The Vintory Podcast

Hosted by Brooke Pfautz

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Feb 2026

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About the show

The Vintory Podcast highlighting the Top 10 Mistakes that Vacation Rental Managers make. Featuring industry veterans of the VRM space. Featuring CJ Stam III, David Angotti, Jennifer Mucha, Ginger Harrelson and so many more awesome guests! Join Brooke Pfautz and cohost Conrad O'Connell each week.

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55 recent

February 27, 2026Episode 5559 min

Episode 55: Top 10 Mistakes — 26-Year-Old CEO Jack Zoppa’s Journey in the STR Industry

In Episode 55 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz sits down with Jack Zoppa, a 26-year-old entrepreneur who is already leading two companies in the vacation rental space. Jack is the CEO of Haven Vacation Rentals in the Smoky Mountains and the Co-Founder & CEO of Tendwell Cleaning Co. At just 26, Jack has built and scaled both a property management company and a cleaning operation in one of the most competitive short-term rental markets in the country. But the journey hasn’t been smooth. In this episode, Jack shares his top 10 mistakes in the industry — the lessons that shaped him as a young CEO navigating rapid growth, operational challenges, team building, and the realities of scaling service-based businesses. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Brooke Pfautz Jack Zoppa Haven Vacation Rentals Tendwell Cleaning Co. 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.

January 23, 2026Episode 541 hr 2 min

Episode 54: Top 10 Mistakes — Tim Fisher’s Unfiltered Marketing Journey from Newspaper Hustle to Vacation Rental Giants

Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 54 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz is joined by Tim Fisher, a seasoned marketing leader whose career spans from the grind of writing newspaper press releases to directing powerhouse marketing strategies for top names in the vacation rental industry—ResortQuest, Vacasa, Wyndham, and Blue Water. Tim shares his unconventional journey, starting with a job that mixed content writing with golf rounds, through major corporate shakeups that left him as the last man standing. From there, he became the marketing mind behind some of the industry's most recognizable brands, learning countless lessons along the way. Now self-employed, Tim partners with businesses of all sizes, offering senior-level marketing strategy and hands-on execution. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Brooke Pfautz Tim Fisher 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.

September 19, 2025Episode 5342 min

Episode 53: Top 10 Mistakes — Mark Kombrink’s Hands-On Approach to Mastering Vacation Rental Management

Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 53 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz sits down with Mark Kombrink, founder of Host2Coast (also known as Hilton Head Vacation Rentals), to unpack the real-world lessons that shaped his journey in the vacation rental industry. With a background in finance and a reputation as a true jack-of-all-trades, Mark built Host2Coast on one clear mission: to deliver exceptional service, peace of mind for homeowners, and unforgettable guest experiences. Whether it’s managing operations, crafting marketing strategies, or fixing something himself—Mark is always in the trenches. In this episode, he shares the top 10 mistakes that helped refine his business model, leadership style, and ability to adapt to an ever-changing industry. From scaling challenges to missteps in service delivery, Mark’s transparency offers valuable takeaways for operators of all sizes. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Brooke Pfautz Mark Kombrink host2coast 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.

September 12, 2025Episode 521 hr 0 min

Episode 52: Top 10 Mistakes — Taylor Gates’ Journey to Redefining Vacation Rental Management in Charleston and Beyond

Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 52 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz chats with Taylor Gates, founder and former CEO of Stay Duvet, to unpack the pivotal lessons, bold innovations, and entrepreneurial grit behind building Charleston’s most premier luxury vacation rental brand. From launching in his 20s to overseeing 360+ properties, Taylor transformed Stay Duvet into a hospitality benchmark—known for its 4.9 average guest review score, 6+ year homeowner retention, and innovations like in-house concierge, hotel-style amenities, and Charleston’s first off-site guest resort. In this episode, Taylor shares the top 10 mistakes that shaped his growth as a founder, operator, and community leader. But these weren’t setbacks, they were stepping stones to building a company that served guests, owners, and Charleston at the highest level. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Brooke Pfautz Taylor Gates Stay Duvet Feather PMS 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.

August 29, 2025Episode 5158 min

Episode 51: Top 10 Mistakes — Brandon Ezra Shares His Vision For The Future That Lets Vacation Rental Managers Win Big

Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 51 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz connects with Brandon Ezra currently Co-Founder at Stakeholders VR Group. After 14 years growing and scaling Grand Welcome, Brandon has seen it all, scaled it up and then exited a healthy thriving business. He shares his lessons, mistakes and learnings along the way towards that exit along with a brand-new model that's win-win for vacation rental managers. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Brooke Pfautz Stakeholders VR Brandon Ezra 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.

