Realtors come from every walk of life, with most experiencing success in different careers and professions beforehand. And, many of these people are also parents, juggling business and child care, plus the demands of home which apply to all of us.
Many women—moms especially like me—have jumped head first into this field. Like so many others, they appreciate a flexible work schedule combined with a possibility of high earnings potential.
Thus, it's no secret that women comprise the majority of what was once a male-dominated field. Recent estimates show that 65% of all Realtors nationwide are women. I'm happy to count myself among those numbers!
This is my 29th year in the real estate field in Naples, six years as a real estate attorney here and now beginning my 23rd year as a Realtor.
My interests outside of my career path are intertwined with the quality of life in Naples. I've written about and supported many local organizations devoted to causes such as conservation, domestic violence awareness and prevention, healthy kids initiatives and safety, animal rescue, and the arts. As a breast cancer survivor (three years out), I'm looking forward to resuming my regular practice of blood donation.
That's a lot of ground to cover! So many have made my career choice rewarding as a result of our professional and personal interactions.
One of my long time friends and clients, Elle DiCasparro, of Naples and Seattle, with roots in Connecticut and a business founded in Maryland, shared some of her recollections about working with me as a local woman in business:
"I have known Karen since 2005 when she worked with another friend of ours to buy her first house in Naples. She combines the smarts she received with her law degree from Cornell together with a heightened degree of empathy and thoughtfulness for both people and animals. She has provided sound and insightful advice for buying and selling my homes over the years since then. She often reminds people that real estate is first and foremost, a business of the personalities involved. How true that is!
I asked Karen to review a forceful letter I wrote involving another party, and she made practical suggestions to produce the outcome I wanted. She knows the power of the written word as well as the value of approaching problems from the position of finding opportunities and solutions. She was an invaluable and calming influence. Due to this, I have a positive, long-standing relationship with this other party. As a testament to her good advice I refer all of my friends to her for expert real estate guidance. She truly cares about her clients' best interests and offers a high level of real estate acumen to boot. She makes deals happen; and she makes clients and friends for life."
To Elle and all others, thank you. Because of you, I greet the approach of my third decade in business in Naples with happy anticipation.
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