September 2022

C LEAMLIVING

ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICES

Iche Chiu | 360 CPA 866-550-2050 360.cpa

PERMANENT MAKE-UP

Paola Soto | Synergy Beauty 703-734-0772 synergybeautytysons.com

ACUPUNCTURIST

Dr. Sarah Alemi | Eastern Roots Wellness 571-354-6643 easternrootswellness.com

BAKERY

Sandra Penetta | Sweetbites Cafe 703-448-1115 sweetbitescafe.com

CAREER COACH Kelly Featheringham | Kelly Featheringham ACC, Executive Career Coach 914-489-8856 | kellyfeatheringham.com

EDUCATION

Jinsil Kim | C2 Education of McLean 703-288-4400 c2educate.com

THERAPEUTIC WELLNESS

Yully Ludena | Yulli Therapeutic Healing Center 571-888-5193 yullitherapeuticmassage.com

FURNITURE

Joni Foerter | Front Porch Furniture Rescue 703-543-9248 frontporchfurniturerescue.com

HAIR STYLIST

Daniel Bechara | Salon Daniel 703-893-5000 salondaniel.com

HEATING AND AIR Brian Anderson TemperaturePro Northern Virginia 703-828-0886 | temperaturepro.com

REAL ESTATE

Brian Mason | Home Sold 540-314-8745 besteverrealtor.com

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Stephanie Q. Lawrence | Vinson Hall 703-936-6501 vinsonshall.org

DENTIST

Dr. Negar Tehrani | Aura Dentistry 703-748-1900 auradentistry.com

INSURANCE

Milena Bu | State Farm 225-252-1932 buforyou.com

MOVER

Gina Kovatch | Petra Moving Company 703-547-7631 petramovingcompany.com

MENTAL HEALTH

Eva-Maria Theodosiadis, MD & Dr. Debra Brosius | Integrated Psychology Associates of McLean, LLC 703-215-4101 debrabrosius.com | ipamclean.com

Best Version Media

Dear Neighbors,

PUBLICATION TEAM

Publisher: Gloria Bruni

Account Executive: Crissy Moore Hall Designer: Amanda Capehart

Contributing Writer: Katie Culligan

Contributing Photographer: Tatiana Dove

ADVERTISING

Contact: Gloria Bruni

Email: gbruni@bestversionmedia.com

Phone: 703-868-8071

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Have feedback, ideas or submissions?

We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are the 10th of each month. Go to bestversionmedia.com and click “Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas and photos to: gbruni@bestversionmedia.com.

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Content Due Edition

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A year ago this September, a dream of mine was starting to be realized when we launched the McLean Living magazine. Our editorial strategy was a call to action: The more you know, the more involved in our community you’ll become. The more involved the community is, the stronger it gets.

To launch this magazine, I reached out to the most talented group of people that I researched in McLean,. I was fortunate enough to lure a few of these into the unknown waters, and I’ve been even more fortunate that many of those folks are still with us today—a testament to their love and passion for trying to make a difference.

In this issue with the Amazing Madan Family , it really makes me realize and makes me think about all my family, this is what Neetu said about our wonderful magazine : “ This experience has been amazing and a beautiful rediscovery of our growth together as a family. Going through this interview experience with you allowed us to pause and revisited special times in our lives through conversation, and take a moment to reflect how each person in our own family made it unique. We made a lifetime memory with the entire team at “McLean Living”. “

This just makes me feel so proud about how this magazine is really helping our community grow stronger, Thank you so much Neetu.

This past few days I spent 6 days with the girls in my family and my heart is completely filled for the year , I love them more than anything in my life. Thank you for being my biggest supporters. Thank you for loving me even when you hate me. Thank you for constantly putting my happiness before your own. Thank you for all the opportunities you have given me in order to reach the utmost success. Thank you for teaching me how to love, my sisters gave me 4 nieces and 1 nephew before I had a daughter and oh boy!, I understood what love meant with these kids. Thank you for giving me people to look up to(yes some of them grew up to be that cool). I can’t ever say this enough, but thank you.

Family runs deep in my family (if that makes sense?) , we had so much fun I would love to share all of the many things we enjoyed here in McLean , like Tysons corner and Galleria, Sweetbites Coffees, A run Through the trail that goes to Dc, Clemeyontri park, we also ate at Nostos the greek restaurant and Aracosia the Afghan Cuisine, strolling through the Boro, we also enjoyed the Citi open final and watched Kyrgios make that spectacular win amongst many other things we had a spectacular time.

