Realtor Linda Tonge grew up in Williams Bay on Lake Geneva, so the surrounding areas are very meaningful to her. “Geneva Lake is the home of crystal-clear waters, and I love sharing that,” she says. “People here are friendly and happy, homes are wonderful, and businesses and restaurants in the area make it a special place.”

Prior to working as a real estate agent, Tonge worked in New York and Paris as a model. “I traveled the world and became very independent, had many fun experiences and met many people,” she says. “Working as a Realtor is actually similar — every day is a new adventure, meeting new people, and now, not only do I market myself, I create beautiful presentations for properties I sell and guide buyers to ensure they acquire the property of their dreams.”

Tonge was the No. 1 Compass agent in all of Wisconsin in 2021 and ranked second in the state among all agents. She says the secret to success is that she makes people happy. “I enjoy meeting people,” she says. “Many of my clients are friends, and they refer friends knowing they will be well taken care of.”

For most of Tonge’s real estate career, she operated with family-owned business Keefe Real Estate. When the company joined Compass at the end of 2021, many more marketing opportunities were available, and to ensure clients would have the same special care they’d always had at a smaller brokerage, her son, Philip Lange, became licensed and joined her team.

At the end of the day, Tonge says she’s thankful and blessed for her lifelong connection to Lake Geneva that’s now blossomed into a successful career.