January 2023 Team Member Highlight: Sara Little
Sara Little came to the Firefly Team in 2020 after succeeding in a previous career in the resort industry where she served for nearly 15 years as Communications Director, Senior Creative Director, and Magazine Editor. She had worked with Firefly's Director of Operations, Justin, in this previous industry, so when he suggested that she consider taking a leap into real estate, she trusted their past synergies and the future opportunities he described.
After meeting with Katie and completing the interview process, she felt even more certain. Sara was "looking for an opportunity where she could help to grow and shape the business by using her skills and passions, versus simply being a replacement piece in an already completed puzzle." She saw Katie as a "smart, strong and caring leader and mentor" which was another compelling reason to make the leap. Sara joined Firefly Realty as our Listing Manager and Transaction Coordinator in 2020, and has been applying her wealth of knowledge, skills, and personal work ethic to develop her role, our business relationships, and the team as a whole for the past 2 years.
After serving our clients for a full year as Listing Manager and Transaction Coordinator, Sara moved into a full-time Marketing Director position. Within this role, Sara plans and coordinates all of our team's client appreciation events, friends and family activities, community outreach, and large-scale lead generation strategies. With a focus on internal and external communications, she has systematically created an even better experience and service level for our team members and clients alike. Sara's attention to detail and genuine care for people allow her to really shine as she orchestrates so many events and marketing opportunities for our team.
When asked what she likes most about her role on the team, Sara points to our team culture which can be attributed to Katie's leadership and each team member's commitment to upholding the values we share. Sara says, "We work hard, we play hard, we prioritize our families and we strive to always improve our business for our clients and each other." Because our team functions under the umbrella of Keller Williams, we also enjoy "education and tools that go beyond sales and business and focus on mindset, financial health, and personal growth." Sara loves being part of a team and larger organization that allow her so many opportunities to do good for others.
As Sara looks into the future, her vision is to help the Firefly Realty Team grow in both sales and operations, with expansion offices and additional services made available to our clients. Her wish for our current and future clients is that they "immediately feel the benefits of working with an agent that has a team supporting them." Sara believes in the team-centered approach and she sees the value in building partnerships with our clients beyond each transaction. She describes our team's agents as "smart when it comes to understanding the local market, savvy in negotiating win-win outcomes, and truly caring for each client beyond their closing date."
When Sara isn't making magic happen for the Firefly Team and its clients, she can be found traveling, camping with her family, spending time with friends, running, and exploring the best that WNC has to offer through her 7-year-old's perspective (parks nature, sports, arcades, farms, etc.) In 2022, Sara achieved an Appalachian Trilogy award for completing three half marathons offered by Idaph Events in a 12-month period. She is also proud to be deeply connected to the Burton Street community in West Asheville, where she works as a neighbor to help long-time residents and new neighbors thrive while honoring the community's rich history.
