Cathy Yanda is more than a Realtor. She’s a community resource — and that’s a commitment that continues after the transaction is complete. As a broker associate for Baird & Warner, she makes friends with her clients. “They continue to reach out well after they close on their new home, when they need a referral for home repairs or a great local restaurant,” she explains.

Yanda describes herself as a detail-oriented problem solver and a great listener. “I’m an advocate for my clients and willing to go above and beyond to ensure they are pleased with their final decisions,” she adds.

She says her military training — Yanda served in the U.S. Marine Corps and then worked in public health, including for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — prepared her to be a tireless advocate, and it also gives her clients peace of mind. “Once my clients find out I’m a Marine Corps veteran, they know they are in good hands,” she says. “They trust I am going to work to get things done while maintaining a calming presence.”

Her commitment to working with veterans earned her a nomination for the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s “Hero of the Year Award.” She recently was inducted into Baird & Warner’s Founder’s Club and currently serves on the company’s Military/First Responder Advisory Council.

Yanda says she takes a personable approach to home sales and never pushes clients to make a decision they might not be happy with for the long term. “I’m very low-stress and maintain a calm, steady presence during the entire process, asking the questions that help them to determine the home that best fits their needs,” she says. “Whether it is sharing information about first-time homebuyer assistance programs, the VA homebuying process or connecting them with contractors, I am their resource.”