With a knack for sales and a love of architecture, carving out a path in real estate seemed like a natural fit for Christen Woods. She had a successful position as a regional sales manager for a large rental car company, but when her family started to grow, she found herself looking for more flexibility. “I have always enjoyed different home styles and their architecture and would often check out open houses,” Woods says. “Blending my love of real estate with my sales background seemed like an obvious career path.”

Fourteen years into her career as a broker, Woods continues to meet — and exceed — her personal and professional benchmarks for success. “I’m very proud of the fact that year after year at d’aprile, I have won many top producer awards. Standing out in my office has been very exciting,” Woods says.

A Chicago native, Woods grew up and continues to live in Arlington Heights, though she has also lived in numerous North Side neighborhoods, including Lakeview, Bucktown and Old Irving Park, which helps to drive her experience and success in these markets. She specializes in the North Side of Chicago and the city’s northwest suburbs and focuses primarily on single-family homes and condos. A Certified Staging Consultant and Pricing Strategy Advisor, she also has an innate talent for making sure homes look their best.

Much of Woods’ success stems from her ability to connect with people and her relationship-building skills. “I focus on building relationships with my clients and my network and referral sources so that my name is the first that comes to mind when they think about real estate,” Woods says.

An active volunteer at her church and her son’s high school, Woods loves to travel, play golf, attend her youngest son’s sports games, and dine out with family and friends. She also enjoys visiting her eldest son at college in Florida, where she is also working to obtain her real estate license.