Where Are They Now?

When Brandon Reese (Simmons) bought his first home in 2009, it was an important moment in his life. Now, as a business analyst for a real estate data company CoreLogic, his whole job centers on helping people find, buy and protect their homes.

“For me it’s a sense of accomplishment to help people get into their homes, because I know for me, buying a home was a huge deal,” he said. “To help people to be able to do that is rewarding.”

Reese graduated from Dublin High School in 1992, and took a job at Fibergrate in Stephenville. He worked in the shipping department there, packing orders and loading trucks.

But after living so close to home for so many years, Reese decided he wanted to venture out and see what else was out there. “There was a lot more opportunity and a lot more job availability in the Metroplex,” he said. “I moved to Dallas in 2005.”

That timing worked out perfectly, because Reese’s wife had recently taken a corporate job with Fibergrate in the Metroplex, so Reese was able to quit his job to move. When they finished moving in, he found a position with a company that ran background checks for employers.

Reese worked there for a couple of years until the company closed down. Afterwards, he connected with a recruiter and found a job as an account manager in the appraisal department of Bank of America. In 2009, Reese and his wife moved from Dallas to Carrollton, and bought their first house.

Five years ago, the division of Bank of America Reese worked in was bought out by another company, CoreLogic, a company that collects data that can help banks and consumers make decisions on home loans. Although the division changed hands, Reese was able to keep his position in the appraisal department.

In the process of buying a home, people must consider data on floods and other natural disasters, price trends, and the overall real estate market. That’s where CoreLogic comes in to help with the appraisals.

“The CoreLogic server handles all the appraisals for Chase, Bank of America, Loan Depot, things like that, for purchases and refinancing,” he said. “If you go to Bank of America and want to get a home loan, they send the appraisal through us.”

Over his years at Bank of America and CoreLogic, Reese was able to work his way up to the position of business analyst. In his position, he helps CoreLogic partner and collaborate with other businesses in order to help customers find, buy and protect their homes.

He’s been working remotely since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but hopes to return to the office next month. On a day-to-day basis, Reese is usually analyzing spreadsheets and making calculations. “I’m a numbers person, so I enjoy doing that stuff,” he said.

Reese hopes to stay at CoreLogic in the future.

When he’s not working, Reese likes to hang out with his wife, Ivette (Garcia) Reese (she went by Edna in high school). The Reese’s have known each other since elementary school, but didn’t start dating until after high school. They were married in 2000. The couple has no children, but love spending time with their dogs.

“We like to go find a good patio somewhere and just enjoy the weather,” he said. “We take our dogs walking all the time and take them to play; we just like to be out and about and do things.”

Reese’s parents, Randy and Mickey Simmons, have been his greatest inspiration throughout his life. “Seeing how hard they worked [was inspiring,]” he said. “We never really had a lot, but they were always able to provide for the kids.”

The Reeses make the trip down to Dublin as often as they can, since both of their families still live in the area. Reese has good memories of growing up in Dublin. “Everybody knew everybody, and there were no strangers at all,” he said. “It was a nice quiet town to grow up in.”

Moving out of town was a big step for Reese, but looking back he’s glad he took the leap. “I had to get out of my own way and be willing to be open to other opportunities,” he said. “It’s hard to leave but, you know, sometimes it’s for the best.”

This is the advice he offers to Dublin graduates, whether it applies to leaving home or making other important choices in life. “Be open to change and be willing to take those chances,” he said.

Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen.com.