The Competitive Edge

If you take a look at Misty McMillan’s resume, you might wonder where this 40-year-old, local lady gets her energy. Not only is she a realtor for Carrington Real Estate Services, but she also owns North Dallas Mixed Martial Arts (NDMMA). This mom is active in all kinds of activities involving her 16-year-old son, Xavier, and her 14-year-old daughter, Trinity. She trains three to five days per week in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is active in Mission 22, a nonprofit organization that aides veterans. She accomplishes all of this while being a successful mother and wife. Mrs. McMillan is involved in the MetroTex Association of Realtors, the Texas Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.

Mrs. McMillan and her husband, Dale, have been married for 18 years. “Because my husband and I are both self-employed, we have a great partnership, which helps,” Mrs. McMillan shares. “He owns Bluebox Home Services, a Frisco cabinetry business that mostly entails assembling furniture from IKEA, Nebraska Furniture Mart and anything else that might require assembly. He services both commercial and residential clients and often works with designers. I might occasionally have a day off and go with him to actually assemble furniture. We are just a really great team.”

She explains that all of the family’s household responsibilities are also shared. If she is at the gym, Mr. McMillan fills in. If she is showing a house on the weekend, he makes sure that the children go to their activities. “It is really 50/50, because we both have clients,” she says. “We are very flexible. My family comes first,” she asserts. “I am PTO treasurer at Wester Middle School, a booster club member at Centennial High School, and I have served on several different committees over the years involving our children’s education. I try to stay involved with the children’s school programs.”

Ms. McMillan was born in and grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz. She earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz. Once she was out of college and got married, she moved to Sacramento, Calif. In 2006, she moved to Frisco.

“My main career is real estate,” she informs. “I have been in real estate for more than 15 years, having started in Sacramento. I focus on helping investors and have significant experience in foreclosure and short sale properties. I enjoy working with neighbors in Frisco and helping homebuyers in my community, as well as commercial investing and rental property. I just like all kinds of real estate.”

Mrs. McMillan has a black belt in jiu-jitsu, and at one point, she ranked No. 17 in the world as a blue belt in the mid-heavy division competition. She has been teaching and training individuals for competition in the sport for more than eight years. “We have had community programs, including bullying prevention and women’s self-defense,” she says. “I have a strong focus on veterans.”

Several fundraisers are held at NDMMA throughout the year. A Toys for Tots drive takes place in November, and in the summer, money is raised for Mission 22, a nonprofit organization which helps prevent veteran suicide. “22” represents the number of veterans who commit suicide daily, and Mission 22 is supported through NDMMA. “We have found that it is a good way for them to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” Mrs. McMillan explains. “Martial arts gives veterans an outlet — something on which to focus. It involves a commitment level which actually helps them refocus their minds on a goal or mission, something to daily keep them active. They commit and they are supported by likeminded individuals.”

Mrs. McMillan advises that jiu-jitsu can also be extremely helpful for women and children in learning self-defense. “Women and children are always caught, because they are small,” she says. “Jiu-jitsu teaches small people to defend themselves. There is no striking, hitting or pushing. It is a self-defense system designed to help the weaker or smaller person effectively defend themselves.” This is one of the many reasons Mrs. McMillan loves jiu-jitsu. NDMMA offers children and adult programs. Because it is female owned, and because only Ms. McMillan works with women clientele, they have a lot of trust, verses being instructed only by a male. Several male instructors teach other clientele, with the chief instructor being Joseph Shelley.

When Mr. Shelley was questioned about his role at NDMMA, he reciprocated by commenting that Mrs. McMillan is a hardworking, honest, respectable and loyal friend and student, and he is honored to call her family.

Mrs. McMillan makes clear that because her husband is athletic and competitive, he understands her desire to also be athletic and competitive. “Dale was a Division I college baseball pitcher at Grand Canyon University, where he received a full ride and where we met.”

In addition to being honor roll students, her children are also athletic. Xavier is on the Centennial High School Junior Varsity basketball and baseball teams. Trinity is on the girls’ basketball team for eighth grade at Wester Middle School.

Mrs. McMillan has become very fond of Frisco and its residents because of the opportunities provided for her family. She is grateful that her children receive a superior education. “Frisco is friendly and supports family, about which I feel very passionate. It has phenomenal economic growth, so that families and businesses can thrive,” she declares. “I have not found a city anywhere that compares to Frisco’s offerings. Now that we have finally gotten my father connected to the senior center, I have even noticed, with him, that what they offer is fantastic. It keeps him connected as a part of the community.”

As with most conscientious parents, Mrs. McMillan’s future goals are to try to make sure that her children have a successful education, both with the Frisco ISD and beyond. She wants to compete in the black belt division, continue being successful and dedicated to her real estate clients and she hopes to be able to retire by the water with her husband. Mrs. McMillan exudes competitiveness, with a definite flare for entrepreneurship, both of which are beneficial to Frisco.

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