I entered the profession of real estate at the beginning of one of the most unstable economies in our nation's history: the Great Recession. Kitsap County Realtors® were exiting the market by the hundreds, unable to earn a living in such a difficult climate. But I was freshly-minted, with no expectation of how things were "supposed to be." I had children to support, and I was willing to work with the way things were.It was in those uncertain times that I learned to walk. And then I learned to run. In just a few years, I became one of the most successful Realtors® in area. Why? Because, for me, each new client, each new sale, every new purchase created an opportunity for gratitude. I worked hard, and hard work worked. The uncertain economy became my playground. I loved it!That sense of gratitude, with a focus on honor and respect for my clients and my community, has served me well. My practice grew and thrived. In 2017 I co-founded Real Estate by TLC with Realtor® Teri Camus. Before we'd completed our first year, we were already named the best real estate company in Bremerton. We thrived, and so did our employees, associates and clients. We loved what we were building together and what we were creating for our community.Then came 2020, and we found ourselves in yet another unstable economy due to COVID-19. Teri and I realized we could best serve our clients and our communities by staying nimble and responsive to current conditions. With gratitude, honor and respect, we dissolved our partnership to follow our best paths of service.Adept Real Estate is born of all that history and experience. In the Great Recession, I succeeded because I believed I could. In 2020, I still carry that belief, but now it's backed up by proof. My understanding of my clients' needs, my negotiating skills, my follow-through and my attention to detail are infused with the qualities that have made me successful from the beginning: gratitude, honor and respect.I am a community leader:There are a lot of elements that go into building a stable community, and one of the most important is creating opportunity for people to put down roots here. The foundation that holds up a house holds up a community, so moving people from the temporary condition of renting to the rooted stability of home ownership is essential. For years, in conjunction with Community Frameworks, a local non-profit, I invested my time, experience, gratitude, honor and respect to help people purchase homes who might not otherwise be able to afford it. Those new homeowners can now feel committed to their community because they don't just reside here anymore; they own a piece of the land here.I am a friend:No matter what triggers the initial contact, gratitude, honor, and respect inevitably lead to friendship. How could it not? While it's easy to count success in the real estate profession by the number of transactions completed, what fills my heart is to think of all the friendships that have come from it. This community is my home, and I love encountering friends wherever I go.I am a gardener:Honestly, is there anything more strenuous and yet more gratifying than gardening? Preparing the soil, planting a seed, providing for it, then watching grow, mature, and thrive? It's a pastime that brings joy to every season for me. Gratitude. Honor. Respect. They work in my garden; they work in my kitchen; they work in my family; they work in my community; they work in my real estate practice. Truth is, those three things make everything work.