Carol is the proverbial
self-made woman.

Carol Rickert Asbury is at the top both in her career and in her personal life. Owner of Carol Rickert and Associates, a small boutique commercial real estate firm in New Mexico, Carol is the proverbial self-made woman.

Carol and her family moved to Albuquerque in the late 60s. Carol, plagued with allergies in Pennsylvania, was thrilled to discover a home where she could “sleep with the window open” and breathe easily.

Carol married, had children and worked until in the early 80s, when she found herself trying to support two children on a secretary’s salary of $1,000 a month. At that point, she decided she had to make some major changes. She went to school for her real estate license, and subsequently went into commercial real estate. From there, she worked for several experienced developers and acquired “a good basic knowledge of development, sales, leasing, and management.”

At the end of 1983, she struck out on her own as a commissioned realtor. “It was a good move for me.” In 1993, she “made the jump” and opened her own commercial real estate company. “I remember thinking to myself that the deadline for listing in the phone book was coming up. If I wanted to be in there, it was time to just do it.”

Since then it’s been “amazing. I’ve been blessed over the years. I have good people who work for me [a staff of six]. I’ve been fortunate to have good friends, men and women, and good mentors for support. I have relationships that have lasted fifteen or twenty years. It’s better to keep old friends than start over again.”

In 1993, she earned her degree as a Certified Commercial Investment Member. Requiring two hundred hours of graduate level course work, CCIM is the Ph.D. of commercial real estate. There are only 7,000 members worldwide who are CCIM certified in both the theory and practice of real estate. Carol said, “With seventy members in New Mexico, they are the most knowledgeable people in real estate.” She has been an instructor for the program for seven years. In 2002, the New Mexico Chapter presented Carol with the “Marketing Deal of the Year” award for a sizeable transaction for an office building located in the Jefferson Corridor area of Albuquerque.

While her business still handles a “fair amount” of sales and leasing, they also work as managers for homeowner associations. The firm manages fifteen associations representing three thousand homes. They act at the direction of the board of directors, paying bills, collecting dues, working for capital improvement products, and all the small, but important details of a homeowner’s association.

Carol’s advice to those who want to follow her example is to “work hard. Focus on education and retain those relationships. Be observant and aware of the possibilities. Be consistent and available so clients want to return to you.”

While Carol admits to “still working too many weekends,” the business is only a part of her life. Married for four years to City of Albuquerque Director of Public Works, Ted Asbury, Carol has a grown son, Max, and daughter, Neile.

She and Ted do a lot of entertaining, and Carol is a gourmet cook. They both play golf and spend time with seven grandchildren while “spoiling” their two standard poodles, “Gelato” and “Bear.” Carol and Ted are both members of the Rotary Club where Carol is on the board of directors.

Carol’s husband Ted stated that “Carol is extremely bright and an adroit businesswoman. She is well versed with her professional and social skills, and stays current with changing conditions, both market and regulatory. I frequently seek her counsel and find her advice sound and well thought out. I am rarely disappointed.”

Before her marriage, she’d never been further away from the USA than Mexico. In the last four years, however, she and Ted have traveled extensively in Europe — Italy, France, Vienna — and have planned an upcoming trip to South America and Antarctica.

“He likes me,” she says with a soft smile.

On a personal level, Ted notes, “From my perspective as a husband, I often say that I’m blessed in that I live a love affair. When two individuals are fortunate enough to find a true a partner, life is a joy. Carol and I are both fortunate and blessed.”

Carol bubbles over with excitement when she talks about her recent reunion with a brother who was given up for adoption at birth. She discovered the family secret six or seven years ago but only recently had time to seriously look for him. On Good Friday of 2003, her daughter called to say she had “found him.” All this was brought about by a pop-up ad on the Internet for an adoption registry. She clicked on it, entered her grandparent’s names, and there he was.

An hour and a half later, Carol was talking to her nephew, Danny (coincidentally, the same name given to the brother with whom she grew up). He called his father and told him “your sister called” and later that evening, Carol and Larry talked for the first time. He’d known since he was young that he had a brother and sister somewhere and had been looking for them for more than 20 years.

Both Carol and Larry, in separate interviews, were delighted with the fact that they are so alike. “It’s probably best we didn’t grow up together,” Carol laughs. Larry said that “separately we were controllable, together we would have been difficult. We sit together at dinner and the body language is amazing to watch. We do exactly the same thing.” Carol notes a strong family resemblance, “the same green eyes and no patience! We have the same outlook on life and business. We both think we’ve died and gone to heaven. Meeting a brother at this stage means you’re coming in without all that baggage of growing up together.”

Ironically, they could have met sooner except for a small twist of fate. Larry’s company was looking for a commercial property in Albuquerque. Carol presented properties and Larry was scheduled to come to look. At the last minute, however, they chose another location and the meeting that might have been never happened. They both feel that the family resemblance is so strong that they would have known if the chance meeting had happened.

“It’s important to understand that people need to know where they come from.” Carol says. “Someone in this position should keep looking because the truth prevails. The upside is, the outcome is probably going to be pretty good. It’s like that puzzle piece you couldn’t find.”

