As president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, what are your responsibilities? I imagine you have a lot to oversee.
I manage the Northeast Florida brokerage operation, which includes nine offices and a team of 500 real estate professionals. I oversee the company’s residential and commercial real estate business, title, mortgage, property management and insurance divisions, new builder business and the company’s community philanthropy and charitable initiatives.
Tell me a little about your background, from your education through the arc of your career.
I earned my associate’s degree in fashion merchandising and design in New York City. I then transferred to Flagler College and earned my bachelor’s degree in graphic design and illustration. Upon graduation I moved to California, where I used my fashion and arts degrees on many levels including manufacturing, retail location offices and retail company launches.
How did you first become interested in real estate?
We moved back to St. Augustine in 1998. There were limited fashion merchandising opportunities here at that time. While raising my three children, real estate offered me the opportunity to be a mom and have a career. I became very passionate about working in real estate.
Before joining Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, you worked in retail management. How did that experience contribute to your success later in your career?
In every job I’ve had, the consumer experience has always been important to me. When someone leaves you feeling good, you know you did everything right. The success of the company depends on the consumers’ experience. Retail is one of the most challenging consumer experiences to achieve success. Those experiences translated well into a real estate career. A real estate purchase is someone’s largest investment and extremely emotional.
What advice might you have for a young person just starting out and considering real estate as a career?
Business doesn’t happen overnight. Plan well, plant your seeds and be consistent. You can achieve every dream, but you must show up and be dependable. When choosing a company, find one that aligns to the consumer experience you want to provide and supports you in your business. In the long run, that will bring you success.
What do you like best about what you do?
I love watching Realtors set goals and achieve them. I love brainstorming and finding ways to help Realtors enhance their business. My husband laughs when people say I am techie, but I look at technology different than most. I find the key component of the technology that makes business happen. When technology is taught in that way, a Realtor will see the value and utilize it to enhance their business.
What do you like best about living here on the First Coast?
I love living here in the First Coast because of the lifestyle it offers.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love to play golf, spend time with my family and grandchild, yoga and long walks on the beach.
