Motivated to sell and serve

Karen Cass has called Seaford home for 44 years, and she has made a living out of helping other people call the South Shore community home, as well.

Cass, a full-time Realtor with Exit Realty Premier, was honored as the Seaford Chamber or Commerce’s recipient of the Small Businessperson of the Year award at a breakfast at the Crest Hollow Country Club on Oct. 23. Sponsored by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, she was one of more than three dozen professionals from the county to be recognized.

While her office in based in Massapequa, Cass said most of her real estate transactions occur in Seaford. Cass moved to the community in 1971, attending the Harbor School and graduating from Seaford High School in 1979.

Her family moved to Seaford because of its proximity to the water. She said that while it has changed a lot over the years, Seaford remains a tight-knit community.

Cass and her husband, Joseph, raised their two daughters, Crystal and Cassandra, in Seaford. She got involved in the community when they were growing up, giving her time to organizations such as the Long Island Broncos youth football and cheerleading league, the Girl Scouts and the PTA.

She advocated for stronger odor controls at the nearby Cedar Creek sewage treatment plant, and has always been concerned about redevelopment in Seaford.

As the years went on, Cass became involved with the Seaford Historical Society’s Harvest Fair, and was recently installed as an officer in the organization. She has taken part in blood drives, the holiday tree lighting, the Easter egg hunt and the Memorial Day parade.

As secretary of the Seaford Chamber of Commerce, she runs the group’s Facebook page, manages membership and volunteers at the various events.

“I like to be a part of the community, and it’s important for people to give back,” she said.

Cass said she got involved with the chamber because she realized the value in being able to network with other business owners. After getting her real estate license in 2009, she joined the chamber a year later and said she has enjoyed conversations with others about business growth and development.

“I’ve met tremendous business professionals who greeted me with open arms,” she said, adding that her goal is to be as welcoming to new chamber members.

Her motto is “I’m your motivated agent,” and that means she is on call around the clock. Being a successful real estate agent means treating it as more than a 9 to 5 job, Cass said. She is often showing houses in the evenings and on weekends, and even takes calls on holidays.

“When the phone rings, you have to answer it,” she said. “If you don’t answer that call, some other real estate agent will.”

Mary Lucere, president of the Seaford Chamber, said Cass is a valuable member of the group and of the business community. “Karen is extremely knowledgeable, hard working, positive and helpful,” Lucere said. “She really is an amazing person.”

Cass is a member of the Women’s Council of Realtors of Long Island, National Association of Realtors, New York State Association of Realtors, and Long Island Board of Realtors. She said she regularly attends workshops to become a better agent and keep up with the trends in her industry.

The relationships Cass has built over the years has earned her respect from her colleagues in the Seaford business community, which is why she was chosen for this year’s award. She said she is proud to be recognized for her years of volunteer work. “It’s humbling to be recognized,” she said, “and that someone took notice.”