Meet
Eric Thrasher is the owner of Encore Sotheby’s International Realty | Thrasher Estates and a certified member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing’s prestigious Million Dollar GUILD™ recognizing accomplished performance in the luxury residential market. With a career spanning more than two decades in real estate, Eric brings a distinctive combination of market expertise, design sensibility, strategic marketing, and personalized service to every client relationship. Raised in a family of interior designers specializing in fine homes, Eric developed an appreciation for architecture, interiors, and the details that distinguish exceptional properties. His entrepreneurial background, including founding and building a national real estate franchising company, shaped the systems, marketing strategies, and service standards that continue to define his approach today. Eric’s expertise encompasses luxury real estate marketing, finance, technology, negotiation, and client communications. He approaches every property and transaction with the same objective, to create a highly considered experience and exceptional results while making the process feel effortless for his clients. Beyond real estate, Eric is passionate about the arts, interior design, hiking, yoga, and playing guitar. He and his wife, Gema Aparicio, enjoy traveling, spending time with their children and friends, and supporting organizations including Unbound and Children’s Miracle Network.
Rooted in a global perspective, refined design, and decades of real estate experience, Thrasher Estates was founded by Eric Thrasher, who leads the firm alongside his wife and business partner, Gema Aparicio. Together, they bring a highly personalized approach to luxury real estate, combining strategic expertise, thoughtful presentation, and exceptional client care to create a seamless experience for every client.
Encore Sotheby’s International Realty | Thrasher Estates
Gema Aparicio brings an international perspective, exceptional organizational skills, and a genuine passion for helping people to her role as Client Care Coordinator & Coach at Thrasher Estates. She plays an important role in creating the thoughtful, personalized experience our clients have come to expect.
With a PhD in Economics from the University of Zaragoza in Spain and a Master’s degree in Economic History from the London School of Economics, Gema brings a naturally analytical and detail-oriented approach to her work. Before joining the real estate industry, she owned and operated a successful English-Spanish translation and interpretation business for 16 years, developing a deep understanding of communication, relationships, and personalized service.
Originally from Spain, Gema has lived in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States since 1997. Her multicultural background and fluency in English and Spanish allow her to connect easily with clients from diverse backgrounds.
As Client Care Coordinator & Coach, Gema helps ensure that every client feels informed, supported, and cared for throughout the real estate journey. Her calm presence, attention to detail, and ability to anticipate needs bring an added level of care to the Thrasher Estates experience.
Outside of work, Gema enjoys hiking, yoga, meditation, travel, and spending time with Eric, their children, family, and friends.
As Administrative Director at Thrasher Estates, Maria Palazzolo brings a career centered around people, organization, and thoughtful service. After graduating with academic honors, she entered the workforce and began building a diverse professional background. Her career has included several years with one of the top Century 21 brokerages in the nation as well as experience in the financial services industry, where she worked closely with high-level and high-net-worth clientele for years. These experiences shaped her appreciation for discretion, attention to detail, and making people feel genuinely cared for.
Her passion for service began early. In high school, she served as Indiana FCCLA’s Vice President of Community Service, organizing canned food drives and other community initiatives. She was also selected for ALA Hoosier Girls State, where she served on a congressional committee and had the opportunity to speak at the Indiana Statehouse with state representatives. Those experiences gave her an early appreciation for leadership and the importance of giving back.
Outside of work, Maria has a creative side where she is always finding new ways to explore. She is a lifelong movie lover and music enthusiast with a particular appreciation for the artistry behind both. She also loves to travel and believes one of the best ways to experience another culture is through its food. When she is not working or planning her next adventure, you can usually find her spending time with her dog, Linguine.
