South Jersey Real Producers - November 2021

SOUTH JERSEY

C O N N E C T I N G .

E L E VAT I N G .

I N S P I R I N G .

RIS ING STAR FEATURE

COLLEEN HADDEN

THE COLLEEN HADDEN GROUP AT COMPASS PREF ERRED PA RTNE R HI GHLI GHT

CARLO VITALE

VITALE INSPECTION SERVICES LLC AND MORE...

Gina Romano TOP P RO D U C ER C OV E R STORY

BROKER/ OW N ER AT ROM A N O REA LT Y

NOVEMBER 2021

2 • November 2021

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South Jersey Real Producers • 3

TAB LE OF

CONTENTS 09

10

14

Meet the Team

FAQ About This Magazine

Rising Star Featured Agent: Colleen Hadden

18

24

26

Carlo Vitale Vitale Inspection Service LLC.

Not All Memories Last Forever Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Top Producer Cover Story: Gina Romano

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­ South Jersey Real Producers • 5 ­

PREFERRED PARTNERS

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community!

BRANDED PRODUCTS/ MARKETING SERVICES Legacy Branding Gifts / Cutco Closing Gifts Lindsay Musser (717) 575-0975 LegacyBrandingGifts.com CLOTHIERS & CUSTOM TAILORING Elegance Custom Clothiers Chris Martin (856) 888-1312 EleganceClothiers.com CREDIT REPAIR Trinity Solutions USA James Sacchetti (609) 385-9570 www.trinitysolutionsusa.com FINANCIAL/WEALTH MANAGEMENT Firstrust Financial Resources Greg Madia (609) 203-3917 ffrpro.com

HOME & PROPERTY INSPECTIONS AmericSpec NJ Ed Mitchell (856) 649-5946 www.amerispecnj.net Core Inspection Group LLC Corwin Jackson (215) 987-7547 CoreInspectionGroup.com HomeTeam Inspection Service Fran Grenier (856) 202-3579 HomeTeam.com Knight Property Inspections Ray Stevens (856) 296-2251 ray@knightpi.com Vitale Inspection Services, LLC Carlo Vitale (609) 751-8048 VitaleInspection.com Your Private Eye Home Inspections Michael Baker (609) 379-2499 YourPrivateEye HomeInspections.com

6 • November 2021

HOME WARRANTY Home Warranty Stacey Santroni (609) 922-1388 CHWPro.com LUXURY / CELEBRITY RENTAL CARS Imagine Lifestyles & Philly Slingshot Rental Tom Messenger (305) 877-2755 www.imaginelifestyles.com www.phillyslingrental.com MORTGAGE LENDER Borrero Lending Team Cat Borrero (856) 497-1900 CatBorrero.com

PHOTOGRAPHER Bryant Sanders Photography Bryant Sanders (267) 230-5488 BryantSanders Photography.com ROOFING/SIDING Dowell Construction LLC Jay Dowell (856) 676-1244 DowellConstructionLLC.com SOLAR ENERGY Warmac Energy Colin Segan (856) 536-7035 colin@warmacenergy.com

Crown Home Mortgage Rick Riddle (973) 479-4682 crownhm.com

TITLE COMPANY Foundation Title Chris Gimello (856) 834-2600 www.ftnj.com

Gateway Mortgage Chris Wilhelm (856) 810-1222 www.gatewayfirst.com

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The Murray Team Chris Murray (609) 922-2630 MurrayMortgageTeam.com

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South Jersey Real Producers • 7

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MEET THE

SOUTH JERSEY REAL PRODUCERS TEAM

Keenan Andersen Owner / Publisher

Bryant Sanders

Bryant Sanders Photography

Katie Kohler Writer

Heather Pluard Writer

Ad Junkies

Ad Design / Management Team

If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at Keenan.Andersen@realproducersmag.com.

DISCLAIMER: Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of The N2 Company d/b/a Real Producers but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the South Jersey Real Producers magazine are not endorsed or recommended by The N2 Company or the publisher. Therefore, neither The N2 Company nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies.

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South Jersey Real Producers • 9

FAQ ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

Real Producers magazine started in Indianapolis in 2015 and is now in over 100 markets across the nation and spreading rapidly.

South Jersey REAL Producers launched in April 2021. Name a large city and we are there or will be soon!

In every market, we take the Top 500 agents, based off of the MLS production, and we build an exclusive magazine around those agents. We share their stories, successes, market trends, upcoming events — really, anything that will connect, inform and inspire, we put in the monthly publication.

We strive to inform and inspire the top producing real estate agents in the local market and connect them socially. The secondary focus is to provide an avenue for our affiliate partners to create relationships with these top performers on a level that they might not be able to achieve on their own.

