Despite entering the Chicago real estate community less than two years ago, Kate Samuelson has already carved out her niche working in residential sales and luxury rentals. “I find that I am at my best in an extremely fast-paced environment, which can be easily found working with rentals,” she says.

After a career in catering and events at Navy Pier, Samuelson found her segue into real estate to be seamless. “My job in catering and hospitality was, in fact, very similar to being a Realtor,” she recalls. “Same skill set. Communication is the biggest component. Instead of helping clients navigate the gray areas of Navy Pier, I’m helping clients navigate the whole process of buying, selling or renting a home, which often comes with many gray areas.”

Known by her clients as a “Wikipedia of Chicago neighborhoods,” Samuelson says she learned the Chicago market while living and walking everywhere from Lincoln Park to the Southport Corridor. “What I love most about Chicago is that a car is not a necessity,” she says. “Walking is not only great exercise — it’s often much quicker running errands on foot than driving.” Her clients can trust her for recommendations of exceptional restaurants, food stands, museums, parks and kid-friendly activities. She even knows which McDonald’s in a given neighborhood has the best fountain beverage.

Her clients recognize Samuelson’s can-do attitude, humor and lightning-quick response times and appreciate her no-nonsense attitude when it comes to closing deals. In her spare time, she loves to read and take walks with friends. She is also passionate about skin care and takes immense satisfaction in shopping discount stores and websites testing product efficacy. She even had a limited stint producing a YouTube series for women over 50 on a budget titled “Kate the Great’s War on Age.”