Kimberly Gartland

I came into the real estate business because my husband and I had a terrible experience with a real estate person. We almost walked away from our dream home because of the barrier a real estate agent presented in the process of us closing our home. This should never happen. My longtime fascination with becoming a full-time Realtor was about to become a reality. Let me back up a bit and start at the beginning.

I was raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, in a little town called Hilo. I went away for college and graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. I’m one of those rare people who actually used my degree in my profession. First I worked for Frito-Lay Products as a Line Supervisor in Charlotte, North Carolina. I later moved to California and went to work for Avon Products, Inc. at their regional headquarters in Pasadena. I spent many years with Avon as their buyer and handled their contracts and negotiations as part of my responsibilities. I later decided to work in Sales. I became a District Sales Manager for Avon and was responsible for the sales of 274 Avon ladies. It was quite a challenge; however, we made a great team and won many awards together.

Just when my sales career was taking off, I met my husband Tim. When he asked me to “spend a life filled with romance and adventure” with him, there was a string attached—he wanted to move to the Seattle area. Tim was raised in the Pacific Northwest and wanted to be able to enjoy the outdoors and the unique culture that this area offers to its residents. We moved immediately! I love the area and have never regretted my decision—either of them, that is! I still pinch myself to think that we found such an extraordinary place. Gig Harbor is just what we had hoped for.

Tim and I don’t have any children, so we enjoy our Australian Shepherd “Molly” and the 23 nieces and nephews we have. We also enjoy traveling and have been fortunate enough to spend 2 1/2 years living in some exquisite places like Switzerland, Italy, Spain, England, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and France. Because Tim’s job is done via the Internet, we had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world. We searched the world over and found Gig Harbor to be the best of all worlds.