Finally, I want to thank our growing number of sponsors and encourage everyone to say thank you to each of them for making McLean Living possible. Please support our sponsors and advertisers. They have committed to our community by providing this platform to celebrate McLean.

With all of this being said, let's go ahead and dive into this McLean Living Issue! Until next month.

Managing Stress AS THE WEATHER COOL S with Acupuncture

By Dr. Sarah Alemi

As summer wraps up and we return back to our normal routines, stress can start to make a reappearance in our lives. Unfortunately, a staggering number of Americans deal with stress on a daily basis.

Why is it important to talk about stress and the importance of managing it?

If left untreated, stress does not only have an impact on mental and emotional well-being, but it can also cause detrimental physical effects, such as cardiovascular disease.

In the short-term, stress has been shown to lead to poor quality of sleep, irritability and mood swings, heightened anxiety, decreased energy, poor concentration and focus, increased muscular tension and pain and digestive disorders. Longterm stress leads to an abundance of the stress hormone 'cortisol' leading to a build-up of inflammation in the body, eventually triggering effects like dementia, cardiovascular disease, stroke and even cancer.

Stress just doesn't affect our mood. It has a huge impact on our quality of life and well-being.

So how do we manage it?

One way is through acupuncture, which is able to help the body undo the negative effects of stress (i.e. the symptoms you develop as a result of stress) as well as help the body stay out of the stress response to begin with.

With acupuncture, the insertion of a thin needle at a specific point on the body causes the local nerves to send a signal to the central nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system (also called 'rest and digest') is turned on and a whole biophysiological cascade begins. This includes the production and

release of certain chemicals, hormones and neurotransmitters that help to aid in the body in repair and better functioning. This can include those chemicals needed for better sleep, digestion, mood or even energy.

With repeated sessions, acupuncture can help the body to reset and stay in the parasympathetic system like it is supposed to be - at least for the majority of the time. Unfortunately, in our culture, we are often stuck in the sympathetic

or 'fight or flight' mode. Once our body is able to understand that it does not need to be in the stress response mode all of the time, it can begin to operate optimally again.

Outside of the clinic, there are a lot of lifestyle habits that can be taken on to help manage stress. During an acupuncture treatment, I often talk to my patients about a number of aspects of their life, including: diet, hydration, sleep, exercise and rest. What you put in and do

with your body has a tremendous impact on how much stress impacts us.

If you or someone you know is experiencing chronic stress, think about giving acupuncture a try. Not only can the treatment itself help bring your body back to optimal functioning, but part of Chinese medicine is taking into consideration your lifestyle and how we can make small adjustments that have profound, positive impacts.

Modern Company for a Modern World

BACK TO BASICS

By Kelly Feathearingham

year

employment

have seen many concerning statistics

unemployment. A study by Gartner,

that voluntary employee turnover

jump

factors play into these statistics, some of which are out of our control while others are very much within

control of organizations and leaders. This offers a great advantage to those organizations and leaders looking for ways to set themselves apart. The availability of qualified candidates

highly competitive, and the current workforce environment demands that leaders and organizations evolve in their culture, approach, and thinking.

It has often been said that people quit their manager, not the organization. Unfortunately, not all organizations recognize the need for people managers to have formalized, or sometimes any, training. This creates a ripple effect of challenges for employees, teams, and managers.

While some people are natural managers, most require support in learning to tap into these leadership skills effectively. Managers struggling with their role overseeing others can create many areas of frustration for their teams, both above and below. The frustration on all levels can lead to issues with both work performance and personnel interactions.

Three basic leadership behaviors that can be refined at any level

extremely important to those in

boundaries, and

managing one person

one hundred,

more skilled

more efficiently and effectively

applying

success of

directly impacts

company.

is a common topic for employee training. The challenge

this topic is the breadth of how it is used in the workplace. Applying our communication skills to minimize assumptions and to create, maintain, and respect boundaries are not common. I would argue that if we look at most errors, disagreements, delays, and general challenges experienced on any given day, you could tie the root cause back to one or a combination of these behaviors.

Think about your day at work today. Can any challenges be linked to an inaccurate assumption, an unenforced or unclear boundary, or a lack of clear communication? Perhaps it was a combination of more than one? It seems

obvious now that the question is asked, but these behaviors impact our success daily.