July 11, 2025Episode 5056 min

Episode 50: Top 10 Mistakes — Andy Newman’s Strategy-Driven Journey from Wall Street to Vacation Rental Success

Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 50 of the Vintory Podcast, Brooke Pfautz connects with Andy Newman, founder & CEO of Newman Hospitality, to explore his unconventional journey from finance to short-term rentals—and the top 10 mistakes that shaped his path. After spending 28 years as a portfolio manager, a vacation through Europe in 2012 introduced Andy to Airbnb—not just as a guest, but as an opportunity. What began as a favor for friends and family quickly evolved into a thriving business. Just 18 months later, Andy launched Newman Hospitality in 2014. Now, with a deep focus on helping investors integrate STR strategies into their portfolios, Andy combines financial acumen with real-world hosting experience to drive scalable success. In this episode, he reflects on the missteps, mindset shifts, and operational lessons that helped him evolve from a solo host to a strategic industry leader. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Andy Newman Newman Hospitality Brooke Pfautz 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.

July 6, 2025Episode 491 hr 2 min

Episode 49: Top 10 Mistakes — Rachel Alday’s Defining Moments and Lessons from Leading Abode Luxury Rentals

Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In Episode 49 of the Vintory Podcast, we chat with Rachel Alday, co-founder of Abode Luxury Rentals, who—along with her husband Rob—has built one of the most respected high-end property management companies in the country. With over 200 luxury homes under management across Park City, Jackson Hole, and Sun Valley, Rachel brings a wealth of insight into what it takes to grow a purpose-driven, people-first vacation rental brand. In this episode, Rachel reflects on the pivotal moments—not “mistakes,” but necessary learning curves, that shaped her path as a leader and entrepreneur. From operational challenges to moments of misalignment and growth through discomfort, Rachel shares how every step contributed to the company Abode is today. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling a luxury portfolio, Rachel’s candid, values-led approach is something every operator should hear. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Rachel Alday Abode Luxury Rentals Brooke Pfautz 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.

May 30, 2025Episode 4853 min

Episode 48: Top 10 Mistakes — Dawn Huff on Growth, Letting Go, and Starting Fresh in Outdoor Hospitality

Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In this new episode, we sit down with Dawn Huff, a seasoned vacation rental entrepreneur with a passion for the outdoors and a legacy in the waterfront rental market. Dawn shares the top 10 mistakes she made during her journey as the founder of Miss Kitty’s Fishing Getaways, a beloved property management company built for fishing enthusiasts along the Texas coast. From launching the business in 2003 to selling it in 2022, Dawn reflects on the hard lessons, the turning points, and the relationships that helped shape her path. Now the founder and operator of Eagle’s Nest RV Park, Dawn brings a fresh perspective to outdoor hospitality, shaped by her past experiences and deep connection to nature. If you're navigating growth, transitions, or thinking about long-term exit strategies, Dawn’s story will resonate deeply. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Dawn Huff Eagle's Nest RV Park Brooke Pfautz 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.

May 23, 2025Episode 4749 min

Episode 47: Top 10 Mistakes — Chris Walker’s Road to Mastering Luxury Vacation Rentals

Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In this new episode, we are joined by Chris Walker, founder of Luxury Homes of Hilton Head and a real estate expert with over 20 years of experience in the luxury property market. Chris has spent decades navigating the high-end real estate and vacation rental space on Hilton Head Island, and in this episode, he shares the top 10 mistakes he’s made along the way and the game-changing lessons they taught him. From underestimating owner expectations to navigating luxury guest demands and learning the hard way about scaling operations, this episode is packed with real-world insights for anyone managing or marketing high-end vacation rentals. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Chris Walker Luxury Homes of Hilton Head Brooke Pfautz 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.

May 16, 2025Episode 4645 min

Episode 46: Top 10 Mistakes — Brian Zerges’ Hard Truths and Lessons from 32 Years in the Vacation Rental Industry

Welcome to The Vintory Podcast: Top 10 Mistakes. In this new episode, we sit down with Brian Zerges, CEO of Finger Lakes Premier Properties, who brings over three decades of experience in the vacation rental industry to the mic. After 32 years navigating the ups and downs of property management, Brian gets candid about the top 10 mistakes he’s made and the lessons each one taught him. From early tech missteps to leadership challenges and scaling stumbles, this episode is packed with actionable insights for operators at every stage of their journey. Enjoy! ⭐️ Links & Show Notes Vacation Rental Secrets Brian Zerges Finger Lakes Premier Properties Brooke Pfautz 🔗 Connect With Vintory Website LinkedIn 🚀 About Vintory Vintory is the first and only platform designed exclusively to help vacation rental managers recruit new homeowners and add more properties to their management program.