In 1991, Vicky Mitchener opened the doors to Dickens Mitchener with a simple idea: create a different kind of real estate company.
Vicky was already a successful agent, but she saw an opportunity to bring together the right technology, thoughtful marketing, and a more personal approach to real estate. She wanted to make the process easier for clients by creating a place where agents had the support and resources to do their best work.
That idea became Dickens Mitchener.
35 years later, a lot has changed. Charlotte has grown tremendously, and the real estate industry looks very different than it did in 1991. Through all of that change, we have worked hard to create a place where agents can build meaningful careers, learn from each other, and have a team behind them when they need it.
Growing With Charlotte
Over the past 35 years, we have had the privilege of watching Charlotte develop, welcoming new neighborhoods and businesses, and experiencing the many changes that come with a growing city and an evolving real estate market.
Some of our early milestones helped shape the company we are today. In the mid-1990s, we opened our Relocation Department and joined Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, expanding our ability to help clients move to and from Charlotte while connecting them with trusted professionals all over the world. In 1999, we moved into our current office in Eastover, giving our growing team a place to come together in a neighborhood that has remained a key part of our story.
The way we work has continued to transform. Technology has changed how people search for homes, market properties, communicate, and complete transactions. We have embraced those changes and continue to look for better ways to serve our clients and support our agents.
Reflecting on 35 Years
We have seen markets shift, watched neighborhoods flourish, worked through challenging periods, and celebrated some incredible moments with our clients and our agents.
We have had the opportunity to help people through some of the biggest decisions of their lives. A home can represent a first step, a new beginning, a growing family, a change in direction, or a place where years of memories are made. Being trusted to be part of those moments is something we never take for granted.
That sense of trust extends to the way we work with one another. Our agents have always been encouraged to share what they know, ask questions, help each other, and celebrate each other’s successes. We believe people do their best work when they have good people around them, and we are proud of the culture our agents and employees have built together over the years.
For Vicky, watching that growth has been one of the most rewarding parts of building Dickens Mitchener.
“What I have loved watching over the years is the growth of agents. To see an agent start their real estate journey with us and then build a vibrant, rewarding career is the most satisfying part of being the leader of Dickens Mitchener.”
There have also been moments that tested us. For Vicky, the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 was one of the most challenging periods of her time leading the company. “This was the first truly difficult time for me as a leader. I had to make quick decisions to make sure we survived. It was a hard period, but it also trained me to be a better leader and financial steward of Dickens Mitchener, recognizing the importance of being prepared for circumstances beyond our control. I have always said true leadership becomes evident during a crisis.”
Part of the Community
Being part of this community has always meant more than helping people buy and sell houses. As the city has evolved, so has our sense of responsibility to the people who live here.
That commitment took on a new form in 2020, when Vicky founded the Homeowners Impact Fund. The fund was created as a way for those who have benefited from homeownership to come together in support of those experiencing homelessness in an ongoing and sustainable way. At its heart is a simple goal: helping ensure that everyone in our community has a place to call home.
That same spirit carries through the organizations we support, including Charlotte Family Housing, Safe Alliance, The Harvest Center, Roof Above, and more. Each plays a different role in strengthening Charlotte, and we are proud to support them.
Looking Ahead
We have no doubt that Charlotte will continue to change and the real estate market will move through its cycles. After all these years, we have learned to appreciate that change and stay curious about what comes next.
We also know what we want to carry forward. We want to continue providing our agents with the best resources and keep learning from one another to better serve our clients. We want to remain connected to the community that has supported us for 35 years.
Most of all, we want to keep earning the trust that has allowed Dickens Mitchener to become one of the leading real estate firms in Charlotte.
Today, we are still doing what Vicky envisioned when she opened the doors in 1991: bringing good people together, taking care of our clients, and building a company we are proud to call home. One client, one agent at a time.