The next question is, why are we not training our managers and leaders on these behaviors to reduce frustration, improve collaboration, and maximize efficiency and effectiveness?

This gap in training is one that I have encountered in many organizations, and it quickly became an essential component of my training programs.

While this article focuses on the impact of management on employee attrition rates, it should not be overlooked that developing these behaviors at all levels improves overall performance.

You can read more about how you can develop these leadership behaviors in yourself and your employees in my new book, “Maximizing Team Performance by Mastering Your ABCs.” To get a copy, visit www.kellyfeatheringham.com/abcs and on Amazon.com.

Surprisingly great rates right around the corner.

Surprisingly great rates right around the corner.

Milena Bu, Agent

Milena Bu, Agent

Cell: 225-252-1932

Milena Bu, Agent Cell: 225-252-1932

Cell: 225-252-1932

Milena Bu, Agent

Surprisingly great rates right around the corner.

Surprisingly great rates right around the corner.

Surprisingly great rates right around the corner.

Surprisingly great rates right around the corner.

Milena Bu, Agent

Surprisingly great rates right around the corner.

225-252-1932

703-799-1111

Bus: 703-799-1111 milena.bu.t2lp@statefarm.com

Cell: 225-252-1932

Bus: 703-799-1111 milena.bu.t2lp@statefarm.com

Milena Bu, Agent

Bus: 703-799-1111 milena.bu.t2lp@statefarm.com

Cell: 225-252-1932

Bus: 703-799-1111 milena.bu.t2lp@statefarm.com

Bus: 703-799-1111 milena.bu.t2lp@statefarm.com

State Farm Bloomington, IL

State Farm Bloomington, IL

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001880

State Farm Bloomington, IL

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001880

State Farm Bloomington, IL 2001880

I’m your one-stop shop for the service you deserve at a price you want. Call me for surprisingly great rates and Good Neighbor service right in your neighborhood.

one-stop

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

a price you want.

I’m your one-stop shop for the service you deserve at a price you want. Call me for surprisingly great rates and Good Neighbor service right in your neighborhood.

I’m your one-stop shop for the service you deserve at a price you want. Call me for surprisingly great rates and Good Neighbor service right in your neighborhood. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Individual

Individual

I’m your one-stop shop for the service you deserve at a price you want. Call me for surprisingly great rates and Good Neighbor service right in your neighborhood. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Individual

Individual

Individual

a good neighbor, State Farm

I’m your one-stop shop for the service you deserve at a price you want. Call me for surprisingly great rates and Good Neighbor service right in your neighborhood. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Friendliest family

By Katie Culligan

If there is one takeaway from my time interviewing the Madan Family in their lovely 22102 home, it is that this welcoming and friendly family loves meeting new people! So let’s take this opportunity to meet the Madans, shall we?

Neetu and Sunil Madan have lived in Northern Virginia for the past twenty years. They met through some friends while living on separate coasts then married in 2002. They have three children: Eesha (17), Arav (15) and Eva (11). In 2014, the family of five moved from Dunn Loring to Odricks Corner, near the Spring Hill area. They moved

to the neighborhood for the close-knit community and diversity of McLean, access to great parks, trails and all the exciting things to do in the Tyson’s Corner area.

They are members of the local Hamlet Swim & Tennis Club. They’ve also had the opportunity to participate in and enjoy school and community sponsored activities, such as McLean Youth Soccer, McLean Youth Basketball and Flag Football. You may spot them hiking in Scott’s Run, swimming in the Hamlet, checking out local restaurants, or immersed in an activity at the Spring Hill Recreation Center.

The Madans emphasize that the people

FAST FIVE

Family Favorites

TV SHOWS

Comedies!

The Original Saved By the Bell

I love Lucy

The Office

Friends MOVIES

Home Alone 1 & 2

Bollywood movies

BOOKS/AUDIOBOOKS

The Four Agreements

Many Lives Many Masters

Sugar Changed the World

PODCASTS

The Give ‘N Go Podcast

Something Scary Podcast

The American Story Podcast

THINGS TO DO IN MCLEAN

Walking out in the community

The Boro

Roots and Santini’s

are the best part of McLean. They cherish the "diversity of thought, information technology, business, law and accomplishment” that surrounds the greater McLean community. Everyone of all different backgrounds loves their neighbor around here. Sunil and Neetu enjoy exposing their kids to different cultures and environments, so you’ll find them celebrating

the Indian holiday of Diwali, along with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sunil mentioned that the local parish behind their house hosts an annual Greek Festival every Labor Day, which they make an effort to attend.

