The typeface of this article's headline can't convey the tone of shock that my friends and co-workers had when they questioned my well-planned, but still surprising, decision.

I can't blame them. After all, by resigning from my former real estate company, Re/Max, last March, I concluded an over- 18-year chapter in my life. What we all discovered together was that when I left to start up the boutique real estate company Cobalt Realty Group -True Blue with three partners, I began writing a new, happier story.

But the question remained: Why take on something new and risky - especially with my life being so very full with four awesome kids, three beautiful grandchildren and a loving husband?

To understand the present, you must first know the past.

My real estate career began in 1986. I was 26 years old, married with two young children - Ashley and Kenny - and life was great. In 1988, I had my third child, Bailey. Sadly, married life became rocky. By 1990, I was a single mother with three small children and zero support from my ex-husband.
I was headed for the ride of my life. I was working seven days a week to keep the roof over our heads and food on the table.

I have always been a pretty upbeat, happy person, but during this time I was gripped with fear and ran on adrenaline. This is when I went down on my knees - they buckled from the pressure! - and asked for guidance from The Creator.

I took on a business partner - our real estate partnership lasted nearly 20 years - so I could take an occasional day off to be with my kids. During most of this partnership, I stayed behind the scenes.

I met Lloyd in December of 1990; in 1993 we married and I had my fourth child, Angela, soon after.

Being a single mom was one of the hardest things I have ever lived through. Keeping it together - emotionally and financially - was not easy. When I discovered Single Mothers Outreach (SMO) back in the mid 1990s, it was a new organization. Because of my past struggles, I made a vow to help other single parents whenever I could. This made SMO a perfect match for me.

Over the years I have also been very involved with the Senior Center, too. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for our Greatest Generation.
After 27-plus years of being a real estate professional, I still love what I do. The friendships and experiences I have had are priceless. I am a relationship-based person for whatever it's worth; that's just who I am! But there is a very technical component to real estate and it's incredibly important to know how to handle that aspect of the business, too. That's why I have a team of exceptional professionals helping me with the hundreds of details that come up in a real estate transaction.

Danise Davis has worked with me for over 18 years. Her roles range from supervising escrows, meeting inspectors, coordinating with lenders and title companies and putting out the "fires" that can come up at the last second.

Tracy Grant is my buyer's agent. She's been with me for over 13 years. The last few years have been very challenging for buyers, which is why Tracy and I attend network meetings to find properties for our buyers that are not even in the MLS yet. We put on our tennis shoes and go door knocking in an effort to find property, too!

Margaret Avery has work with the team for over 10 years. She helps me with marketing, customer care and follow up.

The newest member to the team is Deborah Brown. She helps with office support and processes short sales in record times. Deborah has a strong title background, too.

Cobalt Realty Group is a boutique real estate company with an environment that is designed to empower agents to give the best possible service to their clients. Colbalt supports our agents with the day-to-day details that come up so that agents can focus what matters most: serving our buyers and sellers.

My role at Cobalt is engaging the agents, along with the help of my mighty team, to show them how to work in a more effective way so that they have the time and income to enjoy their families, give back to the community and live life as a happier person.
We're always looking for homeowners, buyers and agents who appreciate our community and customer-service-minded philosophy. Wonderful things can happen when people work together!
755-1960 www.tracyteam.com