Team Member Spotlight: Noelle Queen
Team Member Spotlight:
Noelle Queen
Meet Noelle Queen. Her eight-year long partnership with Michael Dreyfus involves all aspects of the team’s business, but perhaps her greatest talent lies in the ability to see the true potential of a property and quickly identify the aesthetic improvements that will enhance its marketability.
Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I grew up in a suburb outside of Chicago and dreamed of working at a fashion magazine in New York City. Then in college I met my husband of 26 years, Bill, and we ended up moving to Fort Collins, CO right after we were married. A major change of plans to say the least! Luckily, we then lived in Boston for eight years, so I finally got my dream of living in a big city.
Q: How do you balance your career and family?
As my kids have gotten older it’s become a lot easier. After my third child was born, I took ten years off and was fortunately able to be a stay-at-home mom. By the time I went back to work my children were 10, 13 and 15 years of age. That was such a busy time, but the kids were pretty self-sufficient. As you can imagine, residential real estate requires working many nights and weekends. Fortunately, my husband has always been very supportive and has stepped in at the last minute to help with things on the home front, as well as helping me take care of the occasional work emergency.
Q: What do you like most about working with The Dreyfus Group?
It is a such a pleasure to work with a group of highly professional talented agents that are passionate about what they do. It is a very collaborative environment and I feel supported in a way that I don't think would be possible if I didn’t work on a team.
Q: What has been your favorite listing you have ever worked on?
It's difficult to pick a favorite. Since I've been working with Mike, we've sold over 100 properties together and some of them have been pretty spectacular. If I had to pick just one, I guess it would be 221 Kingsley Avenue in Palo Alto, which we sold in 2014. This was a trust sale of a grand home built in 1901 located in the historic Professorville district. The buyer ended up rotating and relocating the house to face Ramona Street as part of a large-scale renovation. The project had to be approved by the Historic Review Board before the sale could be finalized. I attended the meetings at town hall and found the entire process fascinating.
Q: What is an ability you wish you had?
I really wish I could sing! My mother has a beautiful voice and I can hardly carry a tune. I mouth the words of the hymns at church, so I won't offend anyone sitting near me.
Q: What is the one thing you cannot resist?
Dark chocolate peppermint bark. It's particularly difficult this time of year to avoid it.
Q: If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do with The Dreyfus Group, what would it be?
As a real estate agent, I think it’s important to find your niche. What I strive to be is a highly-organized project manager that provides extraordinary client service. There are two things I love about my job: 1) I am obsessed with interior design and architecture and 2) selling and purchasing a home is very stressful, even when it's for a happy reason. I’m in a position to help and protect our clients through this process every day, which I find very rewarding.
Q: What volunteering or passion projects do you do outside of work?
I co-chair Hotel de Zink at my church each year during the month of March. For the past 21 years, 12 Bay Area churches have taken turns each month providing food and shelter for approximately 15 homeless men and women. In March, our church opens its doors to the homeless for the night and our congregation provides home-cooked meals for the guests. I've also been involved in the annual Gamble Garden Spring Tour for many years, recently serving as a head hostess at one of the gardens.