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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 25 A U G U S T 5 , 2 0 1 9 A s a child, Kim Swan was immersed in the Swan Agency, in Bar Harbor, a real estate and insurance business founded by her par- ents, Cary and June Swan. When she went to college, her father encouraged her to obtain her real estate license and sell homes during the summer. at turned out well, so she joined the family company in 1981 and bought the real estate division in 1994. Today, Swan has grown the busi- ness into a juggernaut that is a market leader in Hancock County for overall real estate sales and a market leader statewide in hospitality properties. Dealing in multi-million-dollar list- ings, in 2018 the agency brokered about $75 million in sold volume. e agency was the first in Maine to specialize in bed-and-breakfast properties. In 2006, Swan affiliated with Sotheby's International Realty, a move that gained a global customer base. "We're always growing," says Swan. "Even through down times, like 2008 and 2009, we didn't stop. We grow because we have brokers who are very aware of putting their clients first." "Kim's energy, passion and knowl- edge of the real estate and hospitality industry are evident when seeing her interact with clients," says Erica Brooks, who started at the agency in 2006 under Swan's mentorship and is today one of the company's top producers. "She has the ability to be humble yet confident at the same time. ose are qualities that truly make buyers and sellers feel at ease when pursuing or selling their often largest investments." Personal attention Swan herself has seemingly non-stop energy. e Swan Agency Sotheby's International Realty has about 30 independent brokers at offices in Bar Harbor, Northeast Harbor and Blue Hill, considered three of Maine's stra- tegic locations for value retention and growth. ere is also a brokerage team in greater Portland. Swan person- ally focuses on business development and luxury and commercial sales, and oversees the agency's marketing, public relations and social media programs. She's an active real estate investor with a concentration in hos- pitality properties. She produced a show called "Living Acadia TV," a marketing tool that featured listings in the context of lifestyle segments. She served 10 years as a Bar Harbor town councilor and was awarded the 2017 Cadillac Award by the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce. Other interests include music and film production. She's the founder and creative director of the Bar Harbor Designer Showhouse, a ticketed showcase featuring interior design, with proceeds benefiting local causes. Other nonprofit activities include serving on the board of the Bar Harbor Historical Society and working with animal rescue organizations. "Kim has the ability to stop what she is doing — which is always several important things like listing a B&B, running a busy real estate company, opening a new hotel, attending a board of directors meetings for the historical society — and offer to help coordi- nate volunteers or to be a volunteer, especially when it comes to animal welfare," says Brooks. A 'people person' builds her real estate agency and investments B Y l a u R i e s C H R e i B e R C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »

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