Meet Our Team!

Aimee Hanson, Broker – Vice President

As the Founder and Broker of SPARA Realty, Aimee is committed to constantly building her knowledge of the industry and sharing it with others. With over 27 years in the real estate industry, she has personally brokered over $425,000,000 in real estate transactions. She knows a thing or two and is passionate about sharing her noteworthy experience with her clients. She has navigated challenging situations and responsibilities that many agents haven’t experienced. She is skillful in all price ranges and situations. She is a master at knowing her way around the Twin Cities. Her impressive background allows her to think quickly on her feet while still maintaining calmness and strength. Some say she is courageous and full of endless energy. She calls it passion!

In addition to the work she does for her clients and for her company, she provides content development and professional instruction for the nation’s largest provider of professional education. Her content and classes are delivered to more than 25 states. The material she has written and developed has been approved for not only real estate professionals continuing education, but also appraisers and general contractors. Her content is approved by both the Minnesota Department of Commerce for real estate and appraiser licensees and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for general contractor licensing. Having been involved in this arena for the past 9 years, she has had the opportunity to share her work with thousands of agents throughout the Twin Cities. She believes in this business and she believes in protecting clients and representing their best interests at all times.

John Hanson – President

Combine tenacity, perseverance, and know how, and you have John Hanson. He is a master negotiator. He is known for providing accurate, truthful and up to date information to help his clients make the best decisions. He is skilled in multifaceted areas of the real estate business from short or long term investments, relocation, remodeling or just finding your forever home. John’s clients trust him and appreciate his honesty. He has gained uncommon knowledge by serving his clients for many years as well as serving in his position as President of SPARA Realty. He is a proud alum of the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management where he earned a Masters Degree in Business and Finance.

Stacey Johnson, REALTOR®

Growing up my father said to me: “For most people a home will be their biggest asset owned during their lifetime so one needs to understand and take care of it.” Those words have always stuck with me.

Post-college, with my father’s words still echoing, I began buying property. By age 26, I owned three investment properties and enjoyed the hunt, purchase, rehab, and pride of ownership. After years of working in Sales and Marketing for a Fortune 500 company, I missed the allure of real estate. So, I found my way back to buying and renovating. The creativity of renovation launched a 12 year career as an interior designer and home stager, along with owning investment properties. Craving a new experience, I made the decision to test my real estate/design hand in the Caribbean. It proved to be successful, albeit crazy (ask for stories!) There, I recognized another avenue of real estate: short term vacation rentals. Returning to the frozen tundra of Minnesota after years of living on St. Croix, USVI, I decided to test the untapped waters here with that idea. It translated nicely…….people do vacation in Minnesota! A few years later it occurred to me that something was missing; I have flipped homes, owned investment properties, designed interiors of many homes/businesses, consulted with builders on model homes, staged homes for sale, and owned vacation rentals but I’ve never helped someone begin their own real estate journey.

Whether it’s your first home, a trade-up for an expanding family or an investment property, I hope to share my knowledge gained over 20 years and assist you along your real estate journey!

Jill Whisler, REALTOR®

Jill has been licensed Realtor since 2000.  That has allowed her to gain a depth of experience and knowledge that her clients value and appreciate.  She is a loyal advisor and understands the importance of putting her clients first.  She has gained trust through this loyalty.  Jill went to school for Interior Design which led her to designing layouts and floor plans for various builders and their clients.  Through her work as a designer, she realized that her passion was beyond just design.  Her real passion was real estate in general.  She assists her clients in staging and preparing their homes for the market when selling,  And, whether your buying or selling her skills  in negotiations, contracts and the legal requirements will make for a solid and stable road to closing.  SPARA Realty recently awarded her with their “15,000,000 Milestone” award and during her acceptance she said, “Working with the brokers at SPARA for 20 years is something I’m proud of.  That loyalty and commitment is very important to me”.

Chai Yang, REALTOR®

I am a second-generation REALTOR® in the Twin Cities. I followed in my Father’s footsteps, who was one of the first Hmong REALTOR® and the first Hmong Real Estate Broker in the Twin Cities. Being Bi-lingual in English and Hmong has been a huge advantage in my line of work and am happy I can offer that to my clients to need better interpretation of contracts and processes. I have been married for over 10 years and having 3 beautiful children. Having grown up in the real estate industry and also being a dad amplified what it means to be Loyal, Obedient, and Accountable. I hope to bring those qualities not only to my personal life, but also to the clients I serve!

Tamara Burch, REALTOR®

When your purpose is calling you to RISEUP, but the self-doubt and uncertainty of this time consumes you, I’m here to remind you that we are all equal in our ability to influence people’s lives for the better.

An evolution of LEADERSHIP is upon us. We are now living in a time where a title of authority pales in comparison to a heart to serve. Because every day is a new experience of uncertainty, what I am most certain about is our ability to align, connect, collaborate and co-create impact TOGETHER far greater than we could ever do alone.

I look forward to my continued commitment in serving the Greater Twin Cities!

Ket Ditthidet, REALTOR®

Ket was raised in the St. Cloud area but moved to the Twin Cities to attend Hamline University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology & Criminal Justice.

