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COVER STORY: ELITE WOMEN SUZANNE LEVALLEY Longley Condominium Services Calgary, AB
When Suzanne LeValley founded Longley Condominium Services in 2001, the company had in its charge one property and a total of 144 units. Now, due largely to LeValley’s leadership, the company manages 25 properties and more than 2,200 units. In addition to her duties at Longley, LeValley is a certified instructor at the Institute of Real Estate Management and served as President of REIC from 2011 to 2013. Two years later, the organization presented LeValley with its prestigious Emeritus Award.
ANGELA LANGTRY GEMMA BEIERBACK Calgary Real Estate Board Calgary, AB
To call Gemma Beierback an inspiration would be an understatement. After immigrating to Canada from England, her family soon faced financial ruin, but through resiliency and innovative thinking, Beierback’s father founded a successful business, instilling in his daughter the idea that adversity is just another form of opportunity. “If we become too attached to the idea of success, we risk becoming failure-averse,” she says, “and it is only through taking chances and being willing to fail that we can truly drive change and improvement.” Change has been central to Beierback’s tenure as manager of member practice at the Calgary Real Estate Board. By focusing her energy on professional development and rules compliance, Beierback hopes to increase the integrity and compassion associated with her industry. “Keeping in touch with your clients and being genuinely focused on their best interest is a fundamental principle of success in real estate,” she says. “The bottom line, though, is you need to sleep at night. There is no amount of money or accolade that can replace the feeling you get when you know you didn’t behave ethically.”
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Century 21 Immo-Plus Montreal, QC
The lessons in honesty and independence Angela Langtry received while growing up in Ottawa have served her well in Montreal’s highly competitive market. (A French immersion education didn’t hurt either.) Wildly popular with her clients, Langtry says maintaining contact with past customers is a key component of her success. Her personable and giving approach to real estate is reflected in her charity work with both Easter Seals and Ride For Dad, an annual motorcycle ride that raises funds for prostate cancer. A fountain of wisdom and advice, Langtry encourages young brokers to find a mentor and stay on top of technological changes to the industry. Her most important piece of advice? “Love your job.”