In Florida, the real estate market is shifting and slowing. Recently, the Women’s Council of Realtors of Stuart-Martin conducted a Top Producers Panel at the beautiful Sandhill Cove Retirement Living campus. Six of the region’s most established and leadership oriented agents participated to share their insights and advice to a sold out audience.
As a trusted affiliate with the organization, White Glove Moving & Storage was happy to help support the event as a sponsor and moderator of the panel questions. Anna Valencia Tillery, Director of Marketing for White Glove, invited each panelist up to the stage one by one with the help of their bios beginning with:

Christy Bearse, CPA, ABR®, CLHMS™ GUILD™, GRI, PSA, REALTOR® who we learned came to Florida in 1992 and has a love of numbers having earned her Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. With a forte in representing golf communities and waterfront, Christy is the Martin County Realtors of the Treasure Coast (MCRTC) President-Elect and was named 2012 REALTOR® of the Year for Martin County Realtors® of the Treasure Coast, who just so happens to love all dogs and bicycling.

Roz DeGraff, celebrating 22 years in the business is a renowned Treasure Coast top producer and holds a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation while also being certified in Senior Real Estate, Distressed properties, and Luxury Home Specialist. Prior to real estate, Roz was as valued Delta upper management professional overseeing the Service, Sales, and Training departments yet much of her heart belongs to our nation’s proud veterans and her husband of 35 years, Roger. They are members Vietnam Veterans of America, Martin County Chapter 1041 and assisted in facilitating the Commemorative Bricks sale and installation in Stuart’s Memorial Park and the Military of Purple Heart Memorial inside Indian Riverside Park.

John Gonzalez is the managing broker of Engel & Völkers Stuart who, as a young boy, accompanied his father on his appointments to preview homes and development sites throughout South Florida and the Treasure Coast. Along the way, John owned a successful food service business, served as an investment advisor, and was the vice president of a large regional bank. Originally licensed to sell real estate in 1981, he returned to the estate industry in 2003 and has been holding key leadership roles within the industry ever since including being the 2019 MCRTC President and RPAC chair.

Susan Maxwell, proudly celebrating 20 years in real estate has multiple designations including: Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, Certified Listing Professional, Certified distressed property specialist. In addition to being a loving mother and wife, she is the lead agent in a team of 8 Realtors in addition to an admin and marketing specialist, in all closing about 135 transaction per year. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running and boating and most recently, golf.

With over 41 years of experience in the world of real estate, HB Warren with the Keyes Company offered up his expertise as an agent who works almost exclusively in residential and rental properties yet comes from an extensive background of master planning large community developments. In the industry, HB’s leadership roles include: Florida Realtors District 3 Vice President, FR Land Use and Sustainable Development Chair, FR Resort and Second Home Chair, MCRTC Past-President, President, President Elect, Vice President, Director, Strategic Planning, Government Affairs, Golf/Habitat for Humanity, RPAC, Awards, Finance, Nominating, Holiday Event Task Force, Value Proposition Task Force, Public Relations Task Force, and Commercial Task Force. He and his wife of 41 years have been residents of Martin County for over 30 years and feel fortunate to witness the growth of this charming coastal community.

Lastly, Andy Spears, MCRTC 2021 and 2022 President of MCRTC and 2022 Realtor of the Year, is a skilled negotiator with an MBA from Carnagie Mellon University, The Wharton School. He Specialties in residential, investment property, waterfront, boating and golf communities and relocation. Andy was raised in Martin County and is graduate of Martin County High School and the University of Florida.

The questions covered topics ranging from the value of working on a real estate team to methods of handling the real estate market downturns. Interestingly, each panelist embraced an appreciation for technology and modern outlooks while keeping the human aspect of every transaction at the root of their success. Whether in the world of real estate or within civic groups, all the panelists found value in taking on leadership roles and establishing themselves as experts has gotten them additional business as well as exposure over the years.

White Glove was able to share some its value by offering up numbers strategically placed at each table and giving the fresh basil plant serving as the centerpieces to the lucky winner in the chair that had the hidden number on it. 22 represented the company’s number of years in business, perfecting its craft. 0 was for the cost of an estimate whether in person or virtually. 133 was the length of time our interstate vanline, Bekins, has been around offering up long-distance moving services. $1200 gave guests an idea of the average cost for a local move. Whereas, 52 showcased the number of employees and livelihoods we support and 30+ highlighted the number of charities and organization we collaborate with. Yet, it was the final number of 16 that bore repeating because it gives peace of mind to customers should items need to stay on a truck due to hiccups at closing or for the assurance that large jobs can be done in one fell swoop as needed. It was impactful to make that point and then show off the new edition of Treasure Coast Home & Living with assorted sized trucks from the White Glove Moving & Storage fleet adorning the cover.

With a delicious lunch, impressively renovated venue , top producing agents, quality guests, and a well constructed committee, the event was well executed and will be a memorable learning experience for all who attended.