CREATING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder, Real Estate Agents Recycle, ( Now Creating Sustainable Communities, One Home at a Time. )
- Co - Founder, Retired REALTOR
As a Realtor for 25 years, I helped hundreds of clients sell the homes they had lived in for decades. Many of these homes were filled with household items they did not plan to take with them when they moved on.
More often than not, home sellers discover the task of disposing of their unwanted items to be overwhelming and are dismayed to learn that many of their furnishings, treasured collectibles, and antique items are not worth what they thought they were. Many do not want their unwanted furnishings and household items to go to waste. They have every intention of donating and recycling them but as the closing date approaches and time runs out, they usually resort to getting a dumpster to dispose of what they don't want.
After watching this wasteful process play out multiple times and rescuing usable items that I distributed to organizations such as A Hand Up that help people in need, I decided there had to be a more organized process for home sellers to dispose of their unwanted items. I envisioned a program in which Realtors could help their clients donate and recycle their unwanted possessions in an environmentally friendly manner. Betty McCoy who had been our tenant for 14 years was also part of my inspiration.
Along with reducing waste and finding a better way to serve our seller clients, I wanted to start an initiative that would help people in the community who struggle economically. Since homeowners generally purge their excess stuff when moving, Realtors are well-positioned to make a difference in the lives of those who are transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing by securing usable donations. I also saw an opportunity to create jobs that paid living wages by hiring people to do the coordination and distribution of those unwanted household furnishings and recyclable items to appropriate recycling centers.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator for West Hartford
- Recycling Program Advisor
Katherine Breer Bruns is the Recycling Coordinator for West Hartford, CT. She is an experienced educator who is passionate about environmental sustainability with a special interest in recycling education, and food and water waste reduction. She is an avid composter and has led composting workshops. In addition to this work Katherine is an adult ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, teaching immigrants and refugees in the greater Hartford region. She has 3 grown children who compost, and are avid environmentalists who teach her new eco tricks (which are really old tricks we've just forgotten about).
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Member of the REAcycle Board
Leroy has been a member of the REAcycle board since the beginning of the organization. He has worked in financial services for 20 years in a variety of leadership roles and is currently Vice President of Business Process Management with Prudential Financial. In addition to financial services, Leroy has worked in the aerospace and industrial business segments.
Leroy has a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Cornell University and a master's degree in industrial engineering management from Western Michigan University. He resides in West Hartford with his wife and two sons.
Job Titles:
- Featured Certified Real Estate Agent
Job Titles:
- Business Advisor
- Real Estate Agent
As a full time licensed Broker Associate who services the Greater Hartford and the Farmington Valley, I care about what happens to our towns and members of our community. As a Realtor my hope was to help all members of each community realize the joy of home ownership, yet there is a population who cannot even find affordable housing and once they do they have no goods to furnish their housing.
While I serve both buyers and sellers with all their real estate needs and am extremely passionate about what I do, I learned about and leveraged the services of Real Estate Agents Recycle (REAcycle). I became active in REAcycle since I was tired of seeing so many incredible household items, furniture and clothing being placed in a dumpster which was headed to the landfill versus those items being shared with those in need.
Many of my clients benefited from the services I provided through REAcycle. They did not have to worry about how to "dispose" of their unwanted items. I worked diligently to get those items picked up and provided to those in need; this alone brought pure joy to the families I served.
My greatest gift to my clients is educating them on the home buying process from start to finish and providing my expertise and patience to ensure that each and every transaction provides a great experience.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Real Estate Agent
As a REALTOR serving the greater Hartford, CT area, my goal is to guide homeowners and buyers through the maze of selling or buying a home with the least amount of stress and the best outcome. Having moved with my family many times over the years, I have a personal understanding of the stress and anxiety both buyers and sellers have during this life changing event.
For SELLERS downsizing after many years in their home where they are surrounded by the things they love, or those who have decided to move after just a short time in their home, moving is a stressful, life changing event. I am uniquely qualified to assist my clients and ease them through the process of selling their home. Along with years of staging, which is critical, and my organizational skills, Real Estate Agents Recycle (REAcycle) has been invaluable for my clients both financially and personally. Donating furniture and household items to someone who is in need and having REAcycle know where they will do the most good helps my client's part with their belongings. REAcycle also makes the transition easier with trained coordinators who will pack up their home and designate where items will be delivered.