Tallahassee Culture

Here’s Coldwell Banker Hartung President, Chip Hartung, on why culture matters in a city & the workplace

When people decide to move to a new city, or even a new neighborhood, one of the first things they ask is “what’s the culture like?” 

Culture is so important – whether it’s the culture of a city or the culture of a company. The beliefs, customs, knowledge, capabilities and habits are what define a place. It helps you determine if you will be happy, successful and fulfilled in any given location. 

When starting my first real estate brokerage in Tallahassee back in 1979, defining what the culture of the company would look like was one of the key components to our early success. Culture was a driving factor that led me to the Coldwell Banker franchise in 1981, and why I chose to build and grow the brokerage right here in Florida’s capital city. 

I graduated from Florida State University, and while some physical aspects of the city have changed (new parks and neighborhoods, multiple shopping districts and improved roads), I believe the culture of the city has stayed the same. 

First is the Southern Charm, or as those who aren’t from the area may put it “everyone is so friendly!” and it’s true. Although we live in a capital city in one of the most populated states in the US, in Tallahassee you can walk into a grocery store or a restaurant or take a jog through your neighborhood, and there is someone who will greet you with a smile and a hello. 

Second is the willingness to give. Tallahassee has one of the highest rates of civic engagement in the country, meaning the people in the city are quick to assemble in times of need. This includes big initiatives like sending supplies to Mexico Beach after a hurricane destroyed this beloved nearby beach community, or small things like volunteering to coach one of the local little league teams. Tallahassee is a town where people care about their neighbors.    

And last but not least, one of the unique aspects of Tallahassee is that it’s a capital city and the home to 2 major universities – FSU and Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). Added together, all of these things make our city vibrant and diverse. It’s a place where small business owners and entrepreneurs come together with elected officials and athletes. Where retirees move to watch their grandchildren grow up. A place where students graduate and find their first job, first house… maybe even the love of their life. 

When I think about what the Coldwell Banker Hartung brokerage has become today, like Tallahassee, there is a lot that’s changed over the years. We’ve expanded from serving only Tallahassee to many surrounding areas including Thomasville, Quincy, Havana, Monticello, Crawfordville, St. George Island and the Beaches of the Forgotten Coast. 

But as many things that have changed, the important things have stayed the same: the culture of customer service, doing what’s right by our clients every time, and hiring a diverse and talented group of agents to serve the real estate needs of our community. 

For these reasons, and so many more, there’s no other place I’d want to work, and no other place I’d want to call home. 

Chip Hartung
President
Coldwell Banker Hartung
www.cbhartung.com

Click here for information on Tallahassee’s arts & cultural scene, or read our blog post updated for 2021, 100 Things To Do in Tallahassee