This is clearly a family of extroverts (with Neetu, and her son Arav, being tied for the most extroverted) so they are all very social. They enjoy hosting friends and strive to make their house a welcoming one to all. They like to build unity and cohesiveness as family and a community. A silver-lining of the pandemic is that the generally outgoing family spent more time together at home, which created an even deeper bond, particularly with the kids.

Now, let’s get to know them individually!

Born and raised in California, Neetu graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle and since then, has achieved multiple certifications in management and development. Neetu is a federal government contractor with most of her work focused on department of defense programs. More specifically, she is a specialized management consultant in the business information technology realm, currently working for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). This is a role that requires a niche skillset: She is a fixer and deals with conflict resolution. Neetu has worked for several of the top consulting companies over the years, helping the US government implement change and improve processes. In addition to SAIC, she has worked for Accenture, GDIT and Grant Thornton. Most recently, she has found a passion to acquire and develop medical and dental real estate. She joined The Genau Group in Washington, DC and works with them on leasing and sales.

When not working, Neetu enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, continued learning, shopping and exercising (often walking outside well over five miles everyday, no matter the weather!).

Sunil grew up in North Carolina, before graduating from the University of Missouri—Kansas City, and did his postgraduate training at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He is a healthcare executive and board-certified emergency medicine physician. He worked for the MedStar Corporation at Washington Hospital Center for 16 years. He was working at the hospital on 9/11 and found himself caring for victims of the Pentagon attack. He currently is in an administrative role as the Chief Medical Officer of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. Sunil has a strong dedication to make things better for population health. He is also not afraid to bring new technology into healthcare, as he understands the benefits of telehealth and beyond.

Sunil enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, watching sports/ movies, dancing and learning. With his passion for learning, he recently completed his Healthcare MBA in 2020, all while helping navigate and deliver care during

the COVID-19 pandemic. He also plays the Dhol, a double-headed drum native to India, and will break it out for celebrations.

Besides the typical student life, Neetu and Sunil’s children all enjoy giving back with community work, cultural activities, and an array of extracurricular endeavors. Eesha, their oldest daughter is a senior in high school. Like her parents, she enjoys traveling, playing sports, dancing, and making an impact in her community through leadership and health. She uses data-driven research to write for change and uses social media as a platform to amplify her voice. She exudes empathy and strongly believes that helping others is one of the greatest pleasures in life. Eesha is one of the leaders in a local youth group focused on giving back to the community and would like to follow in the footsteps of her dad to pursue a career in healthcare. She strives to make an impact and help serve the community. She is involved in the South Asian Youth Volunteer Association (SAYVA), Healthcare Advocacy through Social Media, Cancer for Kids and Diversity Summit Marketing. She also volunteers and works at Fairfax Urgent Care.

In school, Eesha’s favorite subjects are

Biology and Spanish. She is on the Varsity High School Basketball Team, the Dance Team (also participates in Bhangra and Bollywood dance) and the Swim Team at Hamlet Swim & Tennis Club. She is currently beginning her college application process.

15 year son old Arav, is a sophomore in high school. In Hindi, Arav means peaceful and calm; he has a reputation of peacefully bringing all sorts of people together. He likes meeting new people and loves cracking jokes to make them smile. He enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures, listening to all genres of music, playing video games, watching documentaries, movies, tv shows and sports. He is involved in SAYVA with his older sister, and they both created a charity clothing drive called “Keep Warm Drive.” He has also helped feed the homeless in DC.

In school, Arav’s favorite subjects involve talking and sports: Psychology, Math, Spanish, Writing and American History. He is on the Varsity High School Basketball Team, Varsity Tennis Team and the Swim Team at Hamlet Swim & Tennis Club.

The youngest sibling, sixth grader Eva, enjoys dancing, singing, biking and

listening to music. She loves discovering new baking and cooking recipes. She has an inquisitive nature, so she likes to debate. Eva dreams of attending Harvard Law school one day and is diligently working on the idea of striving for equality. In addition, she writes her own short books and blogs online. Eva tries to volunteer where she can, often helping her siblings in community activities. In school, Eva’s favorite subjects are History, English and Science. She participates in McLean Youth Basketball, Dance and is on the Swim Team at Hamlet Swim & Tennis Club.

