She has just celebrated her 65th birthday but after 25 years selling homes in Rotorua, agent and auctioneer Cheryl Campbell won't be retiring any time soon.
Briefly outline your current position/s and career to date.
Residential salesperson/auctioneer with McDowell Professionals Rotorua - 25 years with them and two years prior with Professionals Gisborne.
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
I was a typist with Gisborne Photo News magazine, produced for the community in Gisborne. I learnt I was not cut out to be restricted to office work only.
What do you see as the greatest opportunity and greatest challenge in your sector in the year ahead?
The greatest opportunity is to capitalise on the increased real estate activity that we are currently experiencing.
The greatest challenge is that despite our last four years of being a depressed real estate market in Rotorua, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel and our challenge is to encourage a lift in the market, not only in sales activity but also in property values. An extension of that challenge is creating confidence among the buying public to create this drive. Many people out in the market place have had enough of the doom and gloom and I believe they are "chomping at the bit" to move forward and celebrate a bit of the positive.
What three skills or qualities are essential in your role?
It takes many more, here are five: self belief, empathy, honesty, passion, professionalism.