Last Updated on August 3, 2026
Carolinas’ real estate leader partners with Team RickSteve
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the country’s No. 1 family-owned and operated, independent real estate firm and the No. 1 brokerage in the Carolinas, is proud to announce the opening of its Highlands-Downtown, N.C. office.
The Howard Hanna Allen Tate Highlands-Downtown office is located at 411 N. 4th Street in the heart of downtown Highlands, N.C. The new office expands the company’s presence on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau while providing buyers and sellers with convenient access to experienced local professionals serving Highlands, Cashiers, Sapphire, Lake Toxaway, Franklin, Scaly Mountain, and Clayton, Georgia.
The Highlands-Downtown office is home to real estate agents Rick Harrison, Steve Sheppard and Wes Sheppard, whose combined backgrounds in executive leadership, finance, strategic planning, and local real estate provide clients with an exceptional level of experience, market knowledge, and personalized service. Steve Sheppard will serve as broker-in-charge of the Highlands-Downtown office.
In 2018, Harrison and Steve Sheppard formed Team RickSteve, which has amassed a total career sales volume of $90 million, including $13 million in 2025.
Prior to entering real estate, Harrison spent 34 years in executive leadership with the State of Georgia, concluding his public service career overseeing statewide operations serving thousands of citizens and public facilities across the state. His leadership experience established the principles that continue to guide the office today—integrity, accountability, professionalism, and a commitment to serving others.
Steve Sheppard enjoyed a distinguished 32-year career in executive finance and business management with a major telecommunications company before beginning his real estate career. He earned his MBA from the University of Georgia and remains an avid Georgia Bulldogs supporter. Today, Steve Sheppard is recognized throughout the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau for his market knowledge, trusted relationships, and unwavering commitment to helping clients achieve their real estate goals.
Wes Sheppard brings a strong business and consulting background to the team. He earned his MBA from George Washington University, beginning his career with a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm specializing in program evaluation and strategic planning for federal government agencies. Today, he combines analytical expertise with innovative marketing and technology to deliver exceptional service to buyers and sellers throughout North Carolina and Georgia.
“Throughout our careers, we’ve learned that the company you represent matters,” Harrison said. “We wanted to align with a brokerage whose leadership reflects the same values we strive to demonstrate every day—integrity, professionalism, collaboration, and respect. We believe our profession is strongest when brokerages support one another, appreciate the unique strengths each brings to our community, and compete with excellence and mutual respect.”
“Howard Hanna leads by example, and we’re proud to represent the No. 1 real estate company in the Carolinas, backed by the global connections of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Luxury Portfolio International. Those relationships allow us to provide our clients with hometown service, world-class resources, and the confidence that they’re represented by a company whose values truly match our own,” Steve Sheppard added.
“We are excited to welcome the Highlands-Downtown office to the Howard Hanna Allen Tate family,” said Gary Scott, president of Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate and Howard Hanna Southeast. “The Highlands-Cashiers Plateau is a unique and highly desirable market, and we are thrilled to expand our presence with a team whose values, experience, and commitment to clients align so closely with ours.”
“Rick, Steve, and Wes bring exceptional leadership, local knowledge, and a passion for serving their community. Their addition strengthens our ability to provide clients throughout Western North Carolina with the resources of a leading real estate organization while maintaining the personal service they value,” said Adam McCall, regional vice president, Howard Hanna Allen Tate.
To contact an agent in the Howard Hanna Allen Tate Highlands-Downtown office or for real estate career opportunities with Howard Hanna Allen Tate, call 828-547-0757.
Howard Hanna Allen Tate Real Estate is the No. 1 real estate company in the Carolinas, with more than 80 offices and 2,000 agents serving communities across North and South Carolina and Georgia. As part of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the largest family-owned and operated real estate company in the United States, Howard Hanna Allen Tate offers a full suite of real estate services, including mortgage, insurance, title and relocation. For more information, visit www.howardhanna.com.
