She is the property manager for The Stellar Group and vice president of Stellar Properties of North Florida Inc.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
As property manager, she manages the six buildings The Stellar Group has on Hartley Road in Mandarin. As vice president and broker of Stellar Properties of North Florida Inc., she handles the purchase and sale of buildings for the company. She also leases out office space in the six buildings and retail and office space in Palm Cove Marina on Beach Boulevard. She oversees all of the real estate transactions of The Stellar Group and its owners. “I only handle Stellar-related projects.”
HISTORY
She has been with The Stellar Group for 15 years. She started out as an administrative assistant for several project managers and then became an executive assistant. After she moved up to office manager, she started to get bored with her job. They asked her what she wanted to do and she said maybe real estate. They sent her to the Florida Real Estate Institute and she got her real estate license. About a year later, she earned her broker’s license (1995) and the company started Stellar Properties of North Florida, Inc.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE WOMEN OF JACKSONVILLE INVOLVEMENT?
“I attend the meetings to network and to learn. It’s been very interesting. It’s a really good organization. It’s so neat that they are so new and yet have over 70 members. I’m serving as the sponsorship chair this year. We are working towards raising some operating money right now.” She has worked with several of the members on real estate deals and said it is nice to have that personal connection, rather than just a phone call from someone you don’t know.
WHY GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
“I knew I had to do something, I was tired of doing the same thing day in and day out. The neat thing about Stellar is that they did give me the opportunity to try something different.”
WHY COMMERCIAL?
“What I like about commercial real estate is that it is very professional. You are dealing with professionals whether it is other Realtors or tenants. The hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and no weekends.”
SPECIALIZE IN?
Leasing office space for Stellar Properties.
COLLEGE DEGREE?
She is attending Florida Community College of Jacksonville to lay the groundwork to attend University of North Florida and get a bachelor’s degree in business. “The neat thing about going at this stage in my life, is that I don’t feel pressured at all.”
AREA SHE WORKS?
Mandarin.
ADVICE FOR NEW WOMEN COMMERCIAL AGENTS?
“Getting out in the community and joining organizations like CREW is a great way for women to get involved.”
WHAT HAS HELPED YOU MOST TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
“Determination and flexibility.”
LESSONS LEARNED?
“They are not really lessons, but more my mottos. Timing is everything and you make your own luck.”
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS?
Executive Women International, Southside Businessman’s Club and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.
HOMETOWN?
Memphis.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
Nineteen years ago when her husband was transferred to Jacksonville.
RESIDES
Mandarin.
FAMILY
She has been married to Dave, a district manager for Hewlett Packard, for 31 years. They have two children and two grandchildren.
WHAT DOES SHE LIKE TO DO WHEN NOT WORKING?
She enjoys traveling to North Carolina to see her son at college. “My son, Joe, plays soccer, so we will travel pretty much every weekend to some small town in North or South Carolina to see him play. “ She also enjoys reading and watching HGTV.
FAVORITES
A book she read recently and would recommend is “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant. A movie she saw recently and would recommend is “Gangs of New York.”
A place she enjoys visiting is Sanibel and a place she enjoys dining out is Stonewood Grill.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis