McKee, KY – Every real estate closing tells a story, whether it involves buying a home, investing in a community or growing a business. For Juliana Coffey, being part of those stories has become more than a profession. It is a passion that led her to build Brass Key Title Group.
When Coffey opened her private law practice in 2018, several local leaders encouraged her to consider title work in the community. As demand grew in her home of Jackson County, Kentucky, title work became a larger part of her practice. As referrals and demand increased in surrounding counties, Coffey and her paralegal, Brooklyn Cunnigan, realized they wanted to focus on the meaningful milestones associated with title work. Title and closing services became the practice’s primary focus, leading to the creation of Brass Key Title Group.
While Jackson County is home, the Brass Key Title Group team regularly travels to surrounding communities for title work and client relationships, but each member holds home close to heart.
“One of the most rewarding parts of owning Brass Key Title Group is the opportunity to give back to my hometown and create steady, local employment,” Coffey says. The business employs one full-time employee and creates other part-time positions, investing in the community where she grew up.
Coffey notes the community’s reception has been very supportive. Along the way, client relationships have grown into dear friendships. She remembers the late Phillip Akemon Sr., a client, mentor and friend: “We worked together on many real estate transactions, but what stays with me most is the wisdom and encouragement he brought each time he visited.”
Mr. Akemon was one of the many community leaders who impacted Coffey.
“When people I deeply respected chose to work with us and continued coming back, it gave me confidence that we were doing good work. They helped me see building a business as a long-term commitment rooted in relationships and gave me the encouragement to keep going, keep improving and keep trying to do right by people,” Coffey said.
These relationships have become central to the work Coffey does at Brass Key Title Group, setting the company apart.
“We take pride in our work and understand each transaction represents something important to the people involved,” Coffey said. The team handles each transaction with care, prioritizing timely service, clear communication, responsiveness and affordability.
Coffey said one challenge of building a business is finding balance. As a wife and mother of three, she knows that, much like a family, a business comes with growing pains. Managing the business is a team effort, she said. Having paralegal Cunningan at her side allows her to balance her workload and plan for the company’s future.
Since opening Brass Key Title Group in 2021, Coffey and her team have reached another milestone: moving into a larger space to support the company’s next chapter.
Coffey continues to invest in the company’s future, with plans to add a trained closing specialist and expand services. Recent financing from the Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation is supporting that vision. Coffey, who has worked with SKED in the past, said the organization made the process easy and allowed her to keep running the business without interruption.
“SKED has taken the time to understand my business and provided financing that fit our needs at important points in our growth. Having a responsive, trusted lending partner has allowed me to move forward with confidence while staying focused on our clients and team.”
Jill Johnson, SKED lending operations manager, worked alongside Coffey during the lending process, “Working with Juliana is always an incredible experience. As a returning client, she brings the same high level of professionalism to every transaction. Juliana continues to invest in the future of her company and her community. She is an exceptional business owner and a valued partner.”
Learn more about Juliana and her team at Brass Key Title Group at www.julianacoffeylaw.com.
To learn more about how SKED helps small-business owners do business better, visit www.skedcorp.com.
