Real estate wasn't on my radar. I ran into my high school cheerleading coach, and she told me how much she loved selling homes and thought I'd be good at it. Finally I called her to sell my own home, and throughout the process, she recruited me - persistently, and with a smile. Eventually I gave in, got my license, and never looked back.

In those early years I learned the lesson that still defines my practice: treat every client - down to the smallest family member- like they matter. I love to help the littles pick their new room and check out the yard. Bonding with the entire family is something my clients never forgot, and neither did I.

That's the heart of how I work. Real estate is human first, transactional second. Whether you're 3 or 73, a first-time buyer or a fifth-time seller — the home you choose is one of the most personal decisions you'll ever make. My job is to listen, advise, and protect what matters to you.

Thirty-plus years later, the families I helped early on are sending me their kids. There is no greater compliment in this business.