Q: WHO RECEIVES South Jersey REAL PRODUCERS MAGAZINE? A: The top 500 agents in South Jersey. We pull the MLS numbers (by volume) from in the South Jersey area: Camden, Gloucester, Burlington and Salem Counties. Approximately 15,000 agents are licensed in this territory. We cut the list off at #500, and the distribution was born. The 2020 Top 500 cutoff is $4.5 million.

The list will reset at the end of every year and will continue to update annually.

Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BEING FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE? A: It’s really simple — every feature you see has first been nominated. You can nominate other REALTORS®, affiliates, brokers, owners, or even yourself! Office leaders can also nominate REALTORS®. We will consider anyone brought to our attention who is in the Top 500 because we don’t know everyone’s story, so we need your help to learn about them.

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A nomination currently looks like this: You email us at Keenan. andersen@realproducersmag.com with the subject line, “Nomination: (Name of Nominee).” Please explain why you are nominating them to be featured. It could be they have an amazing story that needs to be told — perhaps they overcame extreme obstacles, they are an exceptional leader, have the best customer service, or they give back to the community in a big way, etc. The next step is an interview with us to ensure it’s a good fit. If it all works out, then we put the wheels in motion for our writer to conduct an interview to write the article and for our photographers to schedule a photoshoot.

Q: WHAT DOES IT COST A REALTOR® /TEAM TO BE FEATURED? A: Zero, zilch, zippo, nada, nil. It costs nothing, my friends, so nominate away! We are not a pay-to-play model. We share real stories of real producers.

Q: WHO ARE THE PREFERRED PARTNERS? A: Anyone listed as a “preferred partner” in the front of the magazine is a part of this community. They will have an ad in every issue of the magazine, attend our quarterly events, and be a part of our online community. We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. One of many of the top agents has recommended every single preferred partner you see in this publication. We won’t even meet with a business that has not been vetted by one of you and “stamped for approval,” in a sense. Our goal is to create a powerhouse network, not only for the best REALTORS® in the area but the best affiliates, as well, so we can grow stronger together.

Q: HOW CAN I RECOMMEND A PREFERRED PARTNER? A: If you know and want to recommend a local business that works with top REALTORS®, please email us to let us know at Keenan.andersen@realproducersmag.com.

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T A

P

P

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I

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T O

the world’s potential

Colin Segan

Owner/Founder colin@warmacenergy.com (856) - 536 - 7035 12 • November 2021

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14 • November 2021

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COLLEEN HADDEN THE COLLEEN HADDEN GROUP AT COMPASS

rising star featured agent Photography by Bria Strube Photography Written by Heather Pluard

F

inding a new home when you’re living in a foreign country and don’t speak the language is a daunting task. Moving back to the United States to a new city where you don’t know anyone isn’t much easier. But both experiences went so well for Colleen Hadden that they inspired her to become a REALTOR®.

“In 2016, my family moved to Tokyo for two years for my husband’s accounting job. At the time, we did not speak Japanese and knew nothing about the neighborhoods,” Colleen says.

“I had to place so much trust and reliance on our real estate agent. Luckily, he was amazing! I gave him a list of what we needed and where the kids’ school was located, and he found us the perfect apartment. That’s the first time I realized what a huge impact the right REALTOR® can have on a client’s life.”

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South Jersey Real Producers • 15

The second time was when Colleen’s young family returned to the United States for a brief stint in Charlotte, North Carolina. “We bought our house sight-unseen, which was a whole new level of trust,” Colleen says. “I developed a great relationship with our REALTOR®, whom I FaceTimed and texted with questions all the time, and we remained friends after closing. She also provided names of pediatricians, contractors, schools, and sports leagues for our boys. It made my life so much easier.”

When Colleen and her family returned to her home state of New Jersey in 2019, she decided to become a REALTOR®. “I wanted to have the same positive impact on people’s lives in the area where I was raised,” she says. “Real estate is about more than finding clients their dream homes. It’s about helping them get established and build a life they love. I knew I could be that resource for clients.”

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A connection from Haddonfield Middle School, where Colleen had taught for almost nine years, helped launch her career. “I taught Bonnie Walter’s son, and I knew she was an incredible REALTOR®,” Colleen says. “So she was the first person I reached out to when I decided to get into the industry. Bonnie proceeded to take me under her wing and mentor me. If I wrote a book about my real estate career, Chapter One would be all about her.”

Licensed in March of 2020, Colleen started her career at Keller Williams and had almost $18 million in sales before changing brokerages to Compass Real Estate. At the core of her quick success is her commitment to caring for the whole client. “There is usually a big life change at the heart of every move,” Colleen says.

