What was your first job in the realty industry? I joined a team at The Habitat Company in 2003 and was named Rookie of the Year that year. It was a very exciting time to start in real estate! I had a great broker and I learned a lot from my team.

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Woodridge, about 30 miles west of the city.

What is your favorite free-time activity? My favorite free-time activity is cooking! I read cookbooks for fun. My mother sends me text messages with a list of ingredients she has in her fridge and I respond with suggestions for what to make for dinner. Then she eats cereal anyway.

What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? My husband can tell when I am stressed out, and he will take my Blackberry out of my hands and we go for a walk from Diversey Harbor to North Ave. bridge and back. I always feel 100 percent better after that. Of course, I pick up the pace a bit when we are close to home so I can check my Blackberry.

If you weren’t a Realtor, what would you be? I would probably spend 24 hours a day rescuing dogs.

If you could have lunch with a well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? Anyone who is paying and likes to drink white wine at lunch. Or Princess Diana. I loved her. I carried around a picture of her when I was a kid because I wanted my hair to feather like hers, but curly hair doesn’t really feather.

Where is your favorite place to hang out? My balcony with my husband and my dog. We have a condo on the second floor in a very busy area and we can hear everything that people are saying as they walk by. It’s like living in the middle of a reality TV show.

What do you love most about the industry? I love being at the receiving end of a call that starts with “Hi, my name is ___ and I was given your name by a client of yours.” It makes me feel really good.

How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? Ever since I was two years old, I loved making new friends. I still do, and I believe that my passion for bonding with good people has played a huge role in my successful real estate career.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job? Convincing buyers and sellers to have trust in the other parties involved in the transaction.

Where do you go to network and meet new clients? Everywhere! I met a client at an ATM once. I am great at eavesdropping (see “favorite place to hang out” question).

What has been your greatest accomplishment? Purchasing a condo all on my own as a single person in 2005. I share it with my husband now and I still feel pride every day when I come home.

What is the last good movie you saw or book you read? I saw Bridesmaids twice in one week. That movie kills me!

Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Chicago? The University Club building on Michigan and Monroe. The rooftop patio has the most beautiful view that I have ever seen.

What kind of car do you drive? A 2010 Mercury Mariner. I was forced to buy a new one when a microburst blew the roof off of a building and landed on my old one. No one was hurt, so everybody won.

Smartphone or paper? I have a smartphone addiction.

What is your favorite city after Chicago? Washington DC. Everything feels so important there.

In 10 words or less, what is your advice to someone new to the industry? Don’t do it unless you intend to work full-time.