Rebecca Richardson approached Ray White Next Step business owner Adam Rogers in August 2012 looking to start a career in real estate. At the time Adam recognised Rebecca’s natural aptitude towards community work and her genuine interest in caring for the environment, high priorities held by Adam in his own business and personal life.
Ray White Next Step is located in the Christchurch suburb of Shirley and also covers the areas of Saint Albans and Mairehau. With appealing features such as close proximity to the city, the well-known Palms Shopping Centre and Shirley Golf course, the merging of schools following the Christchurch earthquake and a good mixture of properties, the area is becoming increasingly attractive to people at all different stages of life.
Originally appointed as Personal Assistant and Customer Service Manager, but with previous experience volunteering as a guide for Orana Wildlife Trust and fundraising manager at Greenpeace along with her passion and enthusiasm for getting involved in worthy community causes, Rebecca’s role soon evolved into management of the Ray White Next Step Outreach Program.
A number of successful events have been organised by Rebecca with exceptional results. This year she instigated the Daffodil Day project, selling bunches of daffodils to the Ray White Salespeople who gifted them to buyers, vendors and suppliers. The surprise and appreciation expressed by the recipients was stunning and over $400 was raised for the Cancer Society in the day long event which also brought awareness to this important cause. Ray White Next Step were the major sponsor for the recent Merrin Primary annual fair which raised over $21,000 for the school. Rebecca coordinated the Ray White contribution to this event and through her infectious enthusiasm and commitment to results, encouraged all of her colleagues to get involved.
Rebecca sees her green ethos as closely aligning with her work at Ray White. “Nothing is more valuable to me personally and to us in the real estate industry than our land, our community and the people living within it. As a business we have a responsibility to get involved in local events wherever we can to make a positive contribution through donations and volunteering to the communities that we promote.”
The latest outreach project coming from the Next Step office is the Ray White ‘Ray of Giving’ Christmas gift drive, collecting gifts for less fortunate families to be distributed throughout areas in need by the Rotary Club.
Rebecca was nominated for the Young Professionals in Real Estate Shooting Star Community Service Award. Based on her extensive community involvement and commitment to her work the independent panel of judges awarded her this national open industry accolade. Rebecca’s calendar for next year is already filling up with plans for further outreach initiatives for 2014.
Ray White New Zealand South Island Business Performance Manager Julie Ryan commented “Rebecca’s approach to business is fresh and based on the family values the Ray White team operate with. Rebecca embodies the kind of person we aim to attract and Adam Rogers has allowed Rebecca’s talent to shine.”
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