As a firm believer in the innate human drive to create and leave a lasting legacy, my creative journey has taken various forms over the years, evolving alongside personal growth. From ambitious dreams of developing beachfront property in the Dominican Republic to navigating the intricacies of real estate sales. My path has been marked by resilience and a commitment to making a meaningful impact on the world. In this narrative, I share the twists and turns that led me from being a real estate sales agent to a dedicated developer, underscoring the challenges and triumphs that have shaped my journey.

I believe that we are built to create, and leave our mark on the world to have a legacy and not be forgotten.

My creative urges have morphed over the years as I have grown and evolved. My first dream was to move to the Dominican Republic, buy land on the beach, and build a development. This was before the big move in 2006. So this dream, realized, has been 2 decades in the making.

The moral of the story: There’s no such thing as overnight success. Stop believing that anyone wakes up with the stars aligned perfectly. My transition to developer has been far from easy and I am still licking some wounds from the process, but I’m here and want to share this part of my journey.

When I first moved to Punta Cana I was a real estate sales agent. I joined a local office and started learning everything I could. I had never actually sold residential real estate, as I had spent the first 5 years of my real estate career in Philadelphia fixing and flipping old brownstones in the city, and selling any additional opportunities to investors. I had previously never been concerned about carpet or paint color or any other aesthetics. As an engineer and investor, my real estate experiences were always about the numbers. Period. When I moved to the Dominican Republic I shifted my focus to buyers who were looking for homes for personal use, with investment income as a bonus. I liked living in paradise and helping other people to get their piece of it. As the years progressed and I established a name for myself as a great seller, I began getting approached by builders and developers to consult with them on what people wanted to buy, and what they should build, so my team and I could sell their projects fast. At the time, it was 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, close to the beach, with high quality termination. That was how Cortecito was developed. It’s a nice condo town of small communities with mostly 2/2 condos, and they continue to stay in very high demand for rental. Cortecito grew as fast as we could sell.

In 2010, as I established my brokerage, an undeveloped piece of land across the street captivated my attention. Through established relationships with local builders, I secured a payment plan from a major landowner for its purchase. However, complications arose when a builder, initially a collaborator, perceived my land ownership as a threat. This led to a tumultuous development entry, strained relationships, and an undeveloped lot adjacent to mine. To avoid conflicts with other builders, I shifted focus to a commercial project, resulting in a partial undertaking due to the builder's interference. Despite setbacks, we adapted, negotiated for nearby land, and uncovered the opportunity for what is now known as Maple Beach, transitioning ultimately into residential sales.

We conceptualized the project, secured permits, commenced sales, initiated construction, and then the 2020 pandemic struck. Construction in the Dominican Republic came to a standstill, borders closed, imports faced delays, and expenses surged. To adapt, we transitioned to online platforms—utilizing showings, webinars, and FaceTime—to remotely sell our properties. During this period, I maintained a low profile regarding my development involvement due to also owning a real estate company representing various builders in the area. Past experiences of developer jealousy, which previously impacted our mall project, made discretion crucial to protect our business.

My husband aimed to oversee development, while my focus centered on providing a lucrative opportunity for investors, given that investment served as the cornerstone of my real estate background. This is where the innovative "lock-out" feature comes into play. This unique feature allows for the flexible configuration of two smaller apartments – either closing them off to rent as separate units or leaving the double door locks open to rent the space as one large apartment. Tailored for investors, the concept has garnered widespread acclaim and popularity. Our ongoing promotion of this unique feature has fueled high demand within the community, resulting in owners experiencing the best of both worlds. They can reside on one side of the condominium while generating rental income from the other, all without compromising privacy.

My unwavering commitment is directed towards Boardwalk Developments in 2024 and beyond. Serving as the umbrella company for our current five ongoing projects, we are dedicated to fostering growth and success. As part of our strategic initiatives, we are proud to host investment tours to Punta Cana, proudly sponsored by Boardwalk Developments. This endeavor aligns with my vision to surpass previous achievements and set new sales records, marking a significant milestone in our journey of development and excellence.

As I embrace my identity as a developer and shift away from day-to-day brokerage operations, my commitment to building the Boardwalk brand and fostering growth in the Punta Cana community remains unwavering. The challenges encountered along this journey have only fueled my determination to leave a lasting impact, not just through structures but through the creation of a vibrant community. Living my best life in paradise, I invite others to join me on this exciting venture, promising a future marked by innovation, resilience, and the continuous pursuit of excellence.

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