A Lifetime of Service — The Heart of Volunteering One of my favorite privileges as your CEO has been the opportunity to attend conferences and conventions, meet remarkable people, exchange ideas, and learn from leaders across our industry. But my appreciation for volunteering and serving others began long before I became a REALTOR® or your CEO. It began as a little girl growing up as the daughter of a minister in rural Virginia. My dad served eight country churches throughout the Shenandoah Valley, from Staunton to Churchville, New Market, and Quicksburg Virginia before we moved to Gettysburg PA where he served two more congregations. My brothers and I were raised to understand that helping others was simply part of everyday life. We never heard the term “volun-told.” There was no need for it. We were raised to serve others; it was just the way we lived. We helped local farmers pick berries and corn and dig potatoes. We had our own family garden, and much of what we grew was shared with neighbors who had less than we did. We had chickens and delivered eggs to neighbors who didn’t. I played the piano at Sunday school and for funerals, my brother Paul served as an acolyte for funerals and weddings. My mom was a music teacher and never charged for lessons, so that’s how I learned to play piano so young, there were no babysitters, so I sat on her lap as she taught lessons to local families who loved the arts as much as she did. Some of my most meaningful memories are of accompanying Dad when he visited elderly members of his congregations who were no longer able to leave their homes. While Dad visited, I would read to them, and if they had a piano, I would sit down and play for them. Mrs. Estep would always give me a COKE which was a huge deal for an 8-year-old. Looking back, those moments taught me lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life. We weren't doing anything extraordinary. We weren't looking for recognition, and we certainly weren't thinking about volunteer hours or community service requirements. We were simply doing what our parents had taught us: If you have something to give, whether it's your time, your talents, or vegetables from your garden, you share your gifts and your joy. I didn't have a clue then, but those childhood experiences became the foundation of a lifetime of volunteering. And somewhere along the way, I discovered something else. The wonderful thing about volunteering is that you often receive far more than you ever give. My journey of volunteering within the REALTOR® community began many years ago with the Women's Council of REALTORS® and as a REALTOR® member serving on the Coastal Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors. Over the past 21 years, being involved in our REALTOR® organizations has given me the opportunity to build friendships and professional relationships that I truly treasure. Today, as your CEO, many of those relationships continue to be an important part of both my professional and personal life. Volunteering has also been one of the greatest investments I ever made in my business and my professional growth. Attending conferences, serving on committees, and connecting with REALTORS® and association leaders from across Maryland and around the country exposed me to new ideas, emerging trends, different ways of doing business, and countless opportunities to learn from others. It also brought referral business, professional connections, and lifelong friendships that I never would have developed by simply staying in my own neck of the woods!
COASTAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® | 2025–2026 YEAR IN REVIEW
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