Members make the difference in the real estate profession
MAR wants to know more about its members. If you know of a REALTOR® who’s done something special, has a great idea or insight about the Michigan real estate industry, or is just perfect for some publicity, we want to hear about him or her. Call Tim Kissman, director of communications and marketing, at 517.334.5568 or e-mail him at mar@mirealtors.com.

There isn’t much that Marsha Minervini, Traverse Area Association of REALTORS®, hasn’t done in her professional career. Besides being a REALTOR®, she is the former owner of a construction company, which specialized in commercial properties, and is heavily involved with restoring Building 50, which is the state hospital near Traverse City. She is a world-renowned singer, traveling across the globe with Sweet Adeline International, simply defined as a group of women who love to sing. “It’s incredible,” she said. “You learn the history of these incredible cathedrals and get to sing there. It feeds on the creative side and really gives you an opportunity to have joy.” She is a cancer survivor and sits on the board of National Cancer Institute’s Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene, or STAR trial, one of the largest breast cancer prevention studies ever that encompasses the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. She’s also set for her second run as TAAR president in 2005. With all of this, you’d think she has little time for real estate, but nothing could be further from the truth. “I love my job,” she said. “It’s the perfect business for me. I get a chance to be inside buildings and houses and work with people. There’s nothing more I’d rather be doing.”

If good fences make good neighbors, then White Cloud’s Pam Dailey, West Central Association of REALTORS®, is a great neighbor. Dailey deftly orchestrated the complicated task of bringing The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Washington, D.C., Vietnam Veterans Memorial to her town. Dailey organized more than 200 volunteers for the effort. “It was a true labor of love,” she said. “After being involved with this tribute, I have a whole new respect for Vietnam veterans. It was very humbling.” Dailey said that more than 4,000 people visited the wall while it was on display — a tremendous number for a town with just under 1,500 residents. “The volunteers were great,” she said. “They really had their act together and helped pull this off without any problems.”

REALTOR® David J. Castle, Metropolitan Consolidated Association of REALTORS®, has a few tricks up his sleeve when it comes to selling. Of course, that makes a lot of sense when you learn that he’s a magician, too. “I love to amaze people with my magic and see them laugh and smile,” Castle said. “I guess you could say that I am passionate about my job.” Castle has been a performing magician since 1997. He said he can juggle up to four balls at a time and at least that many clients. As a REALTOR®, he said he sees many similarities with his current job and as a performing magician. “In both businesses you have to be professional, courteous and be able to negotiate,” he said. “Being the president of my magic company has definitely helped me prepare for the real estate business because it helped me set goals and learn discipline.”