Veronica Mullenix of Coldwell Banker United, Realtors

Reaching the World from the Heart of Katy
By Kate Sullivan-Conlan

Veronica Mullenix, broker associate at Coldwell Banker United, Realtors®, lives and works in Katy, Texas, but she impacts the real estate industry far beyond her city and state. Her own business is intensively Internet-based, so she can serve clients anywhere in the world. She also champions the use of the Internet to other real estate professionals, teaching and supporting them in developing their enterprises for maximum effectiveness. Her commitment likewise extends to numerous leadership positions with the Texas Association of Realtors and the Houston Association of Realtors.

Veronica infuses these three facets of her professional career with her warm enthusiasm for life, an enthusiasm that radiates from the foundation of her strong family life and her core belief in deeply held principles. Her favorite passage from Proverbs 24:3-4 applies both to her personal life and to her approach to real estate: “By wisdom is a house built, by understanding is it made firm; And by knowledge are its rooms filled with every precious and pleasing possession.”

An Internet-intensive Real Estate Practice

Ten years ago, when Veronica discovered her natural talent for real estate, she told Charlotte Goeters, her first sponsoring broker at the former Henry S. Miller Realtors, that her business plan would not be limited to sending out post cards and holding open houses. Her intention was to launch an all-internet business and specialize in residential long-distance relocations as well as local moves. “All I talked about was the Internet,” exclaims Veronica, who adds that

Charlotte “squished up her nose skeptically and remarked, ‘That’s up-and-coming, but how about today? No one buys houses on-line.’” Veronica was adamant: “But that’s what I intend to do!” Wisely, Charlotte supported Veronica on the condition that she meet with Toni Nelson, who was responsible for computer education at the company. Veronica took Toni’s class, and “while listening to her talk about real estate on the Internet, it was as if a beam of light shone directly on me, like I was the only one in the class! I was where I needed to be. I was all-in, hook, line, and sinker.” Today, Charlotte says, “Veronica has set a rare example of success for the new agent in new times! Veronica is a solid leader who has an accurate eye for recognizing and implementing productive pathways.”

Can a real estate agent using the Internet give the personalized service that has been the backbone of the industry for so many years? “Absolutely,” declares Veronica. “We can have high-tech and soft-touch!” Veronica uses her own webpage and the tailor-made webpages she creates specifically for each of her clients to show “I’m here to help. I’m here to step you through the process. I’m your eyes and ears in Houston.”

Through her website, http://www.VeronicaMullenix.com, Veronica offers a comprehensive, incredibly user-friendly gold mine of information for both buyers and sellers from all across the country and the world. Her links include such pertinent topics as Real Estate News, Dream Home Finder, Your Home’s Value, Buyer and Seller Tips, and MLS Home Search. With families in mind, she has added extra sites, such as Here’s Houston and Community Links. The Wilsons, who relocated to Houston from Maryland with Veronica’s help, wrote to her: “… we are extremely blessed that we were able to find you, with your bubbly and positive personality, professionalism and well versed knowledge of the Houston area all wrapped up in one. Your website is the most unique and user friendly site that I have ever encountered.” Steve Barnes, president/CEO of the Houston Region of Coldwell Banker United, Realtors®, agrees, “Veronica exemplifies the type of agent who understands the needs of consumers by investigating new technologies and marketing programs – servicing future buyers and sellers today.” Bob Hale, president/CEO of the Houston Association of Realtors, adds, “Veronica’s commitment to customer service is second to none, and she is constantly finding ways to incorporate new technology to the benefit of her clients.”

For her personal buyers and sellers, Veronica maximizes the capabilities of the Internet to provide one-on-one service and around-the-clock accessibility combined with engaging friendliness and warmth. “My Internet service is always permission based,” says Veronica. “When clients contact me, I always ask if they would like to proceed from the comfort of their own homes. Almost always they respond, ‘Yes, can you show me how?’ We may eventually meet in person, but not always.”

Veronica helps her buyers make sense of the plethora of information available on the Internet. “Many of my clients are computer savvy, and they know information is out there, but it can be overwhelming.” She sets up a password-protected webpage for each client who wants one. She takes the information a particular client needs, organizes it, updates it, and makes it state-specific. She guarantees them, “You’ll have only what you need. Everything on your webpage will be relevant to you and never outdated.” She teaches them step-by-step and at their own speed how to navigate and use the information. “I help them make sense of it all.” She also sends them videos and still photos, even using her cell phone to beam photos to them for on-the-spot updates. “I may sometimes find it necessary to write my clients whole dissertations of information!” Veronica says. “But then I write on the subject line of the email how long my message is and how many minutes it may take in order to view everything. It’s a little extra touch so that my busy clients can know how much time they will need to set aside.”

The Garcia family, after moving to Katy from Florida, said, “It is a challenging process to buy a home as a long distance transaction; however, Veronica made it an efficient and easy process….Veronica was there to answer all our questions from start to finish.” Eric Spillane, also from Florida, trusted Veronica to handle three transactions back-to-back for him: “Her ability to work with all parties involved – other Realtors, contractors, escrow agents, lending reps, and of course myself, was amazing… She won me over right away with her ability to work with a busy professional by sending out meeting agendas, accurately gathering all the facts in our conversations, and by making herself available when I had questions… her online presence and knowledge of the World Wide Web made everything much easier as well.”

The Youngs, with their three small boys in tow, traveled from San Diego, California, and had only five days to find the perfect home. They loved how she “e-mailed homes to preview so we could focus on only the best during our house-hunting trip.” After Veronica helped Morgan Stagg, a senior civil/structural engineer, purchase a home in Katy, Ms. Stagg went on to buy two additional investment properties through her. “I can attest that Veronica has been influential in not only finding us a home, but in being a friend, a guiding light into the community, an asset in shaping my family’s financial investments in real estate, and a good neighbor.” Clearly, Veronica has mastered using high-tech applications to create highly personalized service.

Veronica provides a similar personalized service and webpage for her sellers. Many of these sellers she has never met in person, for they may live as far away as The Netherlands and Ecuador. “Through our Internet connection, I make them feel that they are involved.” When anything comes up regarding their real estate transaction, she posts it on their webpage. “I make them feel that they are here.” From Washington, DC, Liban Jama writes, “My home was marketed by a local Houston real estate agent for a number of months with absolutely no success. I then switched to Veronica and just a short time later my home was sold! Veronica was always cheerful, friendly, and most importantly, professional with all dealings with me…. She went extra miles with everything she did!”

Bob Hale, in praising Veronica’s pioneering of technology in real estate sales, says, “Veronica has been a staunch proponent of the online video home tour as an effective marketing tool for some time. She recently introduced us to the Flip video camera that, for less than $150, enables REALTORS to quickly and easily produce videos of their property listings and really bring those properties to life online.”

Lu Haas, vice president and branch manager of Coldwell Banker United, Realtors® in Katy, sums up: “During my years in residential real estate I have learned to identify a true professional. Veronica Mullenix is one of the best.”

A Lifelong Commitment to Excellence in Teaching and Learning

In college, Veronica earned a B.S. degree in elementary education with certification as a reading specialist. She taught for ten years, once being voted Teacher of the Year at Roberts Elementary School in HISD. “I loved the kids. I loved teaching!” she says. When Veronica set her sights on a career in real estate, she may have left the elementary classroom, but she never stopped expanding her knowledge base, and she never left teaching. Guiding her is another of Veronica’s favorite passages, Proverbs 23:12: “Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge.”

As Bob Hale says, “Veronica is a natural teacher.” Informally, her door is always open, and she takes time out to counsel colleagues in Internet business development and email etiquette so that they can perfect their Internet proficiency and online entrepreneurial skills. Bob Hale adds that Veronica demonstrates to her fellow agents that “technology is available, affordable, and easy to manage – and that’s critical in these challenging economic times.” Formally, Veronica teaches pre-licensing course work at the Champions School of Real Estate, west campus.
Her advice to her colleagues and students: “Try it! Don’t be afraid of technology.” Her words of wisdom are based on the advice that Charlotte Goeters gave her when she was first starting out: “Don’t let what others say about you bother you. Do what you want to do.” Because she was the “Energizer bunny for the Internet,” she sometimes felt criticism from other agents who were wary that the global reach of Veronica’s Internet-based business encroached on their territory.

Her innovations were met with comments like, “You do too much for your clients,” and, “You have to show your homes in person, not on a computer.” Charlotte supported her in those early days, and now Veronica takes every opportunity to support and teach others. “When you’re breaking new ground, others may criticize you,” she counsels, “but just try it anyway. Get on Facebook and You Tube, use the web. The contacts you make today through social networking could later lead to referrals and new clients.”

Not only does Veronica teach others, but she also takes classes and expands her own certifications. She has earned seven major real estate designations, including GRI, ABR, and CRS, and she was one of the first in Houston to become certified as an e-PRO Internet Professional by NAR, and is now an NAR e-PRO Internet Trainer. She is a Texas Real Estate Commission Pre-licensing and MCE instructor and has her Quality Service Certification.
The QSC program is one that Veronica is particularly committed to, for it offers in-depth training for real estate professionals on a “disciplined approach to service delivery” so that, as Veronica says, “giving excellent service to our customers is not a random act, but a series of predictable, critical service steps that we follow with every client.” QSC also provides “accountability and transparency” because once clients of QSC-certified agents close their transactions, they rate their agents on a number of service criteria, and QSC posts those ratings on their website. Veronica consistently ranks at the Platinum level, the highest level of service satisfaction.

