“When Compass real estate agents think about the Hamptons, I want them to think about me.”

I wrote that sentence in my notebook the week I joined Compass in 2018.

At the time, it was a goal. Eight years later, looking around the room at our third annual Compass Network Event in New York City, it felt like a full-circle moment.

Last week, we brought together 250 real estate professionals from across the country for an evening centered around relationships, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and the power of a strong network.

But that room wasn't built in one night. It was built over years.

Building a Network, One Relationship at a Time

Over the past eight years, I've taken more 5 a.m. buses out of the Hamptons than I can count.

I've sacrificed time with my family to travel across the country—from Los Angeles to Charlotte to Miami and everywhere in between—to build relationships with other agents. I've attended events, sponsored events, hosted events, and invested significant time and resources into creating a national network.

Some things worked. Some didn't.

But the goal remained the same: build genuine relationships and take care of the people who put their trust in me.

When an agent refers a client to me, I want that agent to feel like a client too. I want them to know that their relationship is in good hands and that the person they've introduced to me will receive the level of service, market knowledge, discretion, and results they expect.

Because a referral isn't simply a lead.

It's someone putting their reputation in your hands.

It's About What You Can Give

Maybe it's my post-40 perspective, but one of the biggest lessons I've learned is that building something meaningful isn't always about how much money or time you invest.

It's about the people you meet along the way.

And I've found that the best relationships are built when you stop asking, “What can I get from this?” and start asking, “How can I help?”

Who can I introduce?

What information can I share?

How can I help another agent solve a problem?

How can I create an opportunity for someone else?

That mindset has shaped the way I approach networking and, ultimately, the way I approach real estate.

The Hamptons Are Personal to Me

Today, I'm incredibly proud to be the go-to Hamptons real estate resource for many Compass agents around the country.

And I don't take that responsibility lightly.

The Hamptons aren't simply a market I work in. They're in my blood.

I was born here. I was raised here. I've sold real estate here for 20 years. It's the only career I've ever had—and hopefully the only one I'll ever have.

This is my community.

I understand the nuances between Water Mill and Bridgehampton, Southampton and Sag Harbor, East Hampton and Amagansett because I've spent my life here. I've watched the market evolve, built relationships across generations, and experienced firsthand what makes each part of the Hamptons different.

There are no shortcuts to that kind of knowledge.

And there are no shortcuts to trust.

That's why I've always played the long game.

When someone trusts me with an introduction, I care more about the person than the transaction. If you consistently take care of people, the rest has a way of following.

250 People. One Powerful Network.

Last week's event was our third annual Compass Network Event, bringing together approximately 250 people from markets across the country in New York City.

Every year, it seems to get better.

There was an incredible energy in the room—not because of the number of people there, but because of the quality of the relationships.

Agents were making introductions. Referral opportunities were taking shape. Ideas were being exchanged. Entrepreneurs were sharing what was working in their businesses. People who had previously only known each other through a phone call, email, or Instagram were finally meeting face-to-face.

That's the real power of a network.

Technology can connect us faster than ever, but relationships still move this business forward.

Eight Years Later

When I wrote that sentence in 2018, I was thinking about building recognition within Compass.

What I didn't fully appreciate then was how many friendships, partnerships, clients, introductions, and opportunities would come from pursuing that goal.

Eight years later, the mission has evolved.

Yes, I want Compass agents across the country to know who to call when their clients need help in the Hamptons.

But more importantly, I want them to know why they can call me.

Because I'll answer.

Because I'll take care of their client.

Because I'll protect the relationship.

Because I know this market.

And because I'll be looking for ways to return the favor.

That's what building a real network means to me.

Thank you to everyone who traveled to New York and joined us for this year's event. Thank you to our sponsors for helping make the evening possible, and thank you to Compass leadership for continuing to support the relationships and entrepreneurial spirit that make this network so powerful.

We're already looking forward to year four.