The Power of "&" is Accentuated by Our Individuality
You’ve seen our names and faces on our websites, at our open houses and supporting various activities within the community. You might even know a few things about some of our team members. But we thought it would be fun to share little-known facts about ourselves so you can get to know us better. Read on for more about our team members!
Beth Benker, Buyer Specialist
She hopes to fulfill her bucket list item of a Tour of Europe, preferably during the Tour de France or Giro D'Italia, when she and her husband turn 50 and their daughter, Dylan, turns 16. Beth and her family love the crazy atmosphere you experience when watching a professional cycling race live!
Her favorite family trip was to Quebec City in 2019, where they fell in love with the culture - quaint cafes and galleries, with mountains for hiking and biking within an hour.
When she's not working, you may find her escaping to the serenity of the mountains in Vermont, letting go of any day-to-day stressors and skiing, hiking or biking with her family.
A sucker for a period piece, her binge-worthy shows include lots of PBS offerings, including Masterpiece Theater, Downton Abbey and, most recently, Bridgerton.
Her favorite food to cook and eat is homemade pizza.
Ann Cohen, Listing Specialist
Her bucket list item is to see a Murmuration…and before you head to Google (like we did), it’s a phenomenon that results when hundreds or thousands of starlings fly in swooping, intricately coordinated patterns through the sky.
Her favorite place to visit is Southeast Asia.
On the weekend, when she’s not working it in the real estate world, you’ll find her engaging in sports with water or wheels.
She identifies with a couple of different spirit animals, depending on the circumstances, either the Road Runner or a (social) butterfly.
Her current preferred architectural style is contemporary and sleek.
Thais Collins, Buyer Specialist
Her first concert ever was Michael Jackson, with her mom and best friend at age 10, when he came to Brasil for an arena show. They cried and loved every minute of it.
Although terrified of heights, she is also thrilled by them, loving a good crazy rollercoaster.
Her bucket list includes a long Japan trip with a couple of ski days in between. She thinks skiing Mount Fuji would be so incredible.
As a child, her dream job was to be a flight attendant, so she could “travel the world for free.”
Her favorite house styles are modern: clean lines, large windows, interaction with nature and lighting, open spaces that are reminiscent of typical houses in her home city of Sao Paulo.
Melissa Courtney, Agent Coordinator
She hopes to one day travel to southeastern Europe and explore Greece.
Her favorite travel memories are from her multiple family trips to Aruba, including the one she just took!
On a typical weekend, you’ll find her seeking out new trails to hike.
Her first concert as a teenager featured country music favorites Sugarland & Rascal Flatts.
Her go-to comfort-binge TV show is Greys Anatomy.
Maureen Eliason, Transaction Manager
Enjoying a river cruise through Europe is a hot item on her Bucket List.
Her favorite trip was a two-week vacation to Italy with her husband in October of 2019 to celebrate their 25th anniversary.
A typical weekend is filled with appetizers and cocktails with friends around the kitchen island.
Her celebrity crush is shared by a few of us in the office (and probably thousands of people nationwide!) - NFL quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
When she was young, she used to catch snakes by hand…until one bit her! Now they are her biggest fear.
Malorie Enneguess, Marketing Coordinator
Her favorite travel memories are from her multiple family trips to Phoenix, Arizona.
A top bucket list item is to go parasailing.
Did someone say tacos?? Taco Tuesday will forever be her favorite meal.
For some comfort TV binge-watching, she’ll turn on a good Friends marathon.
Atop her list of fears – birds! Or anything with wings, really…
Steph Fairchild, Listings Manager
She looks forward to taking an extended road trip with her son after he graduates high school. He can weigh in on the destination once he’s older…they have a few years to think about it!
Her favorite trip was to a destination she’d love to visit again. Many years ago, she visited Cinque Terra, a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the Italian Riviera coastline.
On a typical weekend, you’ll find her hiking, skiing, or laying low at home. In non-COVID times, you’ll find her enjoying live music.
Preferred architectural styles include modern homes & timber frame houses.
Her solitary tattoo is of a mountain sunset, which holds a special meaning for her (she didn’t elaborate on the meaning…).
Katie Gerstel, Lead Agent - south Shore
A couple of her (unrelated) Bucket List items are to buy and boat and to travel to Napa, spending days at the winery with girlfriends or her mom and sisters.
Typical weekend pastimes, aside from her real estate gig, include home projects like painting, organizing and decorating.
Her preferred architectural style is a colonial-style farmhouse.
The Office is her favorite binge-watched TV show.
Her favorite escapes are either to the beach or hiking in the woods.