Veronica is most proud of her recent graduation, after an eight-month study, from HAR’s inaugural class of the Texas Association of Realtors Texas Realtors Leadership Program.
How does Veronica find time to keep up with her many commitments? She took the eight-week Star Makers S.M.A.R.T. Selling course in time management offered by popular real estate coach Floyd Wickman, and now lives by her Outlook calendar. “We learned to block out our time, starting with our personal time, then our money-making time. I color-code these blocks of time in my calendar and make appointments with myself! If I schedule forty-five minutes to work on my website, then at the end of that time, I stop and move on. I learned to be focused and disciplined when it comes to my business.” Veronica also has the support of her staff and colleagues, including Patti Lacy, with whom she shares office space; Barbara Ross and Elizabeth Pickens, her office administration assistants; and Rachel Noblitt, the office receptionist and appointment manager.

Her many years of training augment Veronica’s natural propensities for analyzing problems, developing and simplifying procedures, and quickly finding innovative solutions, skills that she contributes to every situation that she becomes involved in.

Leadership in the Real Estate Community

As an active, dynamic professional, Veronica loves the variety in her day, devoting her energy not only to her own real estate business and to teaching, but also to volunteer leadership roles at several levels. “My goal,” says Veronica, “is not to be number one in sales, but to be balanced in my life and do as many things as I can with my real estate license.”

Veronica’s leadership responsibilities enable her to direct the policies that affect 28,000 Realtors in the Houston area. She serves as a Director on the Texas Association of Realtors Board of Directors, and this month joined the TAR executive committee as a Region 14 Vice-President for 2009-2010. She also is a member of the TAR Professional Standards Committee for 2009 and has served on numerous other committees.

Veronica serves on the Houston Association of Realtors Board of Directors for 2008-2009. She was also the QSC Chairman in 2007 and has served on the Technology Advisory Group, the Communications Advisory Group, and the MLS Advisory Group, among others.

Strong Foundations

“Eight is great,” chants Veronica with a grin, the youngest of eight children. “We’re one, big, happy family. We always look forward to our times together, and we still get together for holidays. My close-knit family formed my personality. “ She and her high school sweetheart Michael both ended up at the same college, Southwest Texas State University (renamed Texas State University). She suspects her parents probably worked behind the scenes to get them there together since at first she would not tell Michael which college she had chosen. She wanted him to go to school where he wanted to go because “I wanted to make sure that our relationship would last. If it was going to work out for us, it would.” Twenty-three years and two children later, Michael is still the love of her life. “He is my soul-mate. He supports me. He lets me go to pursue my dreams. As long as he has healthy food and clean clothes – at least in the laundry basket – then he’s good to go!” Her secret to a successful marriage? “Talk to each other – all the time – about everything,” says Veronica.

Her secret for raising healthy, happy children? Veronica answers, “God.” When people comment that children don’t come with a parent manual, Veronica rejoins that the Bible is her parent manual. As she has told her son, “The Bible gives us basic instructions before leaving earth (acronym B.I.B.L.E.).” When her daughter was a preschooler and she was acting up, Veronica would tell her, “Be a good girl for mommy,” and quote Philippians 2:15, “The obedient sparkle like the stars in the sky!” She adds, “I didn’t make my children memorize Bible verses; instead, we lived by them. The Word lives in our hearts.”

When asked what is behind every successful real estate agent, Veronica quickly replies, “A good book!” She reads as much as she can, as often as she can. She even loves reading textbooks for fun, in particular McGraw Hill’s textbook, Principles and Practice of Marketing. While other women are sitting under their hair dryers at the salon and reading People magazine or Vogue, one can find Veronica with her heavy tome on her lap. “Okay, so I’m a nerd!” she laughs. When she is not reading or working, Veronica loves sleeping – and also biking on the nature trails in the early morning in Cinco Ranch, working out daily, practicing yoga with her daughter, and traveling with Michael and her family. “I love being outside. It’s one of the other great things about real estate – it’s both an inside and an outside job!”

With “ancient words” as the foundation of her personal life and her real estate practice, Veronica sums up her career: “My biggest strengths as a real estate professional are my faith in God, my honesty, sincerity, and overflowing enthusiasm. My clients can see and feel my positive energy when I respond quickly and enthusiastically to the challenges of their real estate transactions. But most of all, what I hope comes across is my true joy in serving others.”

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Karen Keating, Martha Turner Properties—Clear Lake

Sellin’ On the Dock of the Bay
By Woodie Stephenson

Martha Turner Properties agent Karen Keating of the Bay Area absolutely loves living and working along the Texas Gulf Coast. Prior to moving to Clear Lake, the waterfront specialist spent 8 years in Arizona, landlocked in the beautiful Sonora Desert as she attended college and first began practicing her real estate career.

“Someone told me that blood has the same salinity as sea water,” Karen shares, “I’ve often thought that is why people naturally want to be by the water.”

Whether selling a primary residence or helping with a second home, selling by the water has not only been a job for Karen, it has been a dream come true for the pioneering first agent at Martha Turner’s new Clear Lake office.

“There’s nothing better than living on the water,” Karen says, “I love to help my clients find the perfect waterfront home. I have always wanted to be close to the water and it’s an extreme pleasure for me to live and work where I do. There’s nothing like sitting on the boathouse at night, waking up the next morning and drinking my coffee as I look out over the bay. And, of course, the sunrise or sunset over water has to be the most romantic sight on earth.”

Growing up, Karen was a well-traveled young lady who saw many places, both near and far—Switzerland, Nigeria and the United States. The daughter of an oil company executive, her family was regularly on the move. Karen lived in three countries and five states all before turning 21 years of age.

Looking back on it now, my childhood was excellent training for my profession in real estate,” Karen shares, “I can identify easily with both the trials and challenges of moving and also the excitement and adventure of finding a new home.”

Although she was born in Bakersville, California, Karen’s early life journey led throuogh Denver, Colorado, The Woodlands, Texas, Villars, Switzerland and Lagos, Nigeria among other cities. Eventually, she would graduate from Troy High School in Ohio, a place, along with Houston, that she was considers “home”. Karen’s older sister, Molly, remains in Ohio, where she and her husband own a working horse farm and Molly is a well respected horse woman who shows competitively all over the United States.

After high school graduation, Karen entered the University of Arizona in Tucson. An honors student, she graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree and immediately entered law school at Arizona State University.

Eager to subsidize the mounting student loans that came with higher education, Karen began studying and working part-time in real estate before beginning her classes in law. After experiencing early success in her new part-time endeavor, Karen discovered the courage and ambition to forge a permanent career path in an area that she ultimately found to be a natural fit.

“As a young person, it seems like you are pressured to seek out professions with more stability than sales,” Karen shares, “As a kid, it seems like hardly anyone is encouraged to be a salesperson, but I was always attracted to the idea of being a Realtor.”

Karen recalls her fascination with real estate beginning at a young age as her family was searching for a new home in Colorado.

“The first home-buying trip I remember was when my parents were moving to The Woodlands. From then on, I was hooked; I loved touring the houses and watching agents do their job. When I started working in real estate, I discovered I was really good at including the entire family in a move because I would think back to what that experience meant to me.”

After familiarizing herself with the ropes of real estate in Arizona, Karen returned to Houston, a city that has always been dear to her heart. Karen wasted no time receiving her Texas license from Champions School of Real Estate, and began practicing with Coldwell Banker United in the Memorial area. At CBU, Karen received the mentorship from a pair of veteran agents who were eager to impart their knowledge of their profession and the Houston market.

“In my early days I really was fortunate to have such great mentorship from Barbara Voigt and Kat Horsch,” Karen says, “Both ladies were high-producing and knowledgeable agents willing to take me under their wings, and I learned, tremendously, from both of them.”

Another source of inspiration to Karen was Martha Hendricks, a successful and established Houston agent who lived up the street from Karen’s family in the 1980’s.

“Martha Hendricks was probably my most influential role model. I was friends with her daughter and spent quite a bit of time with the Hendricks family. I went to her real estate office on many occasions and caught my first glimpse of a REALTORS’s life.” Karen says.

Although she was grateful for the professionalism she experienced at each stop along the way, Karen had her sights set on working alongside other top producers at Houston’s premier boutique real estate company, Martha Turner Properties.

“I had really wanted to work my way up to being a Martha Turner agent,” Karen says, “Her company had always held a great appeal for me.” It is truly The Company of Top Producers and joining the company the company was always my ambition.”

During her first interview with Martha Turner Properties in 2000, Karen was told the strict requirements for joining the company. Karen interviewed with the company after establishing herself at RE/MAX and has now been at MTP for over two years.

“Since joining the company, I have tried to followed Martha’s system to a t,” Karen says, “After all, why would I want to try to improve perfection? Martha has worked hard to develop a system that is, in my opinion, absolutely perfect. I am amazed by the systems that she has in place. My natural talents are working with people and sales, negotiating contracts, and tracking markets, but I am not a graphic designer or marketing guru. Martha has a tremendous support staff and in-house advertising department that can handle those aspects that are not my forte, while I get out there and do what I do best which is selling property.”