There’s one more family member we’ve yet to meet: Shark, the family’s one year old exotically colored male Veil Tail Betta fish. He joined the family after the three kids surprised Sunil and Neetu with him when they returned from out of town.

The whole family appreciates learning about new cultures and exploring new countries and cities together. They particularly love traveling internationally at least once a year. This summer, they visited Turks and Caicos. They annually visit family and friends in Texas, North Carolina and California. During the pandemic in lieu of international travel, they visited the Big Island in Hawaii, and enjoyed an active trip!

One of their best memories together was spending all day on the Mediterranean Sea, traveling from Positano to Capri. They basked in everything from enjoying hometown Italian delicacies to diving into the Sea and swimming in the Grottos. Some other notable family trips include England, France, India and Barcelona,

where they attended a FC Barcelona vs Manchester United soccer game!

This proactive family wants to make a tangible change in the world around them. They support multiple community activities that benefit vulnerable populations such as supporting Refugee housing, a homeless shelter in Franklin Park, a Drive for Ukraine, Stop Hunger Now and Girl Rising Events.

The Madans love to dance. Back in the day, Sunil would teach salsa dancing to his fellow medical professionals. I, personally, had the opportunity to see Sunil show off his skilled dance moves in their living room as he twirled and dipped Neetu with great confidence and joy! Not to be outdone, Arav and Eesha were back-up dancers for Indian Singer-Songwriter, Guru Randhawa, at Eaglebank Arena this past March! The family likes listening to music and going to concerts together; recently going to see The Weeknd. The parents are also still connected to their respective Seattle and North Carolina roots, as they cheer for the Seahawks of the National Football League and University of North Carolina college basketball.

The family wants to promote continued happiness on a daily basis through good mental and physical health in McLean. They are clearly a close-knit unit and spread that energy throughout the McLean community. As Sunil states, “Life is a journey and this is the beginning.”

So, if you see them around town, make sure to stop and say “hello” - you won’t regret it!

$4,000,000.00

$3,800,000.00

$1,100,000.00

$4,141,679.00

Retirement: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

By Stephanie Q. Lawrence

As we start heading into the fall season we know your calendar starts to fill up with plans for holiday events and gatherings with loved ones. While you’re planning out the next few months, don’t forget to make a plan for your future! Getting on our wait list early is the best way to prepare for the retirement you deserve. At Vinson Hall Retirement Community you’ll experience lasting friendships, exciting events and amenities, delicious dining and the space to thrive, all just minutes away from the nation’s capital.

Vinson Hall Retirement Community is a Life Plan Community providing a full range of living options and life-easing

conveniences and opportunities. With Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Memory Care, seniors and their families have a sense of security in knowing that we can accommodate changing needs conveniently on our campus. Residents enjoy an amenity-rich lifestyle with all of the comforts of home, but without the worry of maintenance or upkeep. Surrounded by 23 acres of tranquility in McLean, Virginia, residents live the life they love with a plan in place for the future.

To learn more and reserve your spot on our waitlist today, visit VinsonHall.org or call us at 703-936-6501.

Everything you need to flourish.

at Vinson Hall Retirement Community

growth.

enrichment

about

Move it Move it!!!

By Gina Kovatch

1. Printable Moving Binder – Get totally organized and prepared with The Ultimate Moving Organization Binder! This baby seriously has EVERYTHING you need for a smooth move including: a Moving Timeline Checklist, Monthly and Weekly Calendars, a Moving Budget Breakdown, a Cleaning Checklist, an Important Contacts Sheet, and MORE! Basically, it does all of the thinking for you so you can stress less and just check things off one at a time. Basically, if you’re moving, you NEED to get your hands on this ready-to-print binder. {Trust me now, and thank me later.}

2. Purge & Declutter – Use the months and weeks before your move to purge & declutter. The less stuff you have, the less you have to pack and move. Not only with this save you time and money in the long run, but it will also help get you cleaned up and organized. Consider having a garage sale, selling unwanted items online, or donating to charities, thrift stores, or friends.

3. Collect Boxes – As soon as you know you’re moving, start collecting boxes! Every time we move, I’m amazed at how many we end up going through. Here are 17 places where you can get free boxes.

4. Packing Supplies Station – Before you actually dive into the packing, consider setting up a supplies station. Just grab everything you’ll be needing (packing tape, scissors, sharpies, and labels) and throw them in a basket or box that you can tote around with you as you pack the different rooms of the house. (By the way, I totally recommend retractable sharpie markers so you aren’t constantly losing and looking for the cap.)

