Justin Nimergood, founder of Top Gun Team at Epique Realty and principal of Nimergood Real Estate, has been named both Team Leader of the Year and Area Leader of the Year at Epique Realty’s first annual awards gala. He became the only honoree to receive dual recognition at the event, according to a news release. Nimergood also served as emcee and co-host of the gala alongside Epique’s two state leaders, a notable milestone for a team that has been in formal operation for less than a year.
The Team Leader of the Year award, presented by Laqutia Martin, recognizes an outstanding team leader who has built, guided, and inspired their team through vision, accountability, and sustained support. The award citation states: “True leadership is measured by the success of those you lead. By creating a culture of growth, collaboration, and excellence, this leader has empowered their team members to succeed both professionally and personally.” Top Gun Team launched in 2026 with a deliberately selective approach to agent recruitment, targeting a first-year cohort of 12 to 20 high-caliber agents across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and California. Despite the team’s small current size, Nimergood says internal momentum has been building steadily.
“Even though we are a small team right now, we are getting notoriety inside of Epique,” Nimergood said. “People are noticing. People are taking note of what we are doing. And even though it has not even been a full year, we have built enough credibility, momentum, and goodwill across the company that they recognized it.” The award, he added, came as a genuine surprise. “I thought I would have to run the team for at least a full year before they would consider me. They said: whatever you have done, it is different, and we want to reward you for it.”
The Area Leader of the Year award recognizes a leader who builds trust, protects culture, and serves Epique agents with excellence. The citation reads: “Their presence creates confidence, their leadership inspires growth, and their commitment has a lasting impact.” In his Area Leader role, Nimergood oversees the largest area team in the state of Texas, comprising approximately 40 solo agents who joined Epique independently. His primary function is mentorship, ensuring solo agents have guidance and support. “The area leader position is about making sure agents do not feel like they are left on an island alone,” Nimergood said. “It is mostly mentorship, but it is meaningful mentorship.”
The dual awards reflect recognition earned across two distinct leadership responsibilities: the direct team-building work of Top Gun Team and the broader stewardship of a large group of independent agents across Texas. Receiving both in the same year at Epique’s first formal awards event underscores the pace at which Nimergood has established his leadership profile within the organization. Top Gun Team is currently active across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, with expansion to California and Florida planned for later in 2026 and beyond. Learn more at thetopgunteam.com.
This announcement matters because it highlights how a new team can quickly gain recognition through strategic leadership and mentorship, potentially reshaping agent recruitment and retention models in the real estate industry. The dual honors signal that Epique Realty values both team building and support for independent agents, which could influence how brokerages structure their leadership roles and incentives moving forward.