Thanks in part to Karen’s tremendous success and market share in the Bay Area of Houston, Maratha Turner was able to open a new Clear Lake office in July, 2008. Transferring to this location from her prior digs in the Galleria area wasn’t a tough decision for the boating, fishing and water recreation enthusiast.

Karen may have a great enthusiasm for the backdrop nature has provided in her work environment, but she also possesses the experience and skills necessary to best represent her market’s clients. The holder of both an ABR and a GRI certification, Karen also has distinguished herself as an agent with tremendous first hand knowledge of the Bay Area market. Karen feels her strong knowledge base and negotiation skills give her an innate edge over her competitors.

“The thing that makes me successful is that I’m a very flexible person. Growing up in so many different environments taught me how to adapt at an early age. These skills have translated very well to real estate. In this business, you can’t go into a situation rigidly thinking, ‘this is how it’s going to go.’ You have to be willing to listen to all of the possibilities and then find solutions. I’m a high-energy person, very ambitious, and it is my ability to adapt of each sale that helps me meet my clients needs.”

Karen’s love and passion for her job can be linked to her philosophy on homes.

“My favorite thing about being a Realtor is dealing with the property itself. I have always thought are such incredibly special places,” Karen says, “A house is a place that has a soul. It’s a place where incredible memories are formed; where children grow up together and where lives are lived. I get so excited whenever I look at a property. I see the history of it and the potential for it. I love matching families and homes together.”

Being able to mentor under Martha Turner has only increased Karen’s professionalism as she has been exposed to a wealth of knowledge and experience from the veteran broker and agent.

“Sales is my business and Martha has given me an environment where I can focus on what I do best,” Karen says, “I have narrowed my focus to residential sales and have tried to avoid expanding into areas that only distract me from my goals. Martha Hendricks told me early on that you can’t be a ‘four-P’ Realtor- one who puts a sign in the yard, puts on a lockbox, puts a listing in the MLS, and prays. You’ve got to be able to explore all the options for each buyer and seller, and right now, I feel very focused on that.”

Martha Turner, in turn, has recognized Karen’s work ethic and client devotion; however, Martha is most thankful for Karen’s leadership in establishing a market presence in the Clear Lake and Bay Areas south of Houston.

“I have seldom met a Realtor more dedicated and vivacious than Karen Keating,” Martha Turner says, “She is absolutely dedicated to her clients and it really show that she loves what she does. For some time, she would work in her preferred market in the Bay Area but commute many miles to our Briar Hall office. Karen’s dedication in establishing her presence and client base in the Bay Area was instrumental to the creation of a new Martha Turner office in her market.”

Of all of Karen’s real estate transactions, her most memorable came when her clients the Rosales family of Dickenson, TX was faced with father Raul’s sudden job transfer to Washington, DC. The family immediately called on Karen who was a member of their church. Raul and Stephanie communicated to her that it was important for them to get as much equity out of their home as possible while turning a quick sale so Stephanie and the couple’s children could soon join Raul in Washington.

Raul recalls being relieved that Karen worked so diligently to help his wife at home with the sale of their property.

“Karen always kept me and my wife in the loop during the sale of our house,” Raul recalls, “She was excellent at communicating with us and following-up with us. Karen has an exceptional eye for detail; she gave us tactical advice on various improvements we could make to our home in order to make a quicker sale and, with her advice, we were able to sell our house in a very short period of time in a market that was generating few transactions. She is a straight-forward woman of her word, and a diligent Realtor.”

Jeff Cook of Home N Mortgage, one of Karen’s longtime business partners, can attest to the diligence and tenacity she puts in to making each transaction a success for her clients.

“Karen is a very hard-working and diligent Realtor,” Jeff says, “She always finds a way to put each transaction together and get her clients in the homes they have chosen. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her services to anybody who plans to buy or sell a home in her market area.”

Focusing her business in the various waterfront markets including Clear Lake, League City, Kemah, Friendswood, and Seabrook, Karen is responsible for an average of approximately twenty-five transactions a year with a median home price of roughly $415,000. Recognizing early on that many of her clients would be relocations and buyers looking for a second home, Karen has diversified her marketing between local and national markets. Although Karen is aided by Martha Turner’s exclusive regional publications such Martha Turner Properties, she puts her eggs in several baskets including The Wall Street Journal, Homes & Land, and the Houston Business Journal.

Karen’s marketing approach encompasses a simple yet effective philosophy.

“I advertise my listings heavily in print and online,” Karen says, “I am often thinking outside the traditional box, looking far and wide for buyers from outside the area. An old marketing manager once gave me a good piece of advice: ‘If you’re not catching enough fish, you should fish with a bigger net.’ I utilize as many tools as possible to actively move my properties.”

Karen also practices in the land development sector of real estate, an area that is historically responsible for some of her most successful ventures.

“My biggest deal in the last year was a commercial land deal in League City,” Karen shares, “My system is generally geared towards residential property, but I do work with several developers.”

Besides working on the occasional land transaction, Karen has even recently began to dabble in the international market, a step that would seem natural for an agent experienced at helping clients find their second homes. Among the international locations Karen has targeted internationally are some of her favorite ports of call: Belize, Costa Rica and Playa del Carmen.

During Karen’s leisure time, she loves to travel to the most exotic beachfront resorts of the world, or if she’s allotted just a day off, she enjoys boating or relaxing by the water in her community. Karen, however, is most passionate about her daughter Grace, a fourth grader at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic School. Grace faced many challenges at a young age due to kidney problems that she has had since early childhood, but you would never know by looking at her today.

“It’s tough watching your children when they are sick and in pain,” Karen shares, “but instead of allowing myself to feel hopeless, I try to get involved in activities that make me feel empowered.”

Karen’s active role has been fundraising for Texas Children’s Hospital. She has worked to organize many benefits to help Grace and other children in need of treatment for medical conditions. She has volunteered for Children’s Miracle Network and partipated in the Dream Home Project in August, 2006. In addition to her ongoing commitments to TCH, Karen has also been active in many community, church, and real estate volunteer opportunities including the St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church School, The Bay Area Builders Association, and the Texas Association of REALTORS®.

A special service Karen has prided herself in providing to the real estate community has been the mentorship of aspiring agents. She has often advised agents to embrace the same principles that have moved her career forward—honesty and hard work.

“In order to achieve success, sacrifice and dedication are part of your job in any career,” Karen says, “I have advised our new agents to keep this in mind as the tireless hours of a real estate career become a reality. Time management and organization are critical in this career. I also encourage young agents to have an open communication with their clients and peers. You can be as sweet as you want to be, but be direct and to the point. When you’re trying to make a sale come together, there might be the temptation to embellish, but it is never beneficial to your clients or your reputation. It’s not up to you to make a decision for someone. The real estate agent is an advisor who can provide knowledge and solutions. But, the decision will be found in the heart of the buyer and the seller. My best advice for any agent is not to stand in the way.”

In September of 2008 Hurricane Ike ravaged the usually calm and peaceful communities of the Galveston Bay area.. The property damage was unprecedented. In the wake of the storm, Karen witnessed her community come together in a way she has never seen before.

“It’s amazing to see the recovery process after Hurricane Ike,” Karen shares, “People have worked so hard together and shown each other so much resolve and support.”

Her observations may capture the sentiment of her fellow neighbors and community leaders, but Karen was not content to just sit idly on her hands, even if that meant getting them dirty.

Many of my friends and neighbors has substantial flood and wind damage to their homes,” Karen shares, “People’s livelihoods were interrupted and many homes and businesses were destroyed. I went to work right away ripping out sheetrock and doing whatever I could to help my neighbors and clients. I organized work crews and delivered water and tools where they were needed, I delivered lunches and cooked dinners. Because of my real estate connections, I was able to get a lot of construction work done fast.”

“Recovering from Ike has been really difficult, but in the last few months I have received the greatest compliments of my life, as past clients and neighbors and friends have come to me for advice. That is the true reward of this job- knowing that people count on me for something as important as their home.”

Whether she’s helping clients to own their waterfront dream homes, lending herself to community causes, or just sitting on the dock of the bay, Karen Keating loves where she is and what she does.

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Becky Hill of Keller Williams Realty Professionals

The True Heart of a Leader: Introducing the 2009 National President of the Women’s Council of Realtors®
By Kate Sullivan-Conlan

Have you had the pleasure of meeting Becky Hill, the 2009 national president of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® and a top-producing broker at Keller Williams Realty Professionals? According to her long-time business partner and friend Joanie Sharpe, Becky is a person who is “always available to help anyone, anywhere, with pretty much anything,” all the while serving as a leader on so many levels in the real estate industry.

Introducing the New President of the Women’s Council of Realtors®

Becky’s election as the 2009 President of the Women’s Council of REALTORS®, the first president ever to be elected from the greater Houston area, is a richly deserved tribute for a lifetime of service. Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams International, Inc. says, “Becky is a true servant leader at heart,” and Becky herself acknowledges, “I’ve served my profession in various leadership capacities for many years now; it’s just become part of my life.”

The Women’s Council, chartered in 1938 as an affiliated council of the National Association of REALTORS®, captured Becky’s interest several years ago with the training and networking opportunities it made available for women. “When I looked around the real estate industry,” says Becky, “the most professional women I met were in Women’s Council. The organization has always been known as a trainer of leaders, both in real estate and in the larger community; so, realizing that, who wouldn’t want to associate with this group?”

