car dealership in Washington before moving towards a VP role at Washington Mutual, all while continuing to invest in real estate. 

Driven by his passion for both ground-up construction and building revitalization, John has grown his extensive portfolio of real estate holdings across the Phoenix Metro area. His focuses include medical, retail, office, multifamily and industrial. 

John’s ability to anticipate ROI led him to become the first Franchisee of Emerald City Smoothie, a retail concept focused on health and wellness, where he eventually expanded to over 50 stores. He is also an active member of the International Franchise Association, which allows him to continue his growth in this area of expertise. 

He later co-founded Real Estate Knowledge Institute (REKI) to help pass on his own knowledge and experiences. Understanding that investing is not a one-size-fits-all approach, he has since grown this real estate investment training company to over 2,000 investors. 

Staying true to his message on real estate investment guidance, John became a published author. His book “Truth or Comfort” provides insight from the perspective of someone who’s been there and done that, whether you’re a seasoned investor or new to the game. 

John’s talents have been recognized by Yahoo Finance as a “Top Real Estate Professional” for the last two consecutive years. He’s also been acknowledged on the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies 2020. 

When he’s not making a name for himself in the real estate industry, he enjoys leading an active lifestyle and spending time with his three children and grandchildren.