“I view my job as being there to @realproducers

help people through it while supporting them every step of the way. I feel like a therapist sometimes, but I truly care.

You can’t fake that.”

Followers enjoy Colleen’s social media, where she’s known to post funny real estate reels and share about her everyday life. She is on Instagram, @ homewithcollhadd. “I’ve had around seven transactions this year from social media with people I hadn’t met before,” she says. “I want my followers to feel like they know me, my family, my personality and my life. That way, when they call me, they feel like they are talking to an old friend.”

Next year, Colleen’s goal is to start a team. “Real estate is my passion, but teaching is still my calling, and building a team incorporates both,” she says. “I can’t wait to help other agents get from Point A to Point B in this industry. I want to build a group of life-long learners who

are willing to change with the market and stay five steps ahead of the game.”

Compass Real Estate offers the tools Colleen needs to launch her team strategically. “I am a planner,” she says.

“I like to have a vision of where I will be three or five years down the road – regardless of what the market does.

Compass operates much the same way, so I’m excited to partner with them for continued success.”

Serving the community is also important to Colleen. She is the PTA President-elect at Haddonfield’s Central Elementary School, and she is on the board of the Haddonfield Japanese Exchange program. The center of Colleen’s life, however, is her family.

She and her husband, Mike, were highschool sweethearts in Moorestown and have been married for 10 years. They have three adorable boys, Finn (8), Seamus (6), and Mac (2).

“You can find us on the football or baseball fields on the weekends,” Colleen smiles. “We like to be outdoors as much as possible. If we’re not on the sports fields, you can count on the boys making up some sort of game… We’re a bit of a competitive bunch. We also love to travel. While in Japan, Mike and I took the boys to nine different countries.”

In 2016, Colleen left her career in teaching to support a job opportunity for her husband in Tokyo. “We have always been partners on all levels. I was excited to support his career and be by his side, and now he is my biggest cheerleader. I honestly couldn’t do what I do without him. He tells me he’s proud of me every day, and that really means the world to me. I’m thankful for all of our moving experiences together because they set me on the career path I love!”

I VIEW MY JOB AS BEING THERE TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH IT WHILE SUPPORTING THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I FEEL LIKE A THERAPIST SOMETIMES, BUT I TRULY CARE. YOU CAN’T FAKE THAT.

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South Jersey Real Producers • 17

Carlo Vitale

18 • November 2021

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preferred partner highlight Written by Heather Pluard Photography by Steady Focus Productions

Vitale Inspection Service LLC. As the son of two Italian immigrants, Carlo Vitale has always understood the value of the American Dream. Today, he’s making sure none of his clients end up with a nightmare! He and the Vitale Inspection Services team work hard to provide all realproducersmag.com

of the information people need to feel confident in their decision to close on a home.

“We love educating buyers and sellers to make informed decisions, whether that’s by showing South Jersey Real Producers • 19

them their home is a safe place or by letting them know if repairs are needed first,” Carlo says. “A home is a considerable investment, one of the biggest that most people will ever make, and it’s a commitment that requires careful research and preparation. We are honored to be a part of that process, and we take it very seriously.” When he was younger, Carlo learned about homes from the ground up by working for this father’s construction company. “My father immigrated here at 22,” Carlo says. “He started his company to help more families realize their American Dream, and I feel like I grew up with a hammer in my hand.

Building and remodeling homes with my father was an excellent education. I also learned a lot about customer service from my mother, who immigrated to the States when she was 16. She taught me how to create positive work environments, communicate transparently with clients, and build life-long relationships.”

With all that knowledge in his back pocket, Carlo broadened his experience by working in the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC fields. Then he became a project manager for a large construction company until he was let go after the market crash.

“Certain things happen in life that push us to do something we may not feel we are ready for, and that’s what happened when I lost my job,” Carlo says. “My wife, Katy, and I had closed on our first house that same week, and I needed a new plan right away. Fortunately, I had already taken classes to become a certified home inspector because that was my ultimate goal. Still, I never felt like it was the right time to start my own business until I was forced to do something drastically different.”

Starting with a $4,000 loan from his sister and brother-inlaw, Carlo launched Vitale Inspections Services in 2011. He paid back the loan within a year and continued to grow his business. Now, he has nine home inspectors, three chimney inspectors, two growth members, two client care coordinators, and two radon technicians.