As the twelfth largest women’s organization of any kind in the United States, the Women’s Council’s mission states, “We are a network of successful REALTORS® empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders.” The Council originally served to give women entering the real estate industry training to allow them to compete with their male counterparts. “Whereas men were paid a commission, a female agent might have been offered a bottle of wine,” explains Becky. Today, many men belong to local chapters and serve in leadership positions, but the Council still “predominantly serves women, encouraging more and more women to accept leadership roles and gain the skills they need to compete successfully.”

Over the years, leading up to her installment as president, Becky took on numerous leadership and service positions to further the Vision of the Council. She has served in every role nationally as an officer and has helped develop and participate in many of the Council’s training and mentoring programs. “We gear our training for those who want to reach the highest levels of accomplishment within their careers and in their local communities as well.” The four premier courses in the Council’s new curriculum, called “Performance Management Network,” focus on an individual’s performance skills and personal development. With her expertise, it is no mystery why Becky is a certified instructor for all of the courses.

Broker JoAnne Poole, of Poole Realty in Maryland, first met Becky at WCR meetings many years ago. She attests that Becky has moved through leadership positions, always “staying grounded and reminding everyone that ‘It’s all about the members.’ With her mentoring skills, educational instructions, and her rational and visionary thinking, Becky has inspired and motivated the members throughout the country.” Joanie Sharpe adds, “Becky has garnered the respect and admiration of the entire real estate industry nationwide. The honor of becoming the president of the Women’s Council is achieved by only a few.”

Becky dedicates her energy to the Women’s Council in no small part because she herself has benefited so greatly from the organization. “Women’s Council provides a huge support system for all its members,” says Becky. “Regardless of where I am in the United States, all I have to do is pick up a phone and call another member. If I’m stranded or if I need help on a topic I am not knowledgeable about, someone would be there to pick me up or to look up that information for me.” Recently, the Council revamped its national website and online Member Search feature so that members can now search specific fields of member expertise for everything from good marketing ideas to information sources for the best cell phones and computer equipment. Members across the country also network to give one another leads and referrals for relocating clients. “It makes it so much easier because we can find the needed information right within our own network.” Becky adds, “All of us openly share our knowledge and expertise, and that sharing makes us strong as an organization. In fact, it’s like one big extended family.”

A further commitment of the Women’s Council that Becky especially supports is “giving back to our communities that support us as professionals in our businesses.” Hand-in-hand with training and networking, a goal of WCR is “to educate and promote women and their influence in every phase of society, not just in real estate,” says Becky. “Since most of the Council’s activity is at the local level, we encourage our members to reach out to other organizations within their communities – Chambers of Commerce, civic and charitable organizations, as well as various political groups. Local chapters of WCR are critical; they are the delivery points of all we want our members to do in their own communities; they serve as the business resource centers for local agents.” Many chapters raise funds and volunteer time with local organizations such as Candlelighters, battered women’s shelters, Habitat for Humanity, etc. Others support scholarships for college-bound girls and provide skills training programs for women and children.

What does Becky want to be remembered for when her presidency is over? With the financial situation and recent mortgage crisis people have been experiencing in the US, Women’s Council, like many other organizations, lost some members last year and experienced some internal conflict. “I want to be remembered as the president who cared about each and every member and the struggles they are facing in their chapters, their careers, and in their personal lives. I hope to bring us one step closer to realization of the Council’s vision of making a difference in the industry and in our communities,” states Becky. She wants to re-energize and focus directly on the members, meeting their needs and assisting them locally to become stronger and more viable in their communities and profession. “If we can accomplish these things, then the future will be bright for Women’s Council, and this should be a year of healing and growth.”

Personally for Becky, her role as president “will be an experience of a lifetime.” She will be traveling across the country to visit local and state chapters and doing what she loves – meeting and educating people and making new friends.

Leading on the State and Local Level – With a personal Touch

As Joanie Sharpe says, “Becky has always led by example.” She encourages other agents through Women’s Council to become involved in their communities, but she leads the way with her own involvement in education and in the political arena.
For the past four years, Becky has served as a PAC Trustee for the Houston and Texas Associations of REALTORS®. Her participation keeps her up-to-date on proceedings that could affect the real estate industry, and it facilitates her networking across the state. For example, TREPAC insures that bills get passed that support property ownership rights and that benefit the whole industry. Becky shares that information with other agents and her clients, for “it’s good to be thought of as someone who not only is an expert in the industry but who also really knows what’s going on that could impact the industry.”

Becky imbues her work at every level with a focus on the personal: “Without a personal touch I don’t think I could have accomplished what I have been able to so far in my career.” Her passion for people comes through especially in her teaching at the Champions School of Real Estate, where she shares her knowledge with new agents coming into the field. Friend Janis Spiller says of Becky, “She really cares about the education and quality of other agents, and there is no one who exceeds her knowledge of the contract and real estate transaction.” Teaching these courses,” Becky adds, “allows me to use my talents as a teacher alongside my knowledge and experience in the industry. I love being able to do the two things that I’m really passionate about.” Rita Santamaria, owner and president of Champions School of Real Estate, says that Becky gets “rave reviews from her students as an outstanding communicator.” Rita honored Becky with a Teacher of the Year award, and, according to Joanie Sharpe, her students say that Becky is the best teacher they have ever had.

Joining Keller Williams: Leader, Mentor, Friend

Becky grew up with her four siblings in the Appalachian Mountain area of southwest Virginia. Her father worked in the coal mines from the time he was in the ninth grade until he retired, so Becky truly is a “coal miner’s daughter.” Her mother was the regional manager for World Book and Child Craft Encyclopedias and gave Becky her first exposure to the world of sales. “I was really somewhat of a country bumpkin when I left home for college, and then I wanted to learn as much as I could about the rest of the world,” says Becky. She majored in math and science, married, and moved with her husband to Houston in 1970 after they had both graduated from college. She taught in the public school system for ten years, and during the years of her marriage, she and her husband invested in real estate. They would buy the worst house in the best neighborhood they could afford, and, after working weekends on the house, would then resell it. “We did flips before flips were popular! I loved it, and we never lost money on any of our properties,” says Becky. “That’s when I first started getting the real estate bug and decided to someday get a license!”

Joanie Sharpe was Becky’s agent on her last house transaction. She encouraged Becky to get her real estate license and join her in the business. “Joanie was my mentor,” says Becky. “She was always there to answer my questions and support me. She soon became my friend.”

At first, Becky continued to teach and work part-time at a small real estate agency. When she became more serious about a real estate career, she quit the classroom and took a full-time position with REALMCO Realty, later known as Saffold Company Realtors, where they offered more formal training. “I knew from the beginning that training would be the key to becoming highly successful in the business,” says Becky, “and that’s why Keller Williams became so attractive to me later on.”

Keller Williams Realty found Becky in 1990, when she was managing an office in the Memorial area, and they approached her about opening the first Keller Williams office in Houston. Since Becky lived in the Champions area in NW Houston, she declined the offer. Later, partnering with Joanie Sharpe, they opened a Keller Williams office just one year later, nearer both of their homes, and became the second market center location in the city. Janis Spiller of Houston Title remembers first meeting Becky in the early 90’s when they were opening the office: “She wanted to open an office that gave back to the agents and gave them some advantages they otherwise would not have had. Keller Williams met that need.”

Four years ago, Becky and Joanie sold their business so they could once again concentrate on their own clients and sales, for Becky “loves working with the public.” She does only residential sales, and hers is a totally referral-based business through former clients and her networking with Woman’s Council and other organizations. She has consistently earned sales awards and historically places in the top 10% in Keller Williams in productivity. Becky remains a Broker Associate, at the same company that she and Joanie once owned. The office, which recently merged with another location to form Keller Williams Realty Professionals, is strategically located to better serve the needs of her clients throughout NW Houston, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, Kingwood and The Woodlands.

“The real mark of my success, I believe,” says Becky, “has been my personalized services to my clients before, during, and after the sale. It’s important to be there initially and then continue to do as much as you can even after closing. I focus on my clients in a real estate transaction because buying a house is a tremendous expenditure and one of their most highly emotionally charged dealings.” She adds, “The commission is the last thing to worry about because you will be paid handsomely if you do a great job and focus on first serving the needs of your clients.”

The focus on formal training and mentoring at Keller Williams first attracted Becky to the company and, seventeen years later, continues to hold her loyalty. Becky was part of the original training crew and nurtured their efforts as training “blossomed and grew” at Keller Williams. Her commitment to continuing personal and professional development also led Becky to the Women’s Council. “The principles of Keller Williams Realty and Women’s Council of REALTORS® are so much in alignment with each other,” she explains. “Both organizations are vitally interested in what their agents/members feel and are structured to get that input from the field. They both focus intensely on training and believe in delivering programs that can elevate an agent to the next level(s) of success.”

Between her own business, her teaching, her work with the Women’s Council and TREPAC, Becky long ago learned to manage her time efficiently so that she still has time to be with her friends. “I have many close friends in the Houston area,” says Becky, “and I have remained friends with many dear people all over the country over the years.” Becky also makes sure she gets together with her family with whom she feels very close even though they live far apart.

Joanie Sharpe cannot say enough about Becky’s personal commitment to others. “She is the person who will be there when a loved one is lost, a job is lost, or a heart is broken, supporting you with words of encouragement or perhaps just sitting silently and imparting strength through her presence.” Janis Spiller adds, “Consistently putting the needs of others before her own, she always manages to show up with turkey or ham, dressing, and all the trimmings so my sister and I don’t miss out on the joys of the holidays while caring for our ailing mother in the nursing home.”

