Apartment & Relocation Center President / Broker

What do you do?
I am president and the broker of Apartment & Relocation Center. I started the company in 1983. We provide rental relocation services for those new to San Antonio because of their employment, those selling their home and looking for a new home, interns coming to work in San Antonio, military and government and anyone living in San Antonio who needs to find a temporary or permanent multifamily rental.

Length of time at this job:
Thirty years. I started the company in 1983. I am proud of all my team who have been with me from one year all the way to 30 years of employment. They are what make Apartment & Relocation Center and me successful. I thank God, my family and friends who all have stood by me, even in the times when it was a very lean business.

What is it that you like best about your job?
I love everything about my job, especially my entire office staff. Every day is different. I love the people I meet when working with a new company making a move to San Antonio. I love the Realtors®, who are great partners, and I especially enjoy selling San Antonio — how can you not love this city?

Education/Major: Mountain State University in Beckley, W.VA.

What career path led you to where you are today?
I worked for a property management company associated with Deanie Owens Company, Realtors®. It was then that I got my real estate license and worked as relocation director. I saw the need for rental assistance becoming a priority for corporations moving employees. My vision was to have a rental relocation center to assist these employees.

When did you know that you were in the right place in your career?
In 1992, we were fortunate to be part of the relocation team working to bring Southwestern Bell Telephone to San Antonio. After that, USAA moved their credit card center from Oklahoma, and the rest is history. Apartment & Relocation Center has been fortunate to assist in many group moves coming to San Antonio, such as Chase Card Member Services, Medtronic, Petco and many more. I know this is where I am supposed to be.

Who were your mentors?
My mother has been my biggest mentor. I saw her work hard to put me through college because it was something she never had the opportunity to do. She has stood by me and even worked for me for several years. Travis Kessler, who was the CEO of the San Antonio Board of Realtors® and is currently the CEO for the Texas Association of Realtors®, has listened, given advice and encouraged the work we do for our Realtor® family and their clients. He mentored me when I was on the executive board for SABOR and when I became chairman of the board in 2010.

What person do you most admire?
The entire team who work at Apartment & Relocation Center. They give it their all. They don’t hesitate to educate themselves to learn more in order to help their clients and to earn designations that will help with their careers.

What is your favorite vacation?
Traveling to Europe. I love Italy the best and will go often. I am taking a pilgrimage to the holy sites in Italy with friends this fall. A girls’ Alaska cruise is happening soon with my mother and sister, and I’m looking forward to relaxing.

What do you like most about San Antonio?
I love the people in San Antonio. I love the food. I love our SPURS. The weather is a bit warm at times, but like I tell my newcomers, you live and work in air conditioning. You go from your home to the car with air conditioning and the car to the office in air conditioning. It is not that bad.

What community groups or not–forprofit groups are you involved with as a volunteer?
SAMMinisteries and Any Baby Can. I currently serve on the Help, Hope and Home committee for SAMM to raise $8 million. Our company has supported the DOLL Campaign for Any Baby Can for many years and proudly displays all our babies at the office. Pilgrim Center of Hope is a nonprofit Catholic evangelization ministry in San Antonio as well. I also support FaithWorks of Abilene, Inc.

How do you find balance in your life — career, community and home life?
It is hard when you live and breathe relocation and temporary housing. The staff is great in allowing me a break from taking weekend calls, but I still help when it is my time.

What are your goals?
My hope is to see Apartment & Relocation Center continue to help in bringing new business to San Antonio — therefore, see another 30 years of success. When I pass on the business, it will be taken care of because I know the future will be in the hands of a caring and loving person of rental relocation.

People would be surprised to know … that my first job out of college was with the CIA in McLean, Va..