“Our fantastic team of certified professionals offers comprehensive inspection services to New Jersey and areas of Eastern Pennsylvania,” Carlo says. “Our services include Residential Inspections, Commercial Inspections, Radon Testing, Wood Destroying Insect Inspections, Sewer Line Scopes, Underground Oil Tank Search, and Level 2 Chimney Inspection and Cleanings. In addition, we pride

I WANT TO BE KNOWN AS SOMEONE WHO PROVIDES GOOD OPPORTUNITIES AND HELPS OTHERS HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

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ourselves on providing outstanding customer service before, during, and after every inspection. We show up on time, use the most innovative technology, gladly answer any questions, love to educate our clients, and make the inspection process enjoyable for everyone, including our REALTOR® partners. We understand time is of the essence, especially in today’s market, so we offer next-day digital reports that include photographs to convey the nature of specific findings.”

The Vitale Inspection Services team also practices daily gratitude and is committed to giving back to their community. “We started a nonprofit 501 C 3 organization called Happy Smiles Inc. where we donate/help a different charity every month,” Carlo says. “And, to thank them for their service, we offer a $25 discount to veteran members of the United States military, police officers, and seniors. Our goal is to help as many people as we can.”

As a hard-working entrepreneur, Carlo feels like he’s always on the clock.

But when he gets a chance to “shut it down,” he loves spending time with his family. He and Katy have adorable five-year-old twins, Leo and Valentina.

They enjoy being outside in nature, playing sports, swimming in the pool, and working on do-it-yourself projects around the house. Carlo also likes to take early-morning walks, read, and play the occasional round of golf.

“Life is amazing,” Carlo says. “I’ve learned to take every opportunity as a blessing, listen instead of speak, be grateful for the people who surround me, and accept the hard times as they teach you lessons to build on. I want to be known as someone who provides good opportunities and helps others have a better life. That’s my version of the American Dream.”

To learn more about Vitale Inspection Services, please call 609-751-8048 or visit vitaleinspection.com. realproducersmag.com

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@imagine.lifestyles primary company account @phillyslingshotrental primary company account @ryanlevelup ceo/owner of company @tm.wheelman general manager

(866)436-3514

22 • November 2021

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(215) 883-9009 • PhillySlingShotRental.com

South Jersey Real Producers • 23

not all memories last forever

By Heather Pluard

As we enter the holiday season, many people are focused on creating special memories with their friends and family. And while there are sure to be many incredible moments of joy, peace, and love this month, not everyone will be able to remember them. That’s because more than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, a progressive, fatal disease that kills nerve cells and tissues in the brain, affecting an individual’s ability to remember, think, and plan. Fortunately, the Alzheimer’s Association is here to help.

“More than ever, we need to come together to support all those affected

by Alzheimer’s and all other dementias,” says Kristina Fransel, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter. “The Association strives to provide support for everyone affected, raise Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness, and educate the public to help more people understand the disease. Nationally, the Association is also investing more than $250-million in research for critical advancements in the field.”

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Notably, the Alzheimer’s Association helped accelerate the passage of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act. This landmark legislation—signed into law in 2011, with 2021 marking the 10th anniversary of this milestone—mandates creating a national plan to fight Alzheimer’s and coordinates efforts to prevent and effectively treat this disease by 2025. Nationwide, Alzheimer’s kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

And while the last decade has shown significant decreases in deaths from heart disease, Alzheimer’s deaths increased 145%. It is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Last year, more

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programs. Notable area Walks took place in Cumberland County and Ocean City, with the Philadelphia Walk to End Alzheimer’s—one of the largest in the county—held on November 13, 2021 at Citizens Bank Park.

“We provide care and support to all those facing Alzheimer’s and all other dementia while also advocating for their well-being,” Fransel says. “With the dollars raised, the Alzheimer’s Association provides care and support while also advancing critical research toward methods of treatment and prevention.”

they are losing to this degenerative disease.

than 190,000 people over 65 in New Jersey had Alzheimer’s. By 2025, that number is estimated to grow by 10.5%.

In addition to Alzheimer’s and dementia stealing memories and taking lives, it also has a tremendous negative financial impact. There are currently 347,000 New Jersey residents serving as unpaid family caregivers, providing 658,000,000 hours of unpaid care valued at $12-billion. But, ask any of these caregivers the number that matters the most to them, and you’re sure to hear it’s one. The one special person in their lives who

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As a center for help and hope, the Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. It is the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research, offers several online and in-person resources, and works with caregivers to enhance the lives of people affected.

Throughout the fall in New Jersey, the Association held several Walk to End Alzheimer’s events, raising awareness and additional funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research

Val Nunnenkamp, Board Member for the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, and NJ Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty, added, “A highlight of the Walk is the Promise Garden presentation, which honors the personal reasons participants join together to fight this disease and all other dementia.