The True Heart of Leadership

To those entering a career in real estate, Becky Hill is adamant in her advice. Number one: Get the training. “If you want to sell at high levels, always continue to learn. If you were to survey successful agents, they’d credit their success to the training they’d received throughout their careers.” And number two: Network. “You must get out of your office. Work with other organizations and work in your community to expand your influence.”

Becky’s leadership in real estate on the national, state, and local levels is centered in her care and commitment to the professionalism of her industry, to the growth and success of her associates, to her personal concern for her clients, and to a deep love of her friends. As Joanie Sharpe says, “Becky will be there to celebrate your victories."

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Michael Levitin-HTown Realty/PM Houston Association of REALTORS® 2008 Chairman

Shining Light on the Heroes among Us
By Woodie Stephenson

Many people around Michael Levitin know him as a frustrated comedian. After all, the owner/broker of HTOWN Realty/PM and HAR’s 2008 Chairman of the Board’s favorite quote is “Don’t take life too serious or you’ll never get out alive.”

“You just have to roll with it,” Michael says on life, “My favorite part is the laughing part.”

Although those closest to Michael may know him for his sense of humor, they also know him as a hard-working and dedicated leader who has contributed much to the Houston real estate community. The first broker to open a 100% independent realty office in Houston and a dedicated public servant at HAR, Michael has dedicated his time as chairman to improving HAR and shining a light on the heroes within Houston’s real estate community.

Born and raised in Houston, Michael grew up in the Southwest side where he attended Pershing Middle School and graduated from Bellaire High School. The oldest of three siblings, Michael grew up enjoying sports and had a privileged childhood, but never grew took anything for granted due to the stories and lessons that his mother’s side of the family taught him.

“My mother’s side of the family were holocaust survivors from Germany,” Michael reveals, “and they taught me to value life.”

Following his high school education, Michael left for Austin where he attended the University of Texas studying education. After college, Michael worked odd jobs for a couple years before deciding to utilize his talent in sales in a still-thriving 1980s real estate market. Michael—still unlicensed—began working for home builder Ryland Homes in The Woodlands area selling new homes.

Although things were going great for Mike, who had purchased his own home in the Cypress area and had recently experienced the birth of his first child, the Houston market would inevitably take a turn for the worse in the wake of the 1980s recession. The Houston market was hit hard by the foreclosure era, but Mike was determined to stay the course in his new career even if that meant adapting to the market.

“It was a bad time for many people in Houston,” Mike recalls, “the market really died on the vine, but I understood it was time to finally get my real estate license and work the foreclosure market if that’s what it took.”

When the market came back around, Mike took the opportunity to become a founding partner in a new Century 21 franchise, C21 Gold Creek, in the Bear Creek area. Around this time, Mike read the first of two books that would help him to devise his own business strategies, How to Swim with Sharks without Being Eaten. Soon after, he would open his own investment property firm, The Michael Group.

Mike would soon meet the mentor that would help him open his own 100% Real Estate Co., Mike arranged to meet Schwartz in 1998 and the two bonded over their similar experiences, heritage, and ambition.

Armed with a business model and a helpful and encouraging mentor, Mike took a step forward and expanded the Michael Group into a real estate office offering low monthly fees. Over the course of the next few years—from 1998-2004—The Michael Group had grown to nearly 1,000 agents operating in Houston and Dallas.

Mike met his current wife Sandy in 2002 on Yahoo Personals and the two lovebirds chatted for a couple weeks before arranging a real date. They have been together ever since and will soon be celebrating their 5 year wedding anniversary. Mike and Sandy’s children include Mike’s daughter Tara and Sandy’s children Greg and Heather. Together, the couple have 4 grandchildren.

Mike first attempts to become involved with HAR were two campaigns running for the Board of Directors. Although he didn’t make the board at first, Mike’s efforts paid off when an opening in the Clear Lake area on the board allowed him to receive a sear on the Board of Directors.

Mike’s service and dedication allowed him to work his way up the ranks of HAR to Treasurer/Secretary, Vice President, and eventually Chairman of the Board, the esteemed position he currently serves in.

“It’s been great being Chairman,” Michael shares, “On the business side you get to travel nationally and internationally and you are exposed to so many knowledgeable Brokers, owners, and high-level associates in the real estate industry. Because of HAR’s immense reputation, I’ve been able to meet and pick the brains of some of the best like Carter Murdoch (VP of Bank of America) and Sherry Chris (CEO of Better Homes and Gardens).”

Mike credits the success and reputation of HAR’s current standing to HAR President and CEO Bob Hale.

“The success of HAR all starts at the top,” Mike says, “Bob is the type of leader that acquires the best people possible to run and improve his association. He does not micro-manage his staff; he is an excellent manager that lets people do their job but still has his thumb on the pulse of this organization.”

Mike appreciates the lengths that Bob goes to make sure his staff is not only primed for success, but enjoy their job, first and foremost.

“Bob knows that I’m a sports fanatic and Bob and the HAR Staff went out his way to make it possible for me to throw out the first pitch at an Astros’ game.”

Mike recalls the thrill of standing in front of a capacity crowd at Minute Maid Park.

“I was really nervous about bouncing the pitch in the dirt,” Mike recalls, “So I tossed it nice and easy and kept it under 30 [mph] like I was in West University.”

Mike appreciates the perks that come with the job—such as calling bingo games, attending sports events, and taking trips—but he also takes his position very serious.

“It’s a major commitment serving in a leadership role,” Mike says, “It’s not ditch digging, but it’s demanding work.”

Since coming into office for his year-long term, Mike, in an effort to increase community awareness about the services HAR offers to the public and Realtors, has made an astounding number of television and radio appearances on a local and national audience.

“It’s all about letting the public know that it’s very important to use a Realtor when selling your home,” Mike says, “and the best way to chose a professional is by using HAR. It’s important for home buyers and sellers to find someone who has their best interests at heart; someone who is on the cutting edge of market trends, follows the Realtor code of ethics, and can get their client the best value for their dollar.”

A demanding part of Mike’s job is to represent HAR nationally and share the knowledge his organization has accumulated.

“We don’t have to toot our own horn,” Mike says, “because people are tooting it for us. HAR is a state-of-the-art model organization that real estate markets worldwide are studying. The systems we have in place are a benchmark, and everyone wants to know how HAR does it.”

HAR’s innovations to its field has garnered the association much recognition and accolade. Recently, CEO Bob Hale was recognized with the Inman Real Estate Conference Award of Innovator of the Year.

HAR President and CEO Bob Hale applauds Mike’s commitment to fighting for the little guy through his support of the affordable housing program.

“Having served as president and CEO of HAR for 20 years, I have had the pleasure of serving with many great leaders in the REALTOR community. This past year with Michael as chairman of the board has truly been a unique and rewarding experience. His belief in the active role of the REALTOR is evident in his strong support of affordable housing programs, which has been one of the primary focuses of his tenure.”

As Chairman, Mike started a campaign to increase public awareness to the roles many Realtors serve as dedicated community leaders and volunteers. Mike’s campaign—Heroes: Celebrating the Hero in all of us—highlights a different agent every month for their achievement in community service.

“There are a lot of Realtors out there doing all kinds of things under the radar for their communities,” Mike shares, “The aim of our campaign is to show people that Realtors are very involved in the community and are much more than a commission.”

Mike’s successful campaign, along with featuring stories in Houston Realtor magazine, has caught the attention of The Houston Chronicle and other media outlets which have picked up these incredible stories to share with an even larger audience.

HAR Executive Vice President Rene Galvan appreciates the vision for a model Realtor that Mike is trying to set with his Heroes campaign.

“Michael never forgets his role as HAR chairman of the board—to lead and advocate on behalf of our 26,000 members—and he does it with enthusiasm and sense of humor that is contagious. He has a sincere desire to improve the association and real estate landscape for both our members and the consumer at large. His theme for his year of Heroes embodies his view of the REALTOR in the community as well as his aspirational vision for the profession.”

Sam Scott, HAR Director of Information, believes Mike’s enthusiasm, humility, and personality have all been assets which have improved HAR over his tenure.

“Michael has a unique perspective on real estate opportunities; he tends to see the needs of potentially underserved groups. He networks and builds relationships among groups where others might not recognize an opportunity. He is also the first HAR leader to work a room in a powder blue blazer and Kangol beret. His love of people, sports and sports history frequently come together. He once spent 20 minutes visiting with the doorman at the Lancaster who he recognized as a founding member of the Houston Oilers offensive line and together they recollected much of the team’s pre-Pastorini glories. Michael’s direct and unpretentious style has been an asset in analyzing issues that balance the desires of consumers with the differing perspectives of Board members.”

Looking towards the future, Mike is proud of his contributions to the community through HAR, but hopes to see more diversity among the board in the future.

Mike advises those leaders of tomorrow to invest heavily in their education, build their list of contacts and associates, and join a company that will offer them good support.

“I would hope our future leaders in the community and at HAR take advantage of the amazing staff that our association provides for the community at whole. We are a public service here for everybody to use.”

When asked if there was anything else that he could offer, the frustrated comedian searched his mind for a joke perhaps, but could only come up with this:

“It’s been a lot of fun working towards the opportunities I have had. I would advise anybody else who makes it this far to just sit back and enjoy the ride because it doesn’t last long enough.”

