Virginia Kettler

Would you believe I was a world traveler by age 9 and already had Aggie roots deeper than most Former Students of Texas A&M University? It's true. As the daughter of an Air Force officer, I'd seen the world before I turned 10 – living in Japan and Bermuda. Meanwhile, my maternal great-grandfather held the distinction of being the first band director at Texas A&M College. During my childhood my grandfather, Edward Holick, and his brothers were busy running the family-owned business in North Gate, right across from the university. You know it as Holick's Boot Shop. How well I remember the visits to the boot shop with the smell of fresh-cut leather and polishing oil. As a child, I felt right at home with the cadets who came to the shop to order their Senior Boots. I lived in a world of uniforms and they fit right in. When my dad retired from the service, we moved to Bryan where I attended high school and lived a "normal" life. And, of course, I continued the family tradition by graduating from Texas A&M with a degree in business. Years later, I'd go back to A&M and earn a master's degree in educational human resources. As purchasing director for the City of College Station, I honed my skills in negotiation and served as president of the Texas Purchasing Society and the local Better Business Bureau. Negotiating contracts and services for the City as purchasing director was especially fulfilling to me. I was able to save the City thousands of dollars -- more than $100,000 on one contract -- and received numerous awards for my negotiating skills, including a coveted award from the city manager. It was during my tenure with the City of College Station that I discovered my real love – real estate. After retiring from the city (in my 40s), I pursued my passion whole-heartedly on a full-time basis. I'd been practicing real estate part-time for several years prior to retiring. After 11 years in the business, my dream of opening my own real estate business came true. My best friend, Brenda Sims Watson, formerly director of communications for The Texas A&M University System, and I founded Sherlock Realtors where we "…take the mystery out of buying and selling real estate." Her award-winning marketing strategies have helped build a real estate business unlike any other. Our properties move faster and our buyers better understand the real estate process so they make more informed decisions. When you pursue your passion, every day is a gift you can't wait to unwrap. Our passion shows in the way we do business and the way we get results. Let us put our talents and enthusiasm to work for you. http://www.yourcollegestationhome.com