Management & Support

 

Joe Funkhouser - President, Principal Broker, CRB, DSA

Joe Funkhouser is a real estate industry leader. He has been recognized at the highest level of the National Association of REALTORS as a Distinguished Service Award recipient. Joe is currently serving as Chairman of the Virginia Real Estate Board. He was Virginia's REALTOR of the Year in 1989 and was inducted into the Virginia Association of REALTORS Hall of Fame as a charter member in 2007.

Within the Shenandoah Valley community, Joe is currently serving on the Foundation of James Madison University and Chairman of the Rockingham Healthcare Corporation. He has previously served as Rector of James Madison University and in various roles throughout the Valley including campaigns to benefit United Way, Multiple Sclerosis, Red Cross, Blue Ridge Community College, JMU Athletics and more.

Joe brings to the Funkhouser Real Estate Group a wealth of real estate knowledge from his experience as a salesperson, broker and REALTOR® Association volunteer at all levels. His lengthy resume includes service to the Virginia Association of REALTORS as President in 1986, member of its Strategic Planning Committee, Board of Directors, RPAC Trustee, Past President Advisory Council and much more. His service to the National Association of REALTORS® includes member of the Enlarged Leadership Team, Executive Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Internet Strategy Task Force, Chairman of Nine Committees and much more.

Within Funkhouser Real Estate Group, Joe serves the associates as a leader, educator and problem solver. He commits himself to being available around the clock for all associates to assist with client’s needs.

Kemper Funkhouser - Chief Operating Officer, Supervising Broker, MBA 

Kemper has over 20 years of experience in real estate marketing and brokerage, which includes a portfolio of residential and commercial properties throughout the Shenandoah Valley. As Chief Operating Officer and Supervising Broker of Funkhouser Real Estate Group, Kemper oversees all the company’s daily operational functions.

He was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to the Commonwealth of Virginia Real Estate Board in 2021 and currently serves on the National Association of REALTORS Board of Directors.  In 2021 he was recognized as the Virginia REALTORS - REALTOR of the Year. In 2020 he was the President of the Virginia REALTORS and served on its Board of Directors from 2011 to 2021.  He is a Past President of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Association of REALTORS and the 2009 recipient of its REALTOR of the Year award.  In 2014, he was the recipient of the Virginia REALTORS Code of Ethics Award.

Kemper has served the National Association of REALTORS as its 2013 Chair of the Professional Standards Committee and a member of the strategic planning, business issues,  real property valuation, and professional standard interpretations committees.  He is also a graduate of the 2008 National Association of REALTORS Leadership Academy.

Kemper has a Master of Business Administration degree from James Madison University and Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from James Madison University. He is also a certified instructor of REALTOR® Ethics and an adjunct professor of real estate at James Madison University.

Elizabeth Kistler - Chief Financial Officer, REALTOR®

Elizabeth has been licensed with the company for over 12 years and has worked in real estate for 17 years. She has an extensive background in property management and has managed both single detached homes and large multi-family developments. Today, Elizabeth serves Funkhouser Real Estate Group as the Chief Financial Officer and property management adviser.

Elizabeth is currently serving on the Virginia Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors. She is also a member of the National Association of REALTORS® Communications Committee where she has served for over 4 years. She is a past Chair of the Virginia Property Management Coalition and past member of the Virginia Association of REALTORS® Leadership Academy.

Elizabeth is a graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.
  
 
 
 

Pete Laver - Director of Business Development, Associate Broker

Pete Laver is the Director of Business Development.  He assists associates with increasing the productivity of their business with a focus on providing an enhanced level of service to clients.   
 
Pete's work with associates includes business planning, implementation and marketing.  He also assists associates with risk management, contract review, transaction advisement, and education.  New associates work closely with Pete to implement proven systems in order to build a solid business foundation.
 
Pete has a Bachelor’s degree in Integrated Science and Technology with a minor in Human Resources Development from James Madison University.  Pete has operated a successful real estate sales business spanning two decades and is a top producer in the Shenandoah Valley. As an active member of two Multiple Listing Services, he has experience listing and selling property in Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Augusta counties, and Northern Virginia.  Pete is an Associate Broker in the Harrisonburg office and has been a licensed contractor in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2002.  He currently serves on the United Way of Harrisonburg Rockingham County board of directors and on the advisory board for Build United.
 
Pete and his wife Kyle, a Career Coach, live in Rockingham County and have four kids; Brooks, Owen, Leigha & Derek.   
 

David Emswiler - Sales Manager, Associate Broker

David grew up in the Orkney Springs area in Shenandoah County, Virginia. He graduated from Bridgewater College with a BA in Mathematics and received an MS from Madison College (now JMU) with a Major in Education and Minor in Mathematics. David taught high school math for 5 years in Page County and 1 year in Shenandoah County.

In 1985, David received his real estate license and he has been active in the real estate profession ever since. He has served as President of the Massanutten Association of Realtors for 4 years, received the Association's Code of Ethics Award twice as well as Realtor of the Year Award twice. David is presently the Chairman of the Grievance Committee as well as the Bylaws Committee.

David places a high priority on professionalism and attention to detail in working with all of his clients. David's favorite sport is golf, and he lives with his wife, Sue, west of Mount Jackson.