Real people: Mother/daughter team shares service in Guatemala

Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realtyâs Robin Conner and her daughter Jane shared a special vacation of service through Orphan Outreach in Guatemala. Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realtyâs Robin Conner and her daughter Jane shared a special vacation of service through Orphan Outreach in Guatemala. Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Real people: Mother/daughter team shares service in Guatemala 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Robin Conner, senior vice president at Martha Turner Sotheby's International Real Estate, and her daughter Jane recently from an exceptional shared experience in Guatemala.

"Kate and I were 'all in' while serving in Guatemala through Orphan Outreach," she said. "We were honored to visit the homes of families and transform eleven cinder blocks, some clay and bits of metal into a stove that will no longer fill homes with soot and smoke."

Conner said they were inspired by the people they met.

"The perseverance of the moms and dads who want a better life for their children is heroic. From the orphanages and community care center to a school for children with Down Syndrome, they are all making a powerful impact in Guatemala and we will be forever touched by them."

February may seem far away to most, but for Tony Burt of RE/MAX Associates Northeast the 2018 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is right around the corner. "The rodeo never stops," he said. Burt became a lifetime member of the rodeo at the age of 12 in 1978 and became a committee volunteer in 1994.

"As one of 300-plus elected members of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's board of directors, I have the honor and privilege of serving over 33,000 volunteers on 107 committees," Burt said.

He credits his mother Pat with his interest in the rodeo. His efforts today are supported by his business partner agent Robin Culet.

The team at John Daugherty, Realtors recently invited Travis Youkin, deputy director of Upper Kirby Management District, for a standing room only update on projects in that area.

Youkin provided an update on Levy Park, a hidden gem in the Upper Kirby District currently completing a major $15 million renovation. The park features curated year-round programming, spectacular water features, a performance pavilion, an event lawn, a dog park, and a community garden. He also outlined an aggressive capital program addressing all aspects of the district's infrastructure.

While she had never set foot in a pawn shop before, Greenwood King's Sharon Brier decided, of course, to make a party of her recent find of Wrights Pawn Shop, which she describes as a place "where guilt presents from bad-boy husbands are taken."

She corralled five client/friend gal pals for a field trip to the high-end pawn palace followed by lunch and mah jongg.

The demands of real estate sent Brier off to a closing while the women were still considering a Chanel bag and Cartier watch. She later had to absent herself from the lunch soiree for a listing. Few manage to multi-task (or celebrate) like Brier.

Jasmine Ali and her family were presented a $1,000 check by Sharon Teusink, manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene Champions office as winner of a company-wide open house sweepstakes. Agents had more than 500 open houses citywide and visitor's names went into a drawing. Ali visited the open house of Champions agent, Nathania Reed. Ali said she was going to use the money for payments on her new home.

More new agents than ever before signed up the Champions School of Real Estate Spring Career Fair held in Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio.

The Houston-based company has been hosting the event since 2010. Champions CEO Rita Santamaria recently hosted Nancy and Ruben Villarreal, owners of RE/MAX Integrity, on the Champions webcast featuring "Spouses Selling Houses." The pair shared the success secrets of 20 years of professional partnership within a 30-year marriage.

Hundreds of professionals recently attended the 2017 Annual Texas Association of Real Estate Brokers Conference at the Hilton Hotel NASA Clear Lake. Stewart Title's Larry Warren, senior division president, was a featured speaker addressing the changing market as well as the history of the company, which began in 1893 in Galveston.

Judi Griggs is a writer who lives in Houston in the winter and Buffalo in the summer - because the reverse would be ridiculous. Contact her at realnewshouston@gmail.com or through judigriggs.com.