Meeting and getting to know Nadine is like being introduced to your first-grade teacher, confiding in a trusted and caring medical professional and sharing your dreams with a newfound friend – all in one person. She really is, just all that.
Our Neighborhood Association President interviews follow a generic guideline, where a variety of questions are asked to “draw out” each person’s personality, motivations, interests, etc., so that we can get a better sense of the person. Nadine’s answers generally revolved around one common theme: people. Her genuine desire to help, get to know, engage and simply “be there” was evident in nearly every story or example shared.
Nadine started her career in dentistry, where she would spend hours talking to patients learning and working on how to best create a new smile. She soon found herself expanding her helpful nature by working with neighbors, friends and family to redecorate their home, which ultimately led to a career in home staging. Her experience started at 9 years old when she would accompany her realtor mom in assessing a home’s appeal to potential buyers, and annoying her sister as a child with her constant rearranging of their shared bedroom to achieve the perfect layout. As a result, her natural evolution to becoming a licensed realtor here in Florida emerged – although she just does not feel like it’s ever “just a job.” Nadine finds the role more akin to a hobby that is incredibly satisfying and rewarding, where she is able to help others create happiness by converting a house into a home.
But how did she find herself as the president of her own neighborhood within Gateway Greens? It was quick and unplanned! Nadine and her husband were at a neighborhood gathering where the current president mentioned that he didn’t know how much longer he would be willing to hold the position. Next thing she knew, Nadine’s husband “volunteered” her for the role! The current president wasted no time and announced to the group, “Here’s your new president!” The process started and she was in fact elected.
Is the role what she expected? Absolutely yes, as Nadine had no false hopes or expectations and has no regrets. Her background of working with and for a variety of personality types helped her to adjust her approach to accommodate for individual differences. People want and like to be heard, even when the situation can’t be resolved to their satisfaction. Strong listening skills drive understanding of each person’s experiences and needs, and help to guide how she responds. Nadine admires others who are genuine, hardworking without making excuses and treat others with respect, and tries to model that behavior in everything she does, as well. The key is to care.
She loves her neighborhood and the overall community and works hard to improve engagement and participation by hosting and organizing parties and other opportunities for neighbors to develop friendships. Progress is evident, and the feedback is positive, with neighbors noting that they wanted connections, but couldn’t seem to make them happen and are grateful for the opportunity to do so, now.
Nadine’s greatest passion is her relationship with her husband, her kids and her broader family – making sure she is there when and how they need her. And no surprise: It goes further to always being willing to help friends and neighbors.
Helping their neighbors has been the primary motivation for all of the Neighborhood Association President interviews to-date. Although it’s not surprising to hear that those who volunteer their time and resources have this in common, it’s certainly been an inspiration. Thank you for your service – your efforts are appreciated!
