Pam Stoler

BUILDING AND ELEVATING BUSINESS ONE HOME AT A TIME

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

Photos by Stylish Detroit

Pam Stoler didn’t get to where she is today by chance. She’s achieved success in real estate as a result of 34 years of hard work. “Many times, people would ask me how I was so lucky — it wasn’t luck. It was hard work seven days a week and 12 hours a day,” she said. “The happiness of my clients and my team is my measure of success in real estate — seeing the joy of a family as they make a house into their home has been the most rewarding part of my business.”

Pam was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Her father spent Monday through Friday working as a salesperson in Michigan, so Pam’s family moved here in 1962. After receiving a bachelor’s in nursing from Mercy College of Detroit in 1974, Pam worked as a head nurse of a surgical floor for four years before the birth of her two sons, Randy and Bradley.

In 1986, Pam, who had become a single parent, went to a pool party where she met John Hannett. “He recruited me by promising not to give me a desk or demanding any structured work schedule,” Pam said. “From the moment I walked in, I knew I had found what I loved to do. In the first 30 days, I sold five homes, and I never stopped from there.”

“My children were and are my biggest and first priority, and I didn’t have anyone to lean on during that time,” Pam said. “Both of my boys learned how to go with me on showings, set up appointments with offices — this was pre-ShowingTime — and sit quietly during open houses. My success was reward enough to keep me going.”

In the early stages of her career, Pam encountered experienced agents who offered to guide and advise her, but she says that she needed to sell her own way. “Simply by watching, I learned the parts of the business that worked specifically for me,” Pam said. “I knew my children would always come first, and then my clients became my close friends and extended family.”

In 2001, just 30 days before 9/11, Pam moved her business to Hall & Hunter, REALTORS®. She says it was a “tough beginning” but also that she felt very comfortable joining the Hall & Hunter family where she is currently an associate broker. In May 2020, Michelle Katitus, a close friend of Pam’s son Randy, became Pam’s assistant. Michelle spent the past 20 years as the lead singer of the popular, local band Killer Flamingos and was looking for a new career path after COVID-19 halted all live performances. “When I mentioned that I was looking for a new assistant, Randy suggested Michelle,” Pam said. “Michelle is a dream come true for me and will be with me until I retire.”

Over the past 34 years, Pam has achieved a career volume of just under $1 billion. In addition to her impressive sales history, Pam was the top producer at Hannett from 19871994 and spent many years as a top producer at Max Broock, REALTORS®. At Hall & Hunter, she was a top producer from 2004-2011, as well as the top producer as a single agent in 2018. Pam, an Hour Detroit Real Estate All-Star from 20122020, has also earned her Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) credential as well as the Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation.

Pam describes herself as a hands-on real estate agent who is willing and ready to go out of her way for her clients. “For me, that means that when the basement or roof is leaking, the furnace is broken or the plumbing is not working, my clients know that they can call me, and I will have the ability to have it fixed quickly and professionally,” she said. “When there’s an emergency, I will stop what I am doing to help anyone who needs my help.”

Pam’s greatest passion is spending time with her family. “I love my work but know that work/ life balance is the healthiest way to live,” she said. Pam’s oldest son, Bradley, and his wife, Diana, live in New York City, where Bradley is a wealth management specialist at Merrill Lynch and Diana works for Goldman Sachs. Pam’s youngest son, Randy, lives in Birmingham and works as a manager at 220 Merrill in downtown Birmingham. No matter how busy they are, Pam and Randy always make time to have dinner together every Sunday.

“All of our family time usually revolves around The Amazing Princess Camelia — which is what she insists we call her,” Pam said. Pam says that Camelia, Bradley and Diana’s 5-year-old daughter, has been adored since before she was even born. “Camelia appears to like all of the same things that I like, including talking on her toy phone as she walks down the streets of NY with her parents — she has been carrying her own handbag since she was 2,” Pam said. “She loves to color and draw, and she can’t pass a dressing room without trying on dresses — never pants. Camelia is smart, sassy and has a big heart. Just don’t try to take her gluten-free pasta!”

Pam’s health is a major priority to her, and she enjoys doing Pilates six days a week. She likes to be surrounded by beauty and nature — and she especially loves adorning her home and outside landscaping with flowers. She has always been interested in fashion. “I enjoy wearing fun and beautiful clothing,” Pam said. “It uplifts my mood and makes me happy to wear stylish clothes.”

Because she is a strong proponent of paying it forward, Pam regularly supports the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Cancer Society, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Holocaust Memorial Center, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and Magen David Adom — Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service. Her charitable support of these specific organizations stems from personal connections: Her mother had Alzheimer’s, her father died of cancer, her best friend has Parkinson’s, and Pam has strong ties to her Jewish faith. “I believe no Jew stands alone,” she said.

On a professional level, Pam believes that agents who treat their real estate career as a business are more successful. “Real estate is built one home at a time, and a good businessperson understands how to elevate more business on a constant basis,” she said. “Every day is a new day. Don’t worry about what you did yesterday — just go out and sell another house!”

Top Producer: Pam Stoler