As a young child, Stefanie Lavelle fell in love with the view from her grandfather’s residence in the John Hancock Building and dreamt of moving to the city when she grew up. Lavelle made her childhood dreams come true, and then some. Not only has she spent many years as a Chicagoan, living in Old Town, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park and Lakeview, she also assists buyers and sellers, from first-time to luxury, with residential properties all over the city’s North Side and beyond.

“Each deal is about my relationship with the client and taking care of them,” says Lavelle, principal of The Lavelle Group at @properties. “It’s never just about the transaction.”

Ranked by the Chicago Association of Realtors as a top producer for more than a decade, Lavelle has worked in real estate for more than 18 years. She generates most of her business from referrals, thanks to her ability to creatively construct deals, win multiple offers and provide clients with an extraordinary level of service.

Leading a team of showing agents and operations managers allows Lavelle to focus on figuring out strategies for selling a listing or finding a buyer the perfect place. It also frees up her time to communicate directly with clients. “The team handles my minute-to-minute email and assists with showings, marketing pieces and scheduling,” she says.

Lavelle didn’t always work in real estate. Her background is in interior design and photography. After 9/11, the architecture firm she worked for downsized and she joined a startup architectural products company. When her father, who is in commercial real estate, suggested she become licensed, she took his advice, found a mentor and embarked on a new career.

Outside of work, Lavelle is active in her children’s schools, holding both board and room parent positions, and enjoys spending time with her family.