Being a mother to three amazing lil minions is her first priority.  But her career in real estate comes in at a very close second! She is a self described foodie and gets excited (and is willing) to try new dishes.  She loves to travel especially anywhere in the Caribbean Sea.  Being a mom makes her excited about life! People describe Ket as being outgoing, strong and compassionate.   

She says that being part of the SPARA Realty team has made understanding the ins and outs of real estate pretty simple and is proud to be with an experienced, knowledgeable and personal “boutique brokerage”.  Having a background in Psychology allows her to have a calm and attentive mind when helping people transition to the next phase of their life!   As an added benefit, Ket is triligual!

Steve Wietecki, REALTOR®

As a lifelong resident of the East Metro area, Steve Wietecki has watched the area grow from farm fields to development of homes and businesses over the years.  

Over the last 30 years, Steve has built a successful career as a Realtor and a Corporate SourcingProfessional. He’s been responsible for the negotiating over $100M in corporate service contracts for fortune 200 companies here in Minnesota. 

He prides himself on his strong negotiation skills and his commitment to customer service and stays focused on those qualities when helping buyers and sellers with their real estate needs.

  With his wife Lori, and children Thomas and Christopher, he has traveled the United States visiting close to 40 of the 50 states.  As his children are now grown and living on their own, Steve and Lori have limited their travels to the Western Mountain states to visit their kids and grand children.  And, the lakes of Minnesota and Wisconsin in search of memorable fishing experiences.  

You may also see Steve performing as; Acoustic Cocktail, at numerous coffee shops and music venues throughout Twin Cities, singing and playing guitar.

Becky Austin, REALTOR®

Becky’s philosophy is, a business relationship is something that is earned…..

Becky didn’t realize that when she purchased her first duplex (condemned because that’s all she could afford) in an up-and-coming St. Paul neighborhood that real estate would turn into a lifelong passion, hobby, and career.  

Since that start, she has built life-long relationships in the world of real estate by helping others buy their first home, sell their home, upsize or downsize as they move through life, as well as sourcing opportunities for investors.

Little did she know that through her career, she would eventually renovate over twenty-five properties across the Twin Cities and continues with that skill to this day.   With an Interior Design degree from the University of Minnesota, Becky has the unique skill of being able to envision a property’s potential and transform it for how we live today.  Whether it be simple renovations to one’s that involve “tearing it down to the studs” and redesigning it, her expertise, training, and knowledge has led her though all sorts of projects.  She has made a name for herself in respectful renovation of Victoria Era homes, which isn’t an easy feat.

Along the way Becky has built her own rental property portfolio as well helping others achieve their rental property portfolio goals.  Aside from renovating her rental properties she acts as the day-to-day Property Manager.  Her investor clients find this hands-on experience particularly helpful.  She enjoys sharing her unique knowledge with others!

What does all this mean to the clients Becky works with?  To be successful she has aligned herself and created relationships with first-rate and proficient people in the industry.  Her personal resources include lenders, inspectors, appraisers, architects, and contractors.  This ensures a smooth process for her clients every step of the way.  As a natural connector of people, Becky has become known to introduce the right people for the right projects. 

Becky is passionate about continuously staying ahead of the game when it comes to market education and trends.  Strategize with her to meet your goals whether you’re buying or selling.  You’ll be glad you did.

Samantha Loesch, REALTOR®

As a former restaurant owner in the Twin Cities, Samantha learned an approach to customer service that is robust and vigorous. When she entered the real estate business, she brought that approach with her.  It’s engrained in her nature.  

For most people, their home is more than just a financial investment; it is a place they are personally connected to. It’s a place to love and often represents how you choose to live your life.   On many levels, deciding where to live is one of the biggest decisions someone makes. It ultimately affects so many aspects of “life’s journey”.  Samantha is known for taking the time to listen.  A quality that is sometimes hard to find now days.  Then, she passionately advances towards helping people achieve their real estate goals.  

Her clients often note how much they appreciate that she listened to their needs and wants with respect, empathy and understanding.  And, that she didn’t impose her own agenda on them.  They feel heard.  They feel comfortable.

She has a deep appreciation for the neighborhoods that make up the Twin Cities as well as the architecture that comes along with them.   She finds you that home.  That place for you to connect to.

Kai Ditthidet, REALTOR®

Having been a part of the St. Cloud and surrounding area since 1994, Kai has witnessed the areas growth,  development and economic changes. She has found  passion within the real estate community and says “it’s never stopped teaching me about my career”. 

Family is important to her.  Together with her “soul mate” Phil, she enjoys being a parent to three wonderful boys and one dog named Marley.   Her number one hobby is watching her family play and grow together. Their favorite pastimes are cooking meals together, fishing, traveling and watching a variety of sports. 

Until starting her career in real estate, Kai worked for New Flyer Industries, for 12 years.  After buying her first home, she decided it was time for a change and launched her real estate career.  Her main focus is to be an agent people can depend on and trust.  She loves being involved in a industry that creates “life stories”.

Our Title Affiliate

Lisa Hammer, Title Attorney, Title Excellence, LLC

Mortgage Broker

Denise Harrington

  • Office: St. Croix Home Loans
  • Office Location: 627 Selby Ave, Suite C – Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55104
  • Office #: 651.276.0168
  • Email: dharrington@stcroixhomeloans.com