Starting Out/Wanting to Make a Difference…

I am a native of Buffalo, NY (yes, the land of snow and the chicken wing) and grew up as the youngest of six kids.  Being somewhat shy as a child, the idea of leaving my hometown was never something I thought I would pursue.  However after high school, I went to John Carroll University in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland, OH (thanks to my mom working at Canisius College that allowed for reciprocal tuition forgiveness for families of employees of fellow Jesuit universities.)  After receiving a BA in Sociology with a concentration in Spanish, I took a year to do some service work in Richmond, Virginia and to try my hand in the non-profit world.  It became clear that I should pursue graduate work, and decided that the focus on “community organization” in the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh was a perfect fit.  I loved the idea of highlighting the strengths of individuals, in groups and as part of larger organizations.  (Note the rust belt tour I am embarking on).

Looking to Build “Community”…

After receiving my MSW in 1996, I opted to stay in the Pittsburgh area and work in a former steel town building bridges between community and schools in Aliquippa, PA.  In 1998, I moved to Covington, KY to continue working in a similar role at the then Covington Community Center, putting my economic development training to very good use.  In 2000, I moved to a fundraising position at the March of Dimes and eventually became the Associate Director of Program Services in 2001.  

Taking Time to Teach…

Simultaneously, and in an effort to have the flexibility to stay home with my newborn daughter, I began teaching in the Sociology Department at Northern Kentucky University.  In 2003, I left the March of Dimes and taught part-time at NKU.  Over the course of the next 10 years, I grew into a full-time instructor position at the university and loved linking my teaching to philanthropy through the Mayerson Philanthropy Project and also encouraging students to study abroad by becoming a faculty reviewer for International Travel Grant Applications.  

Transitioning to Real Estate…

Kudos to NKU for developing into a regional powerhouse for education (and sports)!  As NKU grew in the early 2000’s, so did their credential requirements for their faculty.  To meet the desire to have all classroom educators hold a Master’s degree in their area of teaching, I went to the University of Cincinnati part-time to earn a MA in Sociology.  When the bar continued to be raised and a doctorate was required, I recognized it was my time to leave the collegiate teaching world.

Trying to figure out where to go next was both terrifying and somewhat exciting.  I talked to people, learned about industries, and asked many questions.  One thing I knew for sure, I was NOT a salesperson despite friends telling me how successful they thought I would be since I had a genuine love of people.

As I began to learn more about the real estate industry, I became intrigued.  It seemed like a potential fit – a focus on community, the ability to teach, and ultimately being able to “assist people” find something very important: a home!  I realized I had an acquaintance as the broker at Comey & Shepherd in Hyde Park and decided to go for it.  I’ve never looked back

Being a Realtor…

I was licensed as a real estate agent in Ohio in 2010, the worst time to enter the profession in recent history.  The federal tax credit had just expired, interest rates were low, inventory was high, and many consumers could not buy due to the economics of their life and national backdrop.  My focus became learning my trade, developing a process, asking tons of questions, working with anyone and everyone I could.  Through my Ninja sales training, I was taught how important it is to provide value to people, to stay positive and to be in the flow.  These were my natural strengths.  I’m grateful for all the experiences I had as I rode the market wave from low to high.  Who knows what will happen next.  But I’m ready and so excited to have a job I love!