Kelly Wright has been a Realtor with Century 21 Discover Realty in Orange Park for a year.
WHERE WAS SHE BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She was the assistant property manager at Waterford of Orange Park for three years. Prior to that she was the assistant store manager at Finish Line in the Orange Park Mall and a customer service manager for Target.
WHAT MADE HER DECIDE TO GO INTO REAL ESTATE?
“I thought it was the next natural order. I went from doing the multi-family rental type thing to pursuing my license and getting into real estate. I figured I might as well get an early start in it and get a nice firm foundation because I wanted a career. It is very hard these days to get a career without a college degree. I went to college for a year or so and it was just such a struggle. I thought why make myself miserable when I can do something that will start off slow and build into a nice career. I wanted that.”
HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?
“I love it a lot. It keeps me busy. Everyone said, ‘Oh, you’ll have a flexible schedule’, but I’m working six or seven days a week! But, I really enjoy it. I like it because you are going to run into a lot of different things. It’s never the same. There is a lot of information and I like being able to figure things out. I like to work on things and solve problems. I am curious, so I like to get to the bottom of things and understand it so I can help other people understand it. It can get a little hectic, but it is fascinating because you find out so much stuff.”
HOW DID YOU PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP YOU NOW?
“It’s helps me deal with the difficult situations that arise. You deal with a lot of emotions at the return desk when I was at Target because you can’t return this or that. It helps me understand people better and how they will handle certain things. It helps me explain things better and keep everything smooth. I also learned to find the right answer for everyone’s different questions so everyone benefits, not just one person.”
ADVICE FOR NEW AGENTS?
“Stay focused and positive and you will get there. Don’t get upset. Don’t take it personally. Sometimes things arise and it’s no one’s fault at all, it’s just the situation. You just need to keep you head about you and move on.”
PET PEEVES
“I guess people who can’t make a firm decision.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
She is involved in the Super Bowl Task Force, Northeast Florida Real Estate Association, Clay County Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Council.
HOMETOWN
She was born in Georgia, but lived most of her life in Orange Park.
AGE
25.
RESIDES
Green Cove Springs.
PERSONAL SIDE
When not working, she really enjoys fishing and snorkeling with her husband. She and Jason, who has his own lawn and landscaping business, have been married for five years. When relaxing, she is a self-admitted couch potato and really enjoys tuning into CSI and unwinding. A book she read recently and would recommend is “Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown. “It was wonderful.” Her favorite getaway spot is St. Augustine.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis