I am a native Torontonian and an award-winning real estate professional, working in real estate sales since January 2010. I am energetic and enthusiastic, and I love my work.
I am committed to meeting my client’s needs and passionate about getting them the best results. Serving people in real estate meets my natural desire to advocate and help individuals and families achieve their goals and protect their interests. I have an extensive background in client care and stewardship, as well as sales and negotiations. I have a love of design and a keen interest in home construction techniques. I have coordinated several home renovation projects – acting as a general contractor - and studied architectural technology.
Before choosing real estate, my professional career and experience spanned several areas – first, in sales and marketing financial products. I worked as a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch Canada which selected me to study in their international sales training program in New York. I also worked in communications roles with financial service companies, including Templeton Mutual Funds.
Later I translated that client-care and sales training experience into a successful 20-year management and consulting career in the not-for-profit sector.
I held senior management roles at Second Harvest, World University Services of Canada (WUSC) and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, and led numerous successful fundraising campaigns, including the annual United Way campaign for the UofT (one of the largest corporate campaigns in the city); The Canadian Institute for International Affairs; and the Council for Canadian Unity on behalf of the federalist efforts in the 1995 Quebec referendum. I bid on and won contracts to deliver fundraising feasibility studies for three Ontario post-secondary institutions, including RMC, Carleton University and UofT. During a three-year break from this sector, I managed investor relations for two publicly-traded junior exploration companies.
I credit my customer service attitude and early skills to my parents (for providing only a small weekly allowance) and early working days earning my way as an inventory clerk, dishwasher, professional ski patroller, ski lift operator, tree planter, sailing instructor, yacht delivery crew and luxury yacht crew/hostess, especially for too numerous food and beverage and retail clothing sales jobs.
In sports, I competed three times internationally in the Albacore dinghy class. I am an avid open-water swimmer and still like to ski. I am married to my best friend and life partner, John Godfrey. John's varied career – including as a politician and Federal Cabinet Minister through five elections over 15 years – has added a rich dimension to my life. We are the very proud parents of Ian.
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