Connect Magazine January/February 2018 | Page 12

D onna Guido has a vision for 2018 - “Taking It to the Next Level” across many aspects of the Association. Get to know your new Association President a little more, including her plans to improve the membership experience. Q: Tell us about your beginnings, When/where you were born? Where have you lived? I was born in Queens, New York and grew up on Long Island. I married my husband Phil in 1986 and lived in Northport & East Northport on Long Island in New York. Our kids were born there and in 1998 we moved to Fort Myers. moved to Florida until I got my real estate license. Q: What are the things you like to do most in your spare time? Travel, spend time at the beach, shop, and read. Q: Family life – Husband, Kids, Grandkids, etc.? I married Phil in 1986 in New York and we have two children - Jennifer is 26 and Christopher is 22. Jen lives in Austin, Texas and works at UT for the Longhorn Network as a Senior Videographer, and Chris goes to UCF in Orlando and will graduate in May 2019 with a degree in Video Game Design and a minor in IT. Phil is the Controller for Bonita Bay Community Association. Q: When and why did you come to SWFL? I moved with my husband, kids, and parrot, Buca, in July Q: Goals for the Association in 2018? 1998 so that we could enjoy the warm climate, boating, As a team we will focus on positive leadership to engage beaches, and the Florida lifestyle. our members and deliver exceptional Education programs and enhance our Communication. With this we will raise Q: How did you get into the real estate business? the bar and the professionalism of our members within I have always been in sales and everyone always told me the Association. Through our new Member Engagement I should be selling homes. When my son started in school Committee we will enhance the broker’s experience, full time, I got my license. promote our Realtor® members and be out in the community doing service projects. Our members will be Q: What did you do before becoming a Realtor®? well educated serving our community with up-to-date I worked in retail management for a sporting goods chain knowledge and technologies. We will “take it to the next in New York and then for a specialty ladies clothing store. I level.” then went into outside sales and sold Electrolux vacuums. After having my daughter I wanted to go back to work and Q: Favorite thing about being a Realtor®? I became a Tupperware Manager. It was a great job to have Helping people achieve the goal of homeownership. while my kids were young. I still sold Tupperware when we 12 RPCRA.ORG | JAN/FEB 2018