Andrea Gray, buyer Specialist Transaction Coordinator
Wish list items for her revolve around travel – a trip to Hawaii and heli ski and snowcat trips with her family in Montana and Canada.
Some of her favorite vacations included skiing Whistler and visiting her parents' home countries of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
She is fluent in the Czech language.
Most weekends, you’ll find her on the sidelines, cheering on one of her 4 boys in basketball, baseball, tennis, track or soccer! Her family also loves skiing together at Loon Mountain and enjoys the summer activities there as well.
She loves the New England class style homes but also appreciates contemporary homes by the beach and mountains.
Darcy Heintz-Perkins, Buyer Specialist
She intends to run a half marathon in the near future…and now that it is out there in the world, we can hold her accountable! She would also like to go on a family trip to Africa, on a safari, to see the beautiful animals.
Her favorite place to visit is a tiny island in the northern Bahamas called Man-O-War Cay, where she’s been going since she was a baby. The island, the community and the sparkling turquoise water make this her happy place. She is lucky to have traveled all over the world, she loves learning about different people, cultures and architecture. One of her favorite trips was to India- with her aunt, a few years ago.
She loves to spend time outside- running, walking, gardening or hiking with her family. They love finding new trails to explore. On chilly or rainy days, she loves nothing more than to curl up with a good book.
Her spirit animal is an elephant. They are brave, kind and strong, all traits she tries to embody.
While partial to New England farmhouses, she tries to find something to love about all architectural styles.
Ali Karas, Buyer Specialist
She does NOT like tights. Just thinking about nylons is like listening to nails on a chalk board for Ali!
She has never watched a full season of any reality show.
What’s your take on bell peppers? Ali likes them raw, but not cooked.
Yo quiero Taco Bell? Nope. She has never eaten Taco Bell.
She once took a full course on Shamanism.
Suzanne Koller, Visionary & Listing Specialist
She has too many bucket list items to choose just one. Top choices are to visit Paris, spend a month in Tuscany, explore Scotland, and experience a safari.
A couple of her favorite family trips have been to a ranch in Montana and sailing in the Virgin Islands.
When she can squeeze in free time on the weekend, you’ll find her enjoying barn events with June, cheering on Wes in his sports, going hiking with dogs, and spending time with great friends around a fire!
While she loves dogs, her spirit animal is a monkey. They are hilarious, interesting, adorable, and seem goofy yet introspective!
She is your historic home nerd, loving all styles, but has always been drawn to New England Farmhouses and barns. She’s also fascinated by Tudors and thinks Bungalows are special.
Carey Sclafani, Marketing Director
Her most humbling job was delivering newspapers her senior year in high school.
She once met Jordan Knight (of NKOTB) at a bar in Boston, before they reunited…and managed to inadvertently insult him. Whoops.
Traveling is a favorite pastime, so much so that it’s hard to pick a favorite vacation. Top 3 are probably Rome/Tuscany (where she got engaged), Hawaii and her honeymoon Mediterranean cruise.
She LOVES Victorian-style houses. All of that trim and those turrets – swoon!
She has run 3 full marathons, including Boston the year of the bombing.
Becky Venuti, Integrator & Team Director
She loves music to the point that if there is none playing in her house, she exclaims "what am I gonna say?" and her kids cheer back: "you need music in your life!" She obsessively creates playlists on Spotify.
Her favorite concert ever was Eric Church (and favorite musician) on her birthday in 2019. She scored tickets in the 10th row and swears he was singing to her half the time! (She's going back this winter in the front row!) An extra fun fact: her first concert ever was Janet Jackson, Rhythm Nation Tour in 1990.
With the desire to entertain people and share good food, her ultimate dream is to someday own a small food market with a private restaurant/wine bar out back where she creates limited dishes each night & mingles with the patrons.
Speaking of entertaining, her favorite way to spend her time is in a kitchen, wearing an apron (no joke), cooking and drinking and laughing with friends and family (with music playing, of course)
She would love to go back to Italy with no agenda, taking cooking classes, drinking wine, and hanging with the locals.
Lauren Wyllie, Buyer Specialist
Summers are usually spent on the Cape, visiting different beaches and ice cream shops. Favorite ice cream places are Sundae School, Ice Cream Cafe, and Smittys. For beaches, she prefers Nauset, Beachcomber, Sandy Neck, and Craigville.
In her spare time, she enjoys making charcuterie boards.
Her favorite TV shows are Schitts Creek, New Girl, and The Office.
She hopes to one day paraglide over Interlaken, Switzerland.
When she played basketball, she had 2 buzzer beater half court shots!