I’m excited to join McLean Living Magazine as the new Expert Contributor for Real Estate, and I look forward to connecting with more members of this wonderful community. To begin, I thought I would share a little about who I am, how I got here, and why I believe real estate is about so much more than buying and selling homes.
Some people find their way into real estate later in life. For me, the journey began when I was a child growing up in Florida. My father and grandfather built what became the largest replacement window company in northeast Florida, and my grandfather had also built homes throughout the 1950s. From an early age, I was surrounded by conversations about construction, craftsmanship, and the details that make a home special.
I spent weekends riding through neighborhoods with my father, helping identify homes that could benefit from improvements and learning to notice things most people overlooked. Whether it was matching paint colors, understanding materials, or appreciating quality workmanship, I was developing an eye for homes long before I realized it would become my profession.
When I was 15, my family returned to our Virginia roots. We settled on a farm in Orlean, where my parents still raise Angus cattle today. Life on the farm taught me the value of hard work, discipline, and responsibility—lessons that continue to guide me both personally and professionally.
My path to real estate, however, included an important detour. I graduated from Virginia Tech with dual degrees in Business Finance and Applied Economics and spent several years working at high-net-worth, fee-only financial planning firms. That experience shaped the way I approach real estate today. While I help clients buy and sell homes, I also help them evaluate one of the most significant financial decisions they will ever make.
For more than a decade, I have had the privilege of helping buyers and sellers navigate the Northern Virginia market. Today, I am proud to be among the top-producing agents at Keller Williams Realty McLean and have been recognized by several respected regional and national publications for my work in luxury real estate. Yet the numbers and accolades are never what motivate me most.
What I value most are the relationships.
One of the transactions that has stayed with me involved helping a gentleman in his nineties sell the family home he had lived in for more than fifty years. The process took months, not because of market conditions, but because it was a deeply emotional transition. We moved at his pace, carefully discussing every option along the way. When his daughter later thanked me for helping her father feel supported throughout the process, I was reminded that real estate is ultimately about people, families, and life transitions.
My connection to McLean extends far beyond my career. My family and I have called McLean home for the past fourteen years. Like many parents, I have spent countless hours at local schools, playgrounds, sports fields, and community events. Most recently, I had the privilege of serving as President of MOMS of McLean, an experience that deepened my appreciation for the friendships, generosity, and sense of connection that define this community.
McLean offers a unique combination of convenience, opportunity, and neighborhood spirit. While many people are initially drawn here because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., they often stay because of the people. It is a place where families put down roots, friendships flourish, and community involvement truly matters.
As I begin this new role with McLean Living, I look forward to sharing market insights, practical advice, and local perspectives that help readers make informed real estate decisions. Whether you are considering your first home, preparing to sell, searching for your forever home, or simply curious about market trends, I hope these columns become a valuable resource.
Most importantly, I look forward to continuing the conversations that make McLean such an extraordinary place to call home.
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