A Steady Guide for Meaningful Property Moments

Trudy's story with the firm began long before she had a law degree, or even knew exactly what kind of law Brian Smith practiced. In high school, she worked at Will Days Place, a local meat-and-three restaurant where Brian was a regular. A true creature of habit, he sat in the same spot and ordered the same meal nearly every day. Trudy would periodically remind him, "I'm going to law school one day, and I'll come work for you."

Years later, she did exactly that. While attending law school at night, Trudy reached out to Brian about a job. There wasn't an opening, but after six months of persistence, she finally wore him down. He created a place for her at the very bottom, earning around $8 an hour, and she began working her way up. Trudy graduated, passed the bar, and became a partner in 2010.

More than two decades later, it's still the people who bring her back to the office each day. She loves hearing clients' stories and working alongside a team she cares deeply about. Trudy brings steady leadership, a strong business mind, and the kind of consistency people can count on. Her staff knows she will always show up for them, put her head down, and stay until the work is done.

Outside the office, Trudy spends her time with family and friends, including her daughter, Talan, who now works alongside her at the firm, and her son, Tripp. Life on the family farm keeps her busy, but that suits her just fine. She genuinely loves mowing, cutting brush, and clearing trees, any job where she can step back afterward and see the progress she made. For Trudy, there's something deeply satisfying about leaving things better than she found them.

Preston's path to the firm started with Todd Sholar and a career detour he never saw coming. In 2016, he was living in Richmond, Virginia, and working in a completely different field. The day he received his bar results was also the day he learned that his company was shutting down his entire division. Talk about a sign.

Preston moved back to Nashville and took a job in real estate with another company. There wasn't an opening with the firm at the time, and he had no real estate experience, but he and Todd stayed in touch over semi-regular lunches. When an opportunity finally opened up, Preston met with Todd and Trudy before facing the final hurdle: a one-on-one lunch with Brian Smith at LongHorn Steakhouse. He had never met Brian and didn't know what to expect. Brian arrived in a head-to-toe white suit with his signature ponytail, but the two had a great lunch, and Preston joined the firm shortly afterward. He became a partner in 2025 and remains grateful for the mentors who helped him along the way and for the partnership he now shares with Trudy.

For Preston, the best part of the job is the people, 1,000 percent. Whether someone is receiving money, buying a new property, finding a new home, or opening or closing a chapter of life, there is usually a smile or at least a sense of relief waiting at the end. He never takes for granted that people choose to work with the firm because they trust the people behind it.

Preston earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, studied at Cambridge University, and completed his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Austin Peay State University. Growing up, he was a member of the Phoenix Boys Choir and played violin in several orchestras while also playing football and rugby and running track.

Outside the office, Preston loves exploring the world with his wife, Tori, and their two children, Archer and Stevie. Their adventures have taken them from Ireland and the Dominican Republic to Montana, New York City, Disney, and plenty of places in between. Japan is next on the list, and the kids will be right there with them.