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Name: Stacie Curtis
Business: CW Solutions, real estate services
Industry: Other — Real Estate Services
Location: East Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.
Reason for starting: I launched my real estate services company in 2002 after working for a firm that was keeping me from rising up the corporate ladder. From the onset, my vision was to grow and advance the principles of ethical site acquisition, right-of-way processes and improve such professions. My company’s mission is to deliver superior services and exceed customer expectations by fully understanding customers’ needs and providing expert solutions to any land rights issues encountered.
I’ve been involved in the real estate industry for roughly 25 years, holding various positions throughout the years. Starting my business was an opportunity to control my future. Although I was working in a male dominated field, I felt I had the experience and skill level to be successful as an entrepreneur.
How do you define success? Business integrity is the heart of our company’s culture, and it’s what defines our success. We have established our integrity by building strong relationships with our clients. We maintain a workplace philosophy that puts clients first, which is why they have come to trust us to respond to their needs in an effective and timely manner.
Related: Read about another real estate entrepreneur here.
Biggest success: Along with my business partner, we were instrumental in writing, developing, and pushing through New Jersey Senate Bill No. 2989, making it easier for our wireless clients to construct, modify and install their networks. Facilitating the approval process has benefitted both wireless carriers and local municipalities. As long as certain criteria are met, wireless companies can now bypass zoning and planning board approvals and go right to the permitting process. No other state in the country has been able to pass similar legislation.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? I am challenged with freeing myself from the operational details of running the business so that I can focus on growth opportunities and profitability. To address that issue, I have built a strong team to handle operational responsibilities so I can dedicate more time to strategic priorities and future goals.
To develop new business, I took a strategic step toward diversifying my company’s customer base. I began by bidding on utility projects and successfully securing a contract for title, abstracting and right-of-way acquisition services with a major public utility company. Recently, my firm began serving the pipeline and oil and gas industries. As a growing business, we have made internal changes regarding personnel by hiring employees as well as independent contractors who are well-established in the industries we serve. To pave the way for future success, I also hired a public relations and marketing firm to establish good PR, redesign my company’s website, and promote the company at events and tradeshows. My firm is also using social media marketing tools such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to attract new customers and build stronger relationships with existing customers.
Related: Read about entrepreneur helping businesses grow their brand here.
Who is your most important role model? My Aunt Marie Greco, who is now 85 years old, was my role model growing up. I greatly admired her because she was a self-made businesswoman who started a beauty salon in the 1940s. At the time, the role of women in the workplace was dramatically changing. My aunt inspired me from a young age because of her tenacity and business acumen. She managed to put herself through school, run her own business and become an independent woman. Her salon, Marie’s Place, was such a success that she later opened a second location which she appropriately named Marie’s Other Place.
[box_light]Website www.cwcsi.com
Twitter @CWCSI
Facebook www.facebook.com/CWCSInc[/box_light]
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Edited by The Story Exchange