The Wells County Chamber of Commerce staff and Ambassadors had the pleasure of surprising the dedicated team at Steffen Group, located at 215 E Market in Bluffton, as the March Member of the Month. Brandon Steffen, the owner of Steffen Group since 2000, expressed his gratitude and pride in the recognition.
"We have such a great team at Steffen Group and truly enjoy how involved our agents and company are in the community, supporting many nonprofits and the Chamber of Commerce," said Brandon Steffen. "This community gives us a tremendous amount of support, and we want to give back to a community that supports us."
Brandon's journey in the real estate and auction business began in 1996 in Ossian, right after school. His decision to start his own business led to the establishment of Steffen Group in Fort Wayne in 2000. However, his roots in Wells County called him back, and in 2021, Steffen Group opened an office in downtown Bluffton. "I really wanted to get back to Wells County because I grew up here, and we really wanted to grow in the county," Brandon added.
Steffen Group, with locations in Fort Wayne and Bluffton, boasts a total of 16 agents with plans for further growth. The company specializes in residential real estate, auctions, and commercial real estate management, overseeing approximately 4 million square feet of commercial space from Indianapolis to Laporte, Indiana.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in the auction business, with Steffen Group adapting to conducting 90% of auctions online. Recognizing a community need, the company opened an auction site at Rod's Rustics in Ossian two years ago, catering to small estates, downsizing individuals, and those transitioning.
Due to continued growth and future expansion plans, Steffen Group relocated to the 215 East Market location in 2023. "We had outgrown our space across from the Courthouse and just love our new location," explained Brandon. "We still have a little decorating to do, but it's a work in progress. The off-street parking and all the space down here is a great asset."
Receiving Member of the Month is a significant honor for Steffen Group, who expressed their pride in the work they do and thanked the Wells County Chamber of Commerce for the recognition.
For more information about Steffen Group, visit their website at steffengrp.com.
Pictured in the photo left to right:
Danielle Thompson, Flagstar Bank, Chamber Ambassador
Erica Lehman, Lehman Appraisals, Chamber Ambassador
Alyssa Brown, Archbold & Lewis, Chamber Ambassador
Shaye Higgins, Steffen Group
Chris Gerber, Edge Manufacturing, Chamber Ambassador
Brandon Steffen, Steffen Group
Heather Morgan, National Oil, Chamber Ambassador
Cathie Peterson, Steffen Group
Kevin Pritchard, Ruoff Mortgage, Chamber Ambassador
Bobby Perry, Steffen Group
Keith Muhlenkamp, First Merchants Bank, Chamber Ambassador
Isaac Stoller, Steffen Group
Nick Huffman, Steffen Group
Pat Carter, Steffen Group
Jayde Ketring, First Bank of Berne, Chamber Ambassador
Jessica Beste, Stockton Mortgage, Chamber Ambassador
Erin Prible, Executive Director, Wells County Chamber of Commerce
Cyndee Fiechter, North Eastern Group Realty, Chamber Ambassador
Ben Renkenberger, United Way, Chamber Ambassador
Rachel Reinhard, Wells County Chamber of Commerce