PRESS

Petaluma Argus-Courier Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999

Real Estate Profile
Gael Adair Grove

Gael Grove followed in her grandfather's footsteps to work in the Real Estate industry. She is the daughter of a corporate worker who was transferred across the country and back again, an experience that, "gave me the understanding needed to empathize and assist my clients during the stressful times of a move."

"My grandfather, George W. Adair founded Adair realty in the early 1900's. It was a very successful Real Estate, Development and Loan company in Atlanta, GA. That history caused me to seek out a career in Real Estate.'

She graduated from San Marin High School in 1972 with honors and earned her bachelor of arts degree in English at Dominican College of San Rafael in 1976.

"One day I was holding a bachelor of arts degree in one hand and rocking my then six-month-old colicky baby in the other, wondering what I was going to do with my life" Grove reminisced. "Gazing at the want ads, knowing I needed to work and knowing I wanted a career not just a job, the Realtor wanted ads jumped out at me. I took it as a sign, called the number, and six months later I was a Real Estate agent at the ripe old age of 23. The rest is history."

Grove has been a citizen of Petaluma since 1979 and a volunteer for many Petaluma activities in which her kids were participants, including Petaluma Little League, girls softball and soccer. She has been a member of St. James Parish since 1979.

Today, Grove is the "mom of three incredible kids." Son Drew is 21 and serving a hitch in the Navy, now stationed in Jacksonville, FL. He was a Casa Grande graduate who was the most valuable defensive football player in 1997. Kerry, 18, and Shannon, 12 round out the siblings.

"Splitting time between being a mom and a Realtor has never been easy," Grove said. "There were many night when the kids were little that I would bundle them up and take them to a presentation or a showing. As they grew, I cheered them on in the stands of the Little League field or the side lines of a softball or soccer game all decked out in my business suit and heels. Real Estate is definitely in their blood as well as in mine."

Grove has been a Realtor in Sonoma and Marin counties since 1979, working with Frank Howard Allen Realtors since 1982, out of their Novato office. She has consistently placed in the top 20 percent of company sales. In 1989, she moved to the Petaluma office, becoming manager in 1990 when the office was located on Petaluma Boulevard. During that time, the staff increased from three agents to twenty and moved to the present location at 904 E. Washington St. in a state of the art office that she designed. Grove returned to full time sales in 1994.

Grove served on the Petaluma Chapter of Realtors from 1993-1994, co-chairing the Social Events for the Chapter. She has been a three time nominee for the Petaluma Agent of the Year Award. She has achieved Top Producer Status for FHA since 1980. She was the Petaluma office Top Agent in 1989 and has consistently received client satisfaction awards. She has been a Multi-Million Dollar Award winner, the first of which occurred her first year in Real Estate.

Now at almost age 45, "I've learned how precious life is and I'm having more fun and enjoying life more than ever before. Those who coined the phrase 'life begins at 40' were certainly correct. Why, just three weeks ago, I fulfilled a dream I never thought I'd ever muster the nerve to do - I went skydiving! This experience was one of the highlights of my life. Next to the birthing of my children, it's the ultimate high!

I love learning something new every day, both in Real Estate and learning the new and wonderful technological information that will aid us in our business for years to come. I feel that mastery of computers, the internet and all the software available to Realtors in this day and age is a must. I am proud to say I was the first Petaluma Realtor to have developed an individual web page which is now a prime source of business for me. I spent hours and hours teaching myself the ins and outs of computers and the software needed which has paid off a thousand fold.

I feel I have been able to consistently achieve success for the last twenty and a half years in this business because I thoroughly love it. I love watching the faces of my clients when they are moving into their first home. I love the reactions of those clients moving into their dream home. I love the satisfied looks of my clients, who have just successfully sold a piece of property and can go to their next dream or adventure. I feel that my clients can sense this and know that I will be the best Realtor they will ever have. My 'business is bound by commitment.'"