Three veterans continue their commitment to service
Submitted by F.C. Tucker
For three F.C. Tucker Company real estate agents, the shared history formed during military service have carried into a second career helping Hoosiers find a place to call home.
Gene Tumbarello, Timeko Whitaker, and Brian Wignall first crossed paths while serving in Army recruiting at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. Decades later, all three are part of the F.C. Tucker family, bringing the leadership, discipline, and commitment to service they developed in the military to their work as real estate professionals.
As Veterans Day approaches, the three agents reflect on their shared history, the experiences that shaped their lives and the ways they continue to serve their communities.
A shared history of service
Tumbarello, a Vietnam veteran, served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army before retiring as a first sergeant in 1993. His military career took him around the world, from Vietnam and Germany to recruiting assignments throughout the United States. During his time in recruiting, he helped lead one of the Army’s top-performing recruiting companies and trained fellow soldiers in leadership and recruiting practices.
After 11 moves in 15 years, Tumbarello decided to make Indianapolis his permanent home. Drawing on the sales and leadership skills he developed in the Army, he pursued a career in real estate, joining F.C. Tucker in 1993. He sold his first $1 million in real estate before officially leaving military service.
Gene Tumbarello (Fishers/Geist office) is a Vietnam veteran who served more than 20 years in the Army before joining F.C. Tucker in 1993. He helped encourage Whitaker to pursue a career in real estate and recognized Wignall’s potential when he joined the company. (Photos provided)
“Military service taught me the importance of professionalism, loyalty, organization and a strong work ethic,” said Tumbarello, an agent with F.C. Tucker’s Fishers/Geist office. “Those are qualities that have stayed with me throughout my real estate career. Whether you’re serving your country or helping someone buy a home, you have a responsibility to show up, follow through and give your best.”
Tumbarello’s military connections also helped shape the careers of a fellow F.C. Tucker agent. He encouraged former Army colleague Timeko Whitaker to pursue real estate. He was also pleased to see Brian Wignall, a fellow colleague in Army recruiting, join the company.
* * *
Timeko Whitaker served 20 years in the active Army and Army National Guard combined, retiring as a sergeant first class in 2007. Her military accomplishments included multiple awards, completing the Army’s rigorous Air Assault School, leading a recruiting station, and earning numerous awards for her performance as a top recruiter and guidance counselor.
Timeko Whitaker (Fishers/Geist office) served 20 years in the active Army and Army National Guard combined and credits her military experience with shaping her approach to leadership, resilience and helping others. (Photos provided)
Inspired by her daughter’s encouragement, Whitaker pursued real estate as a second career, drawn to the opportunity to continue helping others.
“The Army helped shape the woman I am today,” said Whitaker, an agent with F.C. Tucker’s Fishers/Geist office. “It taught me discipline, resilience, leadership, perseverance and the importance of serving others. Those are values I carry with me every day, especially when helping clients navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives.”
* * *
Brian Wignall, a Carmel-based F.C. Tucker agent, served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve for more than three decades. His military career includes multiple deployments to Iraq and assignments supporting soldiers throughout the Middle East. He served in a variety of positions in the Army including: Drill Sergeant, Airborne Infantryman, Combat Engineer, Army Recruiter, (where he was the Indianapolis Battalion Army Recruiter of the year three consecutive years), and even – at age 56 – became the oldest soldier to ever complete the “Combatives Master Trainer Course” and become a Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP) Combatives trainer for the U.S. Army.
Brian Wignall (Carmel office) is a longtime Army and Army Reserve veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq and the Middle East who applies the military philosophy of “Charlie-Mike,” or continuing the mission to completion, to helping clients achieve homeownership. (Photos provided)
Like his fellow veterans, Wignall credits his military experience, particularly his time in recruiting, with preparing him for a career in real estate.
“One of the things I learned in the Army was the phrase ‘Charlie-Mike,’ which means to continue the mission until completion, no matter the obstacles you encounter,” Wignall said. “In real estate, the process isn’t always straightforward. Challenges come up, but you keep moving forward and finding solutions to help your clients achieve their goals. That determination and commitment to others is something the military instilled in me.”
F.C. Tucker CEO Jim Litten continues a legacy of service
The connection between military service and real estate extends to F.C. Tucker’s leadership. CEO Jim Litten is also a Vietnam veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970 and earning a Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.
Litten said his military experience helped shape his approach to leadership, particularly the importance of learning from others and recognizing the strengths each person brings to a team.
F.C. Tucker CEO Jim Litten is a Vietnam veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970 and earning a Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster. (Photos provided)
“Serving in Vietnam taught me lessons about leadership, teamwork and humility that have stayed with me throughout my life,” Litten said. “I’m proud that veterans like Gene, Timeko and Brian have found a home at F.C. Tucker. Their commitment to service didn’t end when they left active duty. They continue to make a difference by helping families and strengthening the communities we serve.”
For all four veterans, Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on their experiences and recognize the sacrifices made by service members and their families.
“Veterans Day is so much more than a day on the calendar,” Whitaker said. “It’s a time to reflect on the honor, sacrifice and responsibility that comes with wearing the uniform. Every veteran has a story, and every story deserves to be honored and respected.”
While their military journeys and paths to real estate have been different, Litten, Tumbarello, Whitaker, and Wignall share a lasting connection rooted in service. Today, they continue that mission through their work at F.C. Tucker, helping individuals and families throughout central Indiana find a place to call home.