The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and Women in Business are excited to honor Doreen Booth of Baird & Warner Real Estate a 2024 Gottfried Woman of the Quarter.
Doreen Booth
Gottfried Woman of the Quarter Q&A
Q: Describe your business and what you do.
I am a residential realtor in the Naperville area – I love to help people make their dreams of home come true. I work with people to find what is important to them in their home sale or purchase and work as hard as I can to help them achieve that goal. I communicate frequently and provide a very high level of hospitality to my clients.
Q: What do you love most about your work?
I love helping people. I decided to be a realtor so that I could really help make a difference in people’s lives. And what is more important than helping people better their living situation? Whether it is helping clients sell their suburban homes for top dollar and move closer to family or to their retirement dream destination or helping a client who really wants a new home but was overwhelmed by the buying process – it fills me with joy to guide people on their home selling or home buying journey. My work also gives me the flexibility to volunteer – another passion. Last year, one of my volunteer clients approached me about selling their home – but it was going to be challenging to find a new home they could afford. We found a very affordable home and negotiated a “home to sell” contract, then sold their existing home. These clients were then able to go into their next phase of life in a much more comfortable manner.
Q: What led you down your career path?
I moved to Illinois in late 2017 from Seattle and realized I wanted a new career. I looked for a career with flexibility and after months of listening to a Ken Coleman Podcast and exploring where my passion met my skills, I decided on real estate.
Q: What advice do you have for other women in business?
Meet and network with people who have the same values as you do. If you can’t find a networking group – start your own! I tell people to join their local chamber and go to events! I met Alexis Rago, Marketing Mana, at a Chamber After Hours and followed up with a note. In the note I said I’d call the next week and I did!
She met with me and invited to me visit her networking group and asked them to meet with me and that led to being invited to join a Naperville Chamber networking team.
Q: Name someone in your life who inspires you and tell us why.
My mom, Joan Bennett, inspires me every day. She was a single mom who worked until she was 70 years old, moving up in the insurance industry through her own hard work and dedication. She was so proud of my success in real estate and I miss her every time I make a Facebook post or want to call her to share a new success or challenge.
Q: What other passions and hobbies do you have?
I love to read, my Kindle reading streak is 233 weeks right now. I love to read “real” books too and enjoy Andersons and Half Price Books. I also love to walk and to volunteer. I regularly volunteer for Meals on Wheels and Ride Assist Naperville. I am also very passionate about giving back to organizations in my community. I donate 15% of my commission on every home purchase and sale to the non-profit of the buyer / seller’s choice. As of September 20, 2024, I have donated over $25,000 year to date.
Q: Aside from the Chamber, how do you stay connected within the Naperville community?
I am a Board member and driver for Ride Assist Naperville, we give Naperville seniors rides to medical and dental appointments. I am a former member, president and still active in High Meadow Homeowners Association. I have been a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels for over 4 years. I am the Co-Leader of Naperville Area Women For Good – Grapevine Giving Group that gives ~ $12,000 a year to local non-profit organizations.
Gottfried Woman of the Quarter Bio
Doreen joined Baird & Warner Real Estate when she was licensed as a Realtor in 2019. She went into this new role as a residential realtor with gusto, setting out a plan for success based on what was important to her – networking, volunteering and my community. She loves to help people make their dreams of home come true. Her career as a realtor has allowed her to use a lifetime of skills, including communication, people and networking skills, in her profession.
Prior to becoming a realtor, Doreen worked in the greater Seattle area in local government, working in public policy and in city government for many years.
Doreen and her husband live in South Naperville and have 2 children, Haze, a junior at Evergreen State College in Washington State and Asher, a senior at Neuqua Valley.
Doreen Booth, Realtor, Doreen Booth Homes, Baird and Warner Real Estate
doreenboothhomes@gmail.com