5. Prep Crockpot Meals – Meal planning and cooking always gets challenging once you start packing up the house. And fast food meals can get old (and expensive) fast. That’s why we LOVE this tip: prep some freezer crockpot meals in advance! That way you can pack everything in the kitchen except for your crockpot. And when you’re busy packing all day, you don’t have to worry about making dinner – just dump it and forget it. (We totally recommend using paper plates, cups, and utensils during this phase. That way you don’t have to worry about dishes at all.) If you don’t go through all of your crockpot meals, you’ll be super grateful for them in your new house when you’re busy unpacking and settling in. Just use your cooler to transport them on moving day.

6. Budget & Save – Before your move, we highly suggest sitting down and filling out this Moving Budget Breakdown and starting a moving savings fund. It’s no secret that moving can be expensive and costs can add up quickly! Don’t forget that many companies will charge you a first month’s deposit and a onetime set-up fee when turning on your utilities at your new house. There’s nothing more stressful than unexpected expenses when you’re already in the middle of a costly transition.

7. Schedule Utilities to be Set-Up – Speaking of utilities,

this is one step you do NOT want to forget. Moving is stressful enough without adding in the worries of no water, heat, or electricity. Keep in mind that many companies won’t set up service over the weekend so you’ll want to call to schedule and make arrangements well in advance. Often, you’ll need to be at the house when the serviceman arrives to turn on the gas or set up the internet. We highly recommend filling out this Important Contact Sheet with the phone numbers for your new utility companies, just in case you need them. (When we moved last month, we had to call the water company because they accidentally went to the wrong house. I was super glad I had kept their information and my account number handy.) TIP: There is a free online service, Allconnect, that helps you find utilities (like internet, TV, and electricity) available to you at your new address. All you have to do is type in your address and it will provide you with the best utility options, prices, and plans near you.

8. Prepare the Kids – This is one tip that a lot of people forget. Remember that moving can be a huge transition and a little scary for a lot of kids, even if they don’t tell you so. Even though you’re going to be super busy, make sure to take a little time to talk to your kids and help ease any fears and anxieties they may have. These children’s books about moving, like Bella and Stella Come Home, Katie Moves, and Boomers Big Day are a great way to start the conversation with young children. (And here are some tips for helping teens transition.) Try to make the move a fun experience by letting them play with the boxes, researching fun things to do in your new town, and having picnics on the floor once the furniture is broken down. (Our first night in our new house, we had a family slumber party in the loft because we didn’t have time to put beds together and it has turned into such a sweet memory.)

HOME

MASON is the worst Agent Around

By Gloria Bruni

... are the words that Brian fears hearing from the mouths of his clients. Due to this fear, he strives to represent all his clients by going above and beyond. Brian Mason’s rise as a top producer in real estate is uncanny when compared to most. Brian served 20 years on active duty with the military with 12 of those years serving as a criminal investigator for the United States Army. During his time, he was named as USACIDC 2016 Special Agent of the Year, obtained a Master of Science (Psychology) and was focused on making a career as a forensic psychologist. After years of investigations, he had a moment where he reviewed his future. Brian realized that investigations are emotionally draining. Brian stated “Having to hear victims tell

the story of the crime over and over is heartbreaking. Then they have the trust in you to help obtain justice for them by solving the crime. The questioning of “could I have done something better during my investigation” will create many sleepless nights” Something had to change.

Brian’s passion of helping people brought him towards real estate. He recalled when he purchased his first home and how his agent did not help him at all. Brian recalls “He just opened doors, told me to look at it, and then really pressured me into making an offer. He did not explain anything, never heard from him again until closing”. Brian said that he did not realize there was more until he spoke to his friends. Brian then realized having someone that really cares and

genuinely wants to help is important for home buying and selling. He decided to get his license. After obtaining his license, Brian decided he needed to invest in himself so he can better serve his clients. Brian joined some of the best real estate coaching programs to keep up with current trends. To ensure he brought more value to his clients, he earned his certificate of Negotiations from the University of Michigan. He then went further and joined a Marketing Course to excel at selling his clients home for the highest price and best terms.

What lies in the future for Home Sold Brian Mason? “I am going to create a team with like minded agents who will show the DMV what amazing agents look like” said Brian.