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Katherine Maher, Keller Williams Realty Lake Conroe

The Lady of the Lake
By Woodie Stephenson

There was something special about Keller Williams’ mega-agent Katherine Maher when she was a little girl. Although it would take her some time to build up the courage and perfect her skills to confront her destiny in sales, it was there from the beginning.

“When I was a little girl,” Katherine shares, “I worked hard to be the #1 girl scout in cookie sales. I would sell all my cookies, and then, I would help my friends sell theirs.”

The eager little girl knew she had a knack for sales, but she had no idea that one day she would grow up to be the #1 individual Realtor in all of Conroe and move lakefront property like boxes of cookies.

After a decade and a half of real estate service in the Conroe/Lake Conroe market, Katherine has built a strong business by offering her clients a level of unparalleled service and dedication. Her great passion for her priorities—her faith in the Lord, family, people, and real estate—have paid off in more ways than one for the charismatic Realtor®.

“Helping people in need is how I feel I can best express my faith and dedication to God,” Katherine says.

Katherine’s fervor for helping those around her—whether her friends, fellow agents or clients—has demonstrated why she is a staple in her marketplace and a true ambassador to those wishing to live in or keep weekend homes on the beautiful landscape of Lake Conroe. She truly lives up to her namesake and calling card as the “Lady of the Lake”.

The oldest sibling of six, Katherine grew up along with her 3 younger brothers and two sisters near Disneyland in sunny Anaheim, California. The daughter of a hard-working father and homemaker mother, Katherine was an avid student and hard worker who held her first job at the age of 15. This hard-working young lady, however, had no choice but to grow up earlier than expected when her father unexpectedly passed away while she was 16 years old.

“My mother had to start working multiple jobs to support us, and since I was the oldest, it was my responsibility to help her,” Katherine shares. “My mother was a great role model and taught us all to be responsible and use our common sense.”

Besides being a high school student, Katherine found herself pitching in around the house when it came to helping her mom with caring for her younger siblings. She would routinely help her brothers and sisters with their homework and help her mother keep up with the cooking and laundry duties.

In addition to the demands of being a student and homemaker, a young Katherine worked in the credit department for a national department store chain. Trying to better herself and take to a skilled trade, Katherine attended junior college following her high school graduation where she studied cosmetology, health, and science.

Following her graduation from junior college, Katherine, who felt she was “too situated”, interviewed for a job with TWA working as a flight attendant. Twenty-one years old, and eager to travel the world, Katherine received the job working the friendly skies far away from home where she was based out of Chicago and Kansas City.

“Working as a flight attendant helped me learn to talk to people,” Katherine recalls, “I was always a little shy and soft-spoken growing up.”

She took quickly to her new job and truly came out of her shell over the course of the next several years. It was during this time that she won honors as second runner up as Miss International and met her future husband, Michael Maher, at a fellow flight attendant’s birthday party.

Katherine’s husband to be, a psychologist and Executive Director of the Beverly Hills Community Mental Health Center, wooed Katherine beyond belief. One of the couple’s first dates was a highly publicized fundraiser gala where Katherine wore an evening gown so stunning that she found herself on the front page of the Beverly Hills Post the following morning.

“It was such an amazing occasion,” Katherine says, “Michael and I had been on a few dates and he invited me to a major fundraising event. Since he had been organizing the event, I had to meet him at the Beverly-Wilshire Hotel and when I made my entrance on this beautiful grand archway, everyone stopped to stare and cameras started flashing. I remember just worrying that I had a piece of toilet paper stuck to my dress or something embarrassing.”

Following their marriage, Katherine and Michael purchased their first home in Manhattan Beach, California. It was there that their two children, Ryan and Monique were born. Katherine’s step-daughter, Autumn, from her husband’s first marriage, lived nearby and was always part of the family.

In 1989 Katherine and her family moved to New Orleans where her husband became a partner in a New Orleans stevedoring business located on the former Godchaux-Henderson Sugar Refinery site on the Mississippi River. Rather than commute from New Orleans to New York, Katherine retired from the airline to become a full-time homemaker.

Five years later their business was purchased by the Port of South Louisiana and Katherine and her husband moved to Lake Conroe where Michael began applying his education in psychology and marketing to open an advertising agency. Katherine, meanwhile, began running a homeowner’s association and handling building permits for a lakeside subdivision. Although she had often considered becoming a Realtor, Katherine held a certain level of apprehension about pursuing her license.

“I had always pondered working in real estate,” Katherine shares, “but I was worried I wasn’t smart enough because I had never been very good at math. Once I started studying, however, I realized I had nothing at all to worry about.”

Licensed as a Realtor after only a month of real estate school, Katherine quickly joined Keller Williams, an organization she has remained with for the entirety of her 15-year career.

“I have always felt that I shared the common philosophies of Keller Williams,” Katherine says, “I possess the same caring heart and give-back nature of this company.”

Over her 15-year tenure working in the Conroe area, Katherine has created a strong business through her consistent service and hard work. Named the top listing agent in her market for seven years straight, Katherine has shown year after year that she is able to be a multi-million dollar producer while continuing to build client relationships and garner accolades for her outstanding service. In August, 2006, Katherine was listed the number one agent for closed units among 85,000 Keller Williams agents in the USA and Canada.

“When it comes to buying or selling real estate, I feel that dealing with someone who thoroughly enjoys working with people can make a real difference,” Katherine says, “I’ve always strived to be a genuine ‘people person’. I make it my mission to exude a rare enthusiasm for my work and consistently deliver results that exceed my clients’ expectations. For this reason, the referrals of satisfied customers have become the cornerstone of my business.”

Katherine admits she has an extreme passion for what she does and often works seven days a week. As a result of her hard work, Katherine has made quite a name for herself practicing real estate in the Conroe/Lake Conroe market. The name she has made for herself, and the one most people easily recognize, is the “Lady of the Lake”.

Katherine’s tagline, a handle her marketing guru husband helped her to devise, has offered the mega-agent a unique marketing position that Conroe residents routinely recognize and associate with their real estate needs.

“No matter how funny it sounds being known as the ‘Lady of The Lake’, people remember me because of it and it has helped me to build my business,” Katherine says.

Katherine’s clients can attest to her dedication to developing relationships rather than just trying to turn and burn their business for a quick commission.

Clients Bob and Deb Turner, who were only recently relocated to the Houston area, value Katherine’s expertise, hospitality, and friendship.

“My wife and I have been involved with a corporate relocation from the Midwest to the Houston area,” says Bob, “We’ve had the genuine pleasure of working with Katherine Maher. She is a true real estate professional with many years of experience. Her high energy, consistent and timely follow-ups, and pleasant personality have made working with her a truly positive experience during what could have otherwise been a stressful period. The best part of working with Katherine is that outside the professional work at hand, our relationship has developed into a valued personal friendship. We would be pleased to recommend her to any of our friends without reservation.”

Clients Matt and Angela Vickery have remained friends of Katherine since she sold them their Lake Conroe home some years ago.

“Matt and I have known Katherine’s family for over 14 years, and we think the world of her,” shared the Vickerys, “We have dealt with Katherine on both a personal level as well as professional. She is the ‘go to’ girl for real estate on Lake Conroe and the surrounding areas. In our real estate dealings she has always been forthcoming and completely honest. She helped us find our piece of Lake Conroe three years ago and we couldn't be happier.”

“My husband and I met Katherine and Michael Maher during a weekend visit with mutual friends in Walden on Lake Conroe,” share neighbors and friends Shirley and Harvey Willis, “Our friend mentioned to Katherine that we had been thinking of buying a second home on the lake. While spending the afternoon boating, we told Katherine what we were looking to buy. We had spent some time the previous summer looking at property in the area unsuccessfully but Walden was where we wanted to own property.

After listening carefully, she made a couple of suggestions on possible properties that she felt might be of interest to us. Returning from our boating, we immediately went to look at property and found what we wanted on our third stop. We made an offer the same day that we met Katherine, and after some negotiation and fine tuning from Katherine, we bought our lake home. The real bonus was that Katherine and Michael became our best friends and that we loved Walden and the people here so much that we sold our Houston home and made our lake home our retirement home.”

Katherine’s business associates value her professionalism, dedication, and friendship.

“Katherine is a professional in her field,” says Kathy Joslyn of the Blue Heron Bay Corporation, a Lake Conroe builder and developer for over 30 years, “She listens and fulfills the wants and needs of her clients. Katherine has helped make our projects successful with her sales ability and determination. I encourage anyone who is looking for personal attention and professionalism to not hesitate to contact Katherine Maher.”

Longtime friend and associate Dave Roedel of Exit 6 Star Realty appreciate the lengths Katherine has gone to professionally and personally to help those around her.

“Katherine is a true professional who has always cared about her clients,” Dave says, “I have known her and her husband for over 30 years and they have personally helped me when I first came to Houston. I have had the pleasure to serve as Katherine’s team leader at a former Keller Williams office, and she’s consistently present at every meeting, birthday party, and training session imaginable. She is the most active person I know in this business and she is completely serious when she tells her clients she is available 24/7.”

Although she has been known primarily for her individual achievements in real estate, Katherine recently decided to take a step forward in her career by constructing a real estate team. Though she has been known as #1 individual agent in Conroe for four years straight, Katherine felt it was time to expand her business. The “Lady of the Lake” Team now includes several valuable associates who are able to work together to strengthen Katherine’s already-solid customer service.

