Tennis, real estate come together at U.S. Open for agents
of SJH Properties were guests in the United States Tennis Association President’s Box during the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Tennis Championship this year. De Swardt is a two-time Grand Slam champion and South African Olympian in her previous career in professional tennis — where she played doubles with Katrina Adams, USTA president. Hughes holds her real estate license in both Georgia and Texas and affiliated five years ago with Hughes — who is a former college tennis player and is broker/owner of SJH Properties.
“It’s such an honor to get invited to the President’s Box, which is the equivalent of the Royal Box at Wimbledon sans Kate and William. It’s a gathering of past champions, tennis leaders and celebrities,” Hughes said. “I met former New York mayor David Dinkins who is on the board of the USTA and thanked him for making NYC a safer place to visit.”
Hughes said she and De Swardt have discovered that much of their tennis experience works in the real estate practice today.
“I think the discipline and organizational skills that is takes to be a great tennis player translates well in to being a great Realtor. Also, the travel to so many different cities and cultures and having to adapt to new surroundings quickly so that your life and game are at ease to focus on the task at hand, winning your next match,” she said. “Mostly, it has opened me to appreciate and celebrate different cultures and people groups. I’m comfortable working with people of all backgrounds because of the exposure that tennis afforded me.”
Their behind-thescenes visit included many of the biggest names in tennis including Jimmy Connors, Virginia Wade, Billie Jean King, Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams.
“Being there with a past player like Mariaan is always a blast because you never know who you might run into next. When Serena (Williams) saw Mariaan, she said, ‘Girl! How have you been?’ After a hug, she proceeded to remind Mariaan of how she was denied the 1999 Australian Mixed Doubles title because Mariaan beat her in the final.”
John Daugherty, Realtors agent Caroline
OReardon, a big supporter of the Oak Forest community, hosted a recent open house in honor of Oak Forest Park. The event also served as a pick-up for supporters of the park who were able to come by and buy commemorative yard signs — the $20 tax-deductible donation goes to park improvements. OReardon had Disney-trained caricature artist Tom Rye on hand to draw pictures for area children. The open house also served as kick-off for the upcoming “Festival of Abilities” set for Oct. 29 at Oak Forest Park.
Sharon Brier of Greenwood King Properties and her husband Mike Brier of Relative Lending took a playcation to Costa Mesa, California to close out the summer season. They rented a convertible to breeze through Laguna and Newport Beach as well and let out their inner child at Knott’s Berry Farm.
Across the street from Knotts, they were game for participation in a dinner theater of high seas with acrobatic pirates and a princess and her handmaidens. On their way back to the trendy Avenue of the Arts Hotel, they stopped for an oceanside bonfire s’mores experience in Huntington Beach operated by Waterfront Adventures. Their reserved beach plot had their names on it…. Even if only for those few hours, Brier reports it was a “fine piece of real estate for California dreamin’.” Russell Warmack with Coldwell Banker United, Realtors spent much of his weekend running a special event to provide low-cost pet vaccines and support a local no-kill animal shelter.
Things went great at The Kitten House Rescue Adoption Center in Northwest Houston at 5050 FM 1960 west, but Warmack pointed out the need continues and is constant for the cat/kitten rescue and shelter, which relies solely on the generosity of the public.
For more information go to www.kittenhouserescue.org.