I began my real estate career decades ago as an administrative assistant in my family’s residential real estate business in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. My mother was a legacy producer, and I learned from her how she took care of people through her 37-year real estate career. Fifteen years later, I took a different direction: I went back to school. My doctorate is in Disability Studies, obtained in 2007 from The University of Illinois at Chicago, with a Masters from The University of Chicago, and a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. After completing academic goals and a successful career leading national level program development, and winning and negotiating federal grant acquisitions that supported better options for people with disabilities, I moved back closer to home, first to Galena and then to Dubuque. I worked for the County for a short time as Director of Mental Health Services here in Dubuque until the State system was dismantled and then privatized. Retired for about ten minutes then returned to real estate almost five years ago.
Living in and loving Dubuque, it's a full schedule helping clients and those relocating to our corners of the world. Licensed in Iowa and Illinois, I work in the Dubuque/East Dubuque and Galena areas, specializing in helping clients realize their goals related to residential, investment, and occasional commercial properties. Proud to be NINJA certified which is an achievement of investing in deep philosophical, ethics/relational-based real estate practices training. Being a NINJA agent signals that my business approach and practices are relational. Most of my work comes from previous clients and their referrals.
What makes me stand out from other Realtors? There are a few things that come to mind... My work is truly my passion. I constantly study the market. Love houses and am fascinated by them, how they were built, how they function, and especially those considered vintage or architecturally unique. I'm in the office five days a week to keep up with new information and evolving situations regarding listings, sellers, buyers, and the market. Each client is my priority; they know I am there for them before, during, and after their purchase or sale. And, I do not engage in dual agency situations. This allows me to fully serve my only client in the transaction with my full expertise, attention, and loyalty.
Outside of work, I enjoy being a hobbyist beekeeper, relentlessly renovating my historic 1880 brick townhome, and am a serial rescuer of dogs. Volunteer roles include serving as the Chair of the Dubuque County Disabilities Council, a member of the Swiss Valley Beekeeping Association, and a member of the Dubuque Herb Society. I travel occasionally overseas. Last but decidedly not least, my role as "Mum" to my son Geoffrey is the most important role in the world to me.
If you’re in a season of change and need a responsive, expert, trusted agent - give me a call, a text, or an email to start the conversation about the living situation changes you’d like to make.