Recently joining Katherine’s team are her sister Shirley Abt and licensed agent Judy Shryock.

Shirley, who moved from Wisconsin to join Katherine’s team, is a quick learner to the business who Katherine values for her warm personality, work ethic, and people skills.

“Shirley is such a valuable addition to my team. She has a strong background in sales and it’s a dream to work with her,” Katherine says, “I remember when I first came into the business and for the first couple years I looked to the people who had been around and thought they knew everything. Shirley recently asked me if she would ever know as much as I do, and I answered her confidently, ‘Yes, you will’.”

Rounding out Katherine’s “Lady of The Lake Team” are longtime assistant Anne McClung, a Keller Williams veteran who has been with Katherine for 13 years and Dawn Dietz, who served as Katherine’s first sales assistant.

Katherine, the holder of a Luxury Home Specialist designation, prides herself in her ability to work in an area with so many luxury homes and high-dollar sales. With a track record as the top listing agent in her area, Katherine has worked extremely hard to impress her clients and assure them of the commitment she gives to maintaining and moving each property.

“I come extremely prepared when it comes to my listing appointments,” Katherine, a true believer in the power of first impressions, shares, “My team and I prepare complete and professional sales presentations for prospective clients. We share with them a wealth of information from our extensive database about the area and improving the value of their home. I am often told my listing presentation is a ‘Wow’.”

One person that Katherine has definitely “Wowed” is State Representative Brandon Creighton, who had this to say about Katherine: “In my professional dealings with Katherine Maher, I have known her to be highly competent, energetic and forthright. She exudes an undeniable passion for her profession.”

Katherine attributes her success in business to her immense faith in God.

“God is my centerpiece,” says Katherine, a member of several churches in the Conroe area, “I pray before I take on a new listing and wish for the best in my heart. God is absolutely at the center of my family and business.”

Katherine advises newcomers to the business to have faith in their abilities and to keep a positive attitude and friendly demeanor.

“I teach new agents in my listing class to have faith in their abilities from the start,” Katherine shares, “Although someone new to the business may have never sold a house before, everybody has sold something before in their life. I urge my fellow agents to believe in their abilities.”

Katherine reiterates that image and open-mindedness is essential to developing the relationships necessary to succeed in real estate.

“You have to like yourself to sell yourself,” Katherine says, “In order to make it in this business you have to be friendly and open. You have to talk to people, ask questions, and consistently keep an open line of communication with the folks around you. I tell agents, ‘Don’t walk around with blinders; be interested in other people, and let them know what it is you do’.”

When Katherine and her husband, Michael, are not immersed in their work, the couple enjoys traveling to Costa Rica, where they are principals in a tour and transportation company, VIP Costa Travel. They are also involved in the development and marketing of the new Beacon Escazu Hotel. Recently, they were able to bring 12 friends and family members, including Katherine’s grandson, Jordan, to see their exotic hideaway.

“Costa Rica has been such an amazing place to visit and explore,” Katherine shares, “We have explored the rainforest, the beautiful beaches, rode ATVs, and even taken up surfing.”

Katherine and Michael also enjoy riding their waverunners on Lake Conroe and dining out at good friend Debbie Evan’s restaurant, Debbie’s Prime Steakhouse and the Walden Caddy Shack. Their free time, however, is not all dedicated to relaxation; Katherine and Michael own 21 rental properties which they maintain and lease through their management company.

Katherine and Michael also dedicate their time and resources to several charitable organizations including the American Cancer Society, the Society for Muscular Dystrophy, KW Cares, Montgomery County Food Bank, the Salvation Army, and
many others.

Exciting new developments await Katherine and her team in the days ahead. Classified as a mega agent, Katherine has earned the privilege of operating her team out of her own Keller Williams office. Construction for Katherine’s new office began in 2008, and her team’s new home will have a unique feature—it is located right on Lake Conroe with an adjoining boat dock.

“I will be the first agent with the ability to show and sell real estate by boat,” Katherine says; however, there will be a small catch—buyers must be pre-qualified before Katherine and her team strap-on their life preservers. “No free rides on the lake,” she jokes.

Katherine also plans to welcome two of her brothers to the Conroe area as business partners. Her brothers, Tom and Ron Thebeau, experienced builders and contractors in the new home construction business, plan to relocate soon to the Conroe area where they can work along with their two sisters to build and market new homes on the lake.

Katherine’s mother, Jeanne Lee, moved to Lake Conroe from Carson City two years ago to be near her daughters, and the girls couldn’t be more excited.

“Mom has always been our inspiration and now most of our family will be living on the lake,” Katherine excitedly exclaims.

The “Lady of the Lake”, Katherine Maher, has found great success in business and life, but her mission has always been to develop friendships rather than receive commission. She attributes her success in real estate and life to her caring heart, faith in God, dedication, and passion.

“I have always been dedicated to this job,” Katherine says, “As a Realtor I have an immense responsibility to my clients, but, most of all, I just love to work with people. My phone rings on an average of 18 times an hour, and it’s hard for me to say no to a client. There is no greater satisfaction for me than helping people. For me, helping others is my greatest passion and it has never been about the money.”

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Paulette Blackwood Tate—RE/MAX Realty Center

An Accomplished Agent with an Unwavering Passion
By Woodie Stephenson

RE/MAX Hall of Fame agent Paulette Blackwood Tate, the daughter of early real estate entrepreneurs and a licensed agent since the age of 19, once retired from practicing real estate for an entire seven years to work for a national builder. Although the sabbatical was just what the family woman needed at the time being, she never lost her passion and dedication to one day return to her calling.

“I’ve always seen real estate as an opportunity to help people make a major decision in their life,” Paulette says, “My customers have always been like family to me. I love life; I love people; and I love taking care of them.”

The people close to Paulette, and those who have had the pleasure of being her clients, truly understand that Paulette’s real estate and service skills stem from her strong desire to bring a great passion to every task. Whether she is helping her clients buy, sell, or stage their homes, Paulette is willing to go the extra mile because of her passion for people and real estate. With a 27-year background in real estate, construction, and new-home building, the versatile agent feels she can offer a level of unparalleled representation in Houston’s diverse market.

Born in Fort Worth, Paulette was raised along with her younger sister, Beverly, in the Mid Cities/ HEB area of Texas where her parents worked hard in the home building and real estate business. Paulette, who never had to look far for her mentors or a reason to become involved in the business, remembers real estate being a way to spend extra time with her parents while growing up.

“My father and I would watch Dallas Cowboys football together,” Paulette recalls, “but if I wanted to spend more time with him I would have to help out with open houses.”

Paulette’s father, Charlie Davidson, a custom-home builder by trade, worked alongside his two daughters and wife Velma to establish a real estate dynasty after opening an office in the Colleyville/Grapevine area. Helping periodically with her parents’ business, Paulette was also an involved student and drum majorette in her school band. After graduating from Bell High School, she went on to study in business school; however, Paulette gives the biggest credit for her education to her mother and father’s “School of Hard Knocks”.

“My father wasn’t your typical businessman homebuilder,” Paulette shares, “He had a hammer and a nail gun strapped to his waist and he got out there and built homes. He came into the business with the handshake approach and the good-ol’-boy mentality way of doing things. The most valuable piece of advice he ever gave me was to never pre-judge people; he told me that if because a man walks through the door wearing coveralls and drives a beat-up pick-up truck, not to think that he doesn’t have money.”

Her father’s hands-on and personal approach along with her mother’s strength and compassion offered Paulette a unique learning environment to hone her skills.

“My parent were my mentors, equally,” Paulette shares, “I would sit in my father’s office and listen to him talk on the phone. That was how I learned my negotiation and people skills. Watching my mother work with buyers taught me the importance of listening and recognizing buyers’ signals.”

Paulette’s father recalls recognizing an immense passion in his daughter at an early age.

“Paulette has always been a high achiever,” Charlie says, “She has always felt the need to do more that what is expected of her.”

A quick learner to the business, Paulette had her skills put to the test at the age of 33 when her father listed an all-new home subdivision.

“My father put me out there as the on-site specialist and that’s where I cut my teeth in this business,” Paulette recalls, “I sold the lots to builders, and then, I turned around and sold the newly-built homes and sold them once again for the original buyers.”

Following her impressive introduction, Paulette continued to work with her parents producing incredible numbers and honing her service skills. It was during this time that Paulette’s father would see his daughter outsell all of her fellow agents combined, an impressive feat for a rookie.

Charlie Davidson recalls, “Paulette would routinely outsell all 16 of our other agents combined. The rest of the bunch—bless their hearts—were left with her scraps. It’s still a secret to me how she was able to manage this, but I have my ideas; Paulette has always had a great knowledge about her product and a great eye for design. She has the ability to walk into a home and tell you exactly what could be done to improve its value and marketability.”

While selling real estate in the Dallas-Ft. Worth market, Paulette would quickly rise to Platinum status, selling and listing many homes and, eventually, finishing in the Top 10 of RE/MAX of Texas for three consecutive years (1989-91)!

“I just wore out one day,” Paulette recalls, “I had been a workaholic for way too long and I decided to retire from being an agent.”

In need of a change for her family, Paulette joined her sister in Houston at David Weekley Homes where she could still utilize her knowledge of the business while avoiding the long erratic hours that come with the territory of independent real estate.

