What was your most interesting job before going into real estate?

I worked for an importer of seafood in Miami, Florida. I had no idea that there were so many different classes of seafood coming into the Port of Miami from so many different countries every day of the year.

Where did you grow up?

Wilmette, Illinois.

Growing up, what did you want to be?

I really wanted to teach social sciences/sociology at the college level.

What do you do to relax when you’re stressed?

I get moving any way I can. There is nothing better than biking, elliptical, treadmill or walking/running to get some endorphins going after some high anxiety.

If you could meet any well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why?

I would have loved to meet Prince. Being a college kid in the ’80s, it was pretty hard to not be influenced by his music and take note that he really was a catalyst for so many diverse groups of people to feel deeply connected through his music/movies/fashion and art.

What is Chicago’s best-kept secret?

My favorite hidden gem in Chicago is the 312 RiverRun trail along the North Branch between Belmont and Montrose. It’s paved, peaceful and right on the river — perfect for walking, biking or just clearing your head. What I love most is that it doesn’t feel like the middle of the city. You’ll see turtles sunning on logs, kids fishing along the banks, and all kinds of wildlife if you catch it at the right time. No crowds, no noise — just water, trees and a side of Chicago most people don’t realize is there.

What do you love most about the industry?

What I love most about real estate is that it rewards hard work. I saw that growing up. My mother, Naomi Ruthman, started her own real estate company in the early 1980s, at a time when you didn’t see many women running businesses. She worked nonstop and built a successful company. Some of Chicago’s top Realtors today got their start at her company in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. To this day, people still come up to me and talk about the great experience they had with her company back then. That says a lot.

How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents?

How do I stand out from other agents? I stay involved. In our multicultural office, we talk every day about listings, buyers and new ideas. I’m always connecting the dots between people.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

One of the most important parts of my job as a managing broker of a multicultural office is keeping everyone motivated and moving in the same direction. We have agents from many different backgrounds and cultures, and that diversity is a strength. My role is to bring that talent together into one cohesive team.

What’s your best advice for generating new leads?

Prospect every day, and block time to do it. Treat it like an appointment you can’t cancel. When a sale goes pending, leverage it. Call owners nearby. Call rentals. Call expired listings. Send “just listed” and “just sold” cards. And by all means — answer your phone.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment in real estate isn’t a single sale or award. It’s the people. Over the years, I’ve trained, recruited, collaborated with and built lasting friendships with some of the most successful Realtors in the Chicago real estate market. Watching them grow and build strong careers — and knowing I played a part in that — has been incredibly meaningful.

What are you binge-watching/reading/listening to lately?

Lately, I’ve been watching “The Pitt,” “Landman,” “Power Book IV: Force” and “The Rookie.” I also watch a lot of news. There are so many choices now, it’s almost overwhelming.

What’s your favorite meal in Chicago?

Probably because I have lived in Roscoe Village for so many years, my go to is Turquoise on Roscoe. I also really enjoy Bites in Lakeview.

Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Chicago?

I don’t know if it is considered a building, but being anywhere near Wrigley Field just makes me smile.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you on the job?

I once watched my car turn the corner on the back of a Lincoln Park Towing truck circa 1990 behind the Century Mall on a Sunday Morning. They really were that relentless back in the day.

What’s one thing people are surprised to learn about you?

That I have been a licensed Realtor since 1987 and have basically worked in the same office that has merged a few times and moved a couple of times, but still the same foundation since those days.

What is your favorite vacation spot and why?

Grand Cayman for beaches, scuba and weather. Something about the white sands, visibility for diving and Ocean life in the area that has me floating on air.

In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry?

Always have more appointments than disappointments.

What’s your favorite real estate iPhone/Android app?

ChatGPT. I actually am only an app user for real estate of Showingtime and Sentrilock.