The movement to end Alzheimer’s disease starts in your backyard and stretches around the world. I ‘d love for more of my fellow New Jerseyans to start putting their teams together now for next year’s events. It’s never too early to give someone the gift of hope.”

Last year, nearly 48,000 teams participated in more than 600 Walks across the country, raising more than $67-million. To learn

more about the Alzheimer’s Association, please visit alz.org or call 1-800-272-3900.

South Jersey Real Producers • 25

G I N A R OMA N O top producer cover story

Written by Heather Pluard Photography by Bria Strube Photography

Broker/Owner at Romano Realty After 15 years as a REALTOR®, Gina Romano was ready to do things differently.

So, in 2019, she launched a brokerage that is uniquely her own. Romano Realty is all about bringing life back into the industry and turning real estate sales into a lifestyle. Founded on respect and equality, the brokerage has tripled in size in just two years and already has more than $50 million in sales.

“I took the best of two brokerage models, traditional and capped, and created a hybrid that better serves agents,” Gina says.

“Romano Realty has zero monthly fees and no franchise fee, which leaves more money in agent pockets. But you are never on an island by yourself. I offer hands-on training, one-on-one mentoring, and full access to my calendar so agents can shadow me whenever they want. That’s the best way to learn in this business, and I am completely transparent in everything I do. My goal is to make everyone here as successful as I am in half the time.”

Gina grew up in Camden County and has spent most of her adult life in Gloucester, so she knows Southern New Jersey like the

26 • November 2021

back of her hand. She spent years in the mortgage industry working in customer service, collections, and loan analysis. When she decided to take time off to raise her family, she discovered she was terrific at sales.

“When my boys were little, I started home-demonstration sales,” Gina says. “One year, I sold more than $100,000 in custom baskets. After that, my husband, Rocco, told me I should start selling homes instead. He is a contractor, and thanks to him, I was already familiar with home construction and reading blueprints. So I decided to go for it. I got licensed in 2004 when houses were flying off the shelves – much like in today’s fast-paced market. I just hopped in and started making money.”

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Then came the market crash of 2008, and Gina realized she needed to learn more about selling real estate if she wanted to survive in the industry.

“About 95% of the people I started with ended up quitting in those lean years,” she says. “You couldn’t move a house. So I spent all of 2008 educating myself. I read books and took training courses that made me a better agent and a savvy negotiator.”

But you are never on an island by yourself. I offer hands-on training, one-on-one mentoring, and full access to my calendar so agents can shadow me whenever they want. That’s the best way to learn in this business, and I am completely transparent in everything I do.

My goal is to make everyone here as successful as I am in half the time.

Self-improvement paid off. In 2009, Ryan Holmes tapped Gina to be their REALTOR® Preferred Partner. She helped their new construction clients sell their existing homes so they could move forward to closing. Then D.R. Horton tapped her to do the same thing for them. Gina credits both builders with helping her stay alive in a tight market by putting her in front of clients she would never have met otherwise. Many of those clients still reach out to her today when buying and selling their homes.

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“People know my word is my word,” Gina says. “ I run my life and my business with integrity. My sales philosophy has always been to do what is right for my client, even if that means telling them not to buy or sell. At my brokerage, I’ve built an excellent team of like-minded agents who treat clients like family and are ultra-focused on relationships. Every agent here is positive, upbeat, and proactive. I launched Romano Realty with six REALTORS®, and today we have 19, five of whom are under the age of 30. We all have incredible synergy.”

One of those new agents is Gina’s 25-yearold son, Luke Romano. He brought a strong marketing background to the team and completely revamped Gina’s social media marketing strategies, incorporating lifestyle videos and a millennial flair that followers adore.

“It looks glamorous, but real estate is hard work,” Gina says. “You have to show up every day and be ready for anything.

My best advice for new agents is to find a good mentor who will pour into you. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Instead, find someone successful, take what works for you, and turn it into your style. I also recommend getting a coach. Then, go out and network. Engage, talk to people, build relationships, and always come from a place of good intentions, not just making a sale.”

Outside of work, Gina loves spending time with her family. Married for 27 years, she is still madly in love with Rocco and calls him her true rock – pun intended. “He makes me laugh every single day,” Gina smiles. “And while I’m extremely proud of the business I’ve built, my three boys, Tyler, Nicky, and Luke, are my greatest accomplishments. Rocco and I have two grandbabies and one on the way, so we are very blessed. It’s also a good feeling to know I’m changing lives through my brokerage. There’s a lot of joy in helping agents grow and watching their success.

I’m glad I took the risk and started a business that does real estate differently!”

30 • November 2021

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32 • November 2021

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