In her new position, Paulette served in on-site sales and assisted Weekley in many aspects of his strong business for the next seven years. It was also during this time that Paulette met her husband Art and the happy couple joined families in 2004, giving them six successful children and a grandbaby.

Paulette, during her tenure at Weekley, was able to find a great friend in the business, Gayla Skates. Over an evening card game together with their husbands, Gayla and Paulette would have a conversation that would change Paulette’s life. As it turns out, both longtime friends had been thinking of returning to real estate. Paulette, who had always desired to resume practice herself when the time was right, jumped at the opportunity to join her good friend.

“Gayla and I had become friends while I was working at David Weekley,” Paulette says, “That night changed my whole life. Gayla told me she was thinking of leaving her position as office manager for a large real estate team to focus on sales and the opportunity to build her own business. I had recently had the same discussion with Art. It was the right time in my life because I knew I was ready to return to real estate and give 150%.”

Returning to the only place that seemed fitting—RE/MAX—Paulette resumed her practice in 2004 on the Northwest side of Houston—in and around Cypress—a place Paulette, her husband Art, and their six children, and their shitzu, Bailey, called home.

Starting at ground zero and returning to the business was a challenge for Paulette, who had accomplished so much so early on in her career, but the veteran agent had two great things going for her—her experience and the support of her husband Art.

Art, who serves as Corporate Merchandizing Manager for a national menswear clothier, was all for his wife’s return to the business and offered whatever support he could give her outside his own job.

“Art was so supportive of me right from the start,” Paulette shares, “Although he has his own full-time job with a lot of responsibility, he offered to help me on nights and weekends. It meant so much to me because he has so much retail and sales background. Art has offered me incredible support and a wealth of information.”

Primed for success, Paulette began working the market in Cypress, Northwest, The Woodlands, and Cole’s Crossing selling new and pre-owned homes. Eager to go the extra mile and develop relationships with her clients, Paulette found that her superlative experience and enthusiastic attitude were a perfect match for a busy Northwest market. Things were going great and would only get better; after just a short while back in practice, Paulette remembers being elated when Gayla shared her plans to open a new RE/MAX office right in Paulette’s neighborhood and market area.

“It was so exciting to share the experience of opening a new office with Gayla,” Paulette says, “I was with her right from the beginning of her amazing vision. Gayla’s RE/MAX Realty Center has come together to have an amazing synergy and camaraderie among our agents. We make it our goal not to just excel at real estate, but we work hard to make an impact in the community through our participation in various community projects.”

Now averaging anywhere from 75-100 transactions a year, Paulette prides herself in making herself available and accessible to her clients on a daily basis, despite the volume of her production.

“Although I am regularly a platinum level producer, I personally stay in touch with all of my buyers and sellers,” Paulette says, “I give them the same quality service that my parents instituted in me at the onset of my real estate career. I strive to provide an individual and personalized experience for each of my customers. It’s always been my understanding that my customers pay good money to sell their homes and whether it’s 7 in the morning or nine-thirty at night, they want someone available and I’m there.”

Paulette, who has always taken education serious, is a graduate of the Real Estate Institute and holds CRS, ABR, and CLHS designations, allowing her to assist any level of client.

In order to showcase her homes to the best of her ability, Paulette supplies her customers with impressive full-color brochures and a plethora of internet-based marketing. As well as keeping up with her own website, Paulette also employs an IT professional to help her stay on top of every possible internet resource to keep her listing updated and widely-publicized.

“The internet is such a strong tool in our business,” Paulette states, “It is well worth it for me to have my own IT professional working with us to make sure we are always at top speed.”

Although she spares no expense when it comes to marketing her homes and making herself available to her clients, Paulette feels her strongest points are her experience in the business and her strong negotiating skills. With a background in so many facets of the business, Paulette believes she truly has a leg up on the competition.

“I have a world of experience to offer my clients,” she says, “It should be a given for a Realtor to market hard and be there to address their customers concerns, but what really sets me apart is my expertise, integrity, and personalized service. My background has given me construction knowledge and building expertise. I am proud to be able to consult my clients in so many areas.”

Paulette feels that her negotiating skills were a gift from her father, who believed strongly that people should be treated with fairness and respect. In addition, Paulette feels that she possesses a strong passion for service and a superior work ethic acquired from her mother.

“I truly love what I do,” Paulette says, “I thrive on it and I enjoy making people happy and providing them with what they deserve. My mother and father taught me that the best way to show someone your respect is by giving them your honesty. I’ve never been scared to tell people the truth in this business because I’ve learned that honesty is the road to developing a respectful relationship. I don’t sugar-coat anything; I give my honest opinion because that’s what they are paying for.”

When it comes to giving her clients her honest opinion, Paulette is not shy about the importance of home staging. With experience in so many facets of the business, Paulette often conducts staging appointments with her clients to prime their homes for a quick sale.

“I let my clients know that we can get top dollar for their homes if they follow my advice,” Paulette says, “I’ll have them write a honey-do list, and when I can lend them my staging expertise, we usually see quick results.”

Last year, Paulette’s listing were moving at an average of 55 days, but it’s not unusual for her clients to see much more favorable turnarounds on sales when they put their trust in her expertise. Camille Stoeberl, a two-time clients of Paulette, remembers Paulette working her incredible magic not one, but twice for her family.

Camille says, “Paulette sold our first house in seven days. A year later we employed her service again and she moved our second home in 14 days. She was extremely prepared for the sale of our homes, and she was always available to address our concerns. I would highly recommend her services to anybody.”

Paulette’s commitment to each client is something she takes immensely serious. Her philosophy to earning people’s trust, respect, and friendship is to treat each client like family.

“As long as I continue to treat my clients like my own family, the referrals will never stop,” Paulette says.

Art, Paulette’s husband, can attest to her unwavering dedication.

“I’ve never met anybody that can match Paulette’s passion,” Art says, “She attacks everything with extreme passion, whether it’s her personal life or professional relationships. She comes so mentally prepared to help each client that when she sits down to meet with her customers, there is no doubt in her mind that she can help them.”

Client Renee Orcutt was exhilarated when Paulette was able to sell her home in less than a month after it had been listed for five months with a previous agent. Renee praises Paulette’s work ethic and strong communication skills.

“Paulette was very prepared, aggressive, and was extremely knowledgeable about the market in our area,” says Renee, “Over the time our home was on the market with her she worked extremely hard and maintained a great level of communication with us. We would recommend her services to anybody.”

Additional clients of Paulette, The O’Briens and Morrisons, can also attest to her strong representation.

“Paulette is a Realtor who knows all aspects of her business,” clients Jack and Kari O’Brien said, “Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned one, she will make sure her knowledge is yours and that your interests are best served. She is also an expert in the Cypress area, and showed us many areas from which to choose.”

“Paulette is detail-oriented and has excellent market knowledge,” clients Bob and Monica Morrison said, “She goes out of her way to serve her customers. I highly recommend her to serve any of your real estate needs.”

Gayla Skates, Broker of RE/MAX Realty Center and good friend to Paulette and Art, says, “Paulette’s dedication to customer service, and her attentiveness and tenacity in negotiating for her clients’ interests have built her business through referrals.”

Chris Nooney of CTX Mortgage says, “Paulette is one of the most professional and knowledgeable Realtors I ever known. She always puts the client before commission.”

Whenever Paulette and Art can pry themselves from their busy schedules, the happy couple enjoys exercising, dancing, cooking, and gardening together, but their ultimate happiness comes from bringing their plentiful family together to spend time. Paulette, with the arrival of her oldest son Brian’s baby girl Abby, recently became a grandmother.

Jennifer Blackwood, Paulette’s oldest daughter, serves as Paulette’s office manager and administrative assistant. The recent college graduate routinely assists her mother in maintaining her various websites, transaction follow-ups, and marketing tools. Paulette considers Jennifer to be a great asset because of her great business skills and instincts.

Another of Paulette’s daughters, Charla, works alongside her as her buyer’s agent and listing agent. Charla, who is a licensed Realtor, brings knowledge of the business and strong customer-service skills to her mother’s team. Charla has recently been helping her mother to diversify their business by specializing in foreclosures and short sales. Paulette appreciates Charla’s ability to be a forward thinker and help develop ideas to grow their business.

Elliott Tate has recently stepped in to help his father Art fill various gopher roles, transporting signs, lock boxes, and marketing materials to Paulette’s home listings.

Paulette savors the opportunity to work alongside her children and share her experience, but it is her husband Art’s support that she considers essential to her operation.

“He understands the long hours that I work and is willing to help me on the weekends,” Paulette says, “I couldn’t ask for more. I really couldn’t do this business without Art.”

Paulette hopes to continue to expand her team in the future; however, she insists, with such a strong family chemistry already in place, whoever joins her team must be somebody who can fit in like family.

Paulette advises rookie agents and burgeoning Realtors to build a database, set up a system, and work their referrals with a passion. Although Paulette considers education to be imperative, the successful mentor believes most of all that there is no substitute for honesty and hard work.

“Take all the schooling you can get,” the successful Realtor suggests, “Education is so important. I also encourage beginning agents to work hard to develop personal relationships with their peers and their clients. And, most importantly, work with honesty, even if others around you are not. Persevere through hard times, work every deal like it was your own, and just get out there and work your tail off!”

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