“I believe the strength of the real estate industry comes from people who show up, step up, and bring others with them.”
If you’ve been a member of Columbus REALTORS® for some time, chances are that you’ve crossed paths with Mindy Willard, and if you haven’t yet, you likely will. As the owner of HSP Home Warranty, Mindy could easily focus her attention on solely running her business, but that’s never really been her approach.
Over the past eight years as an affiliate member, Mindy has become someone people count on, not just for her work, but for the way she shows up for the industry as a whole. Mindy most recently served as Co-Chair of the REALTOR® Care Day Committee and the Events Task Force, and in 2026, she joined the Columbus REALTORS® Foundation Board of Trustees. She’s also active with the Women’s Council of REALTORS® Columbus, along with several area associations and industry events. What stands out about Mindy isn’t just how much she does, but how she approaches it. She brings her own (stylish) energy into every room, and she doesn’t try to fit a mold. As she puts it, she’s “never approached this [industry] in a conventional way,” choosing instead to lead with her own perspective and a unique focus on relationships. That approach is a big part of what made this recognition so meaningful to her.
“Being named Affiliate of the Year means so much to me because I truly give this industry my all,” she said. “What makes it special is knowing that my peers see not only my commitment, but also my desire to help make it better.”
Her path into this work wasn’t traditional. In 2018, Mindy made the decision to leave her corporate career and take a chance on building her own business, something she credits in part to her husband encouraging her to make the leap. Since then, she’s built HSP Home Warranty into a growing, locally operated company while staying hands-on in every part of it.
“As an owner-operator, I wear all the hats,” she said. “I’m balancing business and industry involvement at the same time, and doing it in a way that feels authentic to me.” That attitude showed up clearly this past year during one of her biggest personal challenges.
Mindy experienced a significant medical setback early in the year when she was diagnosed with a rare inner ear condition (Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome), something that could have slowed her down or pulled her away from her commitments. Instead, she pushed through it.
“There were plenty of reasons to step back or put things on hold,” she said. “That’s just not really how I’m wired.”
She approached recovery the same way she approaches everything else, with determination, persistence, and a refusal to give up. Throughout it, she continued to run her business, stay involved, and show up for others.
“What I’m most proud of isn’t just that I recovered, it’s that I never stopped showing up,” she said. “Challenges don’t intimidate me as much as the idea of giving up does.”
Outside of the association, that involvement carries into her community as well. Mindy organizes and supports a range of initiatives, including fundraisers, donation drives, and works with organizations like the Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Drill4Life, and the Columbus Fashion Council. At the center of all of it is the relationships she has nurtured along the way. Mindy is also quick to point out that none of her success has happened on its own. She credits her family, especially her husband and children, for supporting her through the demands of building a business. She also points to the agents and colleagues who trusted her early on. And perhaps most importantly, she highlights a group that helped push her forward the most.
“The women who pushed me out of my comfort zone really changed everything,” she said, referencing her involvement with the Women's Council of REALTORS® Columbus and others within the association. “They saw potential in me before I fully saw it myself.”
When she isn’t working, which, by her own admission, isn’t often, Mindy stays just as active. She enjoys thrifting, exploring design, working on home projects, and finding ways to bring creativity into her day-to-day life.
“I don’t really separate work and life,” she said. “I just stay busy and try to do things that bring me joy.”
Looking ahead, her goals reflect that same mindset. She’s interested in continuing to grow her business, possibly expanding into other markets like Cleveland or Cincinnati, but she’s also realistic about how plans change over time.
“The one constant is wanting to keep growing, keep learning, and keep surrounding myself with good people,” she said. “At the end of the day, my goals are pretty simple: make a positive impact, be a good human, and enjoy the life we’ve built.”