Larry agrees. He looked for a long time, making more than a hundred phone calls. “People were kind and supportive. They were sensitive, sorry they couldn’t help, wishing me well in my search.”

“It’s been a blessing for me,” he says. “My sister is one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met. She’s determined and strong-willed and I hope that my daughter aspires to be like her. She was well worth the wait.”

“I regret not having those years,” Carol said, “but I’m a believer in all things in good time.”

Carol, though enmeshed in her business and family, finds time — a great deal of time — to contribute to a cause that is near, and quite dear to her heart. Carol has been personally and deeply involved with Albuquerque’s Barrett Foundation (featured in the February 2004 issue of New Mexico WOMAN), since a friend encouraged her to volunteer.

When she joined the board, she “quickly determined boards are like businesses” and spent two years as board president. For the past two years, she has served as co-chair of the Capital Campaign. She also manages the apartments for the Casa Verde program which houses eight women in transition and eight rent-paying tenants. She said, “We try to be sensitive to the needs of the women while addressing the practicalities of living on their own.”

“Our lease runs out on the current Barrett House in May. We’re opening a new house in the spring of 2005 at Eubank and Constitution where the old City pool was in the 60s. We are well on our way to funding the new Barrett House, and we envision being able to house 21 women and 18 children. Eventually, we would like to open a second house.

“This is also our first year to work with United Way. We’ve always been on our own before, and it’s been a long, hard pull. We need to raise awareness of what the Barrett Foundation is and can be doing. Most people are not aware of the need. Public funding is shrinking and people are donating less individually.”

Executive Director of the Foundation, Dorothee K. Otero, said, “Carol is an exemplary board member, a successful business woman, and a valued friend. I first met her in 1997 when she joined the board of directors of the Barrett Foundation. She has been an inspiration to me not only professionally but personally as well.”

“Carol is one of those people who can (and will) make things happen. Her leadership on our board has brought the organization to a new level. More recently, Carol was instrumental in locating a site for the new shelter, obtaining the necessary zoning change, and raising nearly $1.4 million of the $1.8 million goal for the project. She gives countless hours of her time and resources to the Barrett Foundation. Everything she does is driven by her dedication and determination to help us provide services to the most vulnerable segment of the homeless population – our women and children.”

Carol says, “We want to do our best to make sure that we’re not raising another generation to be homeless. Once you’ve worked with these women and children, you find a bigger place in your heart.”

Carol Rickert and Associates is located at 4121 Eubank Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The phone number is (505) 323-7600.

Donations to the Barrett Foundation, Inc. are tax deductible and can be sent to P.O. Box 25823, Albuquerque, NM 87125-5823. Volunteers of all ages are needed. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (505) 246-9244. More information can be found at their website, www.barrettfoundation.org

Sabra Brown Steinsiek is an Albuquerque freelance writer and author of the prize-winning novel, Timing Is Everything. Her third novel will be released in November of 2004. She can be reached through her website, www.sabrasteinsiek.com.

From my Desk

Congratulations!
by Jill Duval

Our Top 25 credit their success to many things: luck, ethical decisions, good people, persistence, hard work, positive attitude, flexibility, planning, plus a strong work ethic to name just a few. Of these the ones that came up over and over again were hard work, persistence, and good people. I have to say that I agree. In my 23 years in business those three things have stood me in good stead.

It is interesting that education, experience, information, or even intelligence were never mentioned as having been a prerequisite, or even, important. Please don’t misunderstand me. Education is an incredibly important foundation on which to build our entire adult lives. And keeping ourselves abreast of the technical aspects and trends of our industry is imperative.

However, all the knowledge in the world will not do a thing for you if you don’t use it well. And hard work does not necessarily mean spending a lot of hours. Rather, it means working with commitment, focus, and clarity of your vision. Persistence is when you’ve been told “not yet” sixteen times and you make that seventeenth call anyway. Seventeen may be the magic number that transforms your day, your attitude, or your business.

Good people are what really make it all worthwhile. I am blessed to be surrounded by amazing people; my staff is the best, as those who are privileged to know them frequently remind me. Our customers and our support people make this business worth every minute I put into it.

Carol Rickert Asbury, (cover story this month), Betty Chau, (feature article) and most of our Top 25 Women-Owned businesses attribute some portion of their success to their employees. We feel that we can point to their success and say “You are a leader.” Your efforts in training, teaching, mentoring, and guiding inspire not only the business community but aspiring and ambitious young women everywhere. Thank you for your participation in this event, and congratulations to all of you.

And, let me not forget to thank our wonderful, wonderful sponsors. They contribute hours and dollars to produce this event, making it one of the largest annual events in the New Mexico business community. We appreciate your continued support — we couldn’t do this without you.

Lovelace Sandia Health System
Staples
First National Bank of Santa Fe
Atkinson & Co., Ltd.
New York Life
ACI
The Albuquerque Tribune

Women on the web

Web Resources
for Small Businesses
by Geraldine Mosher

The Internet has lots of information for those who are starting a small business or who already have a small business that they would like to see grow.

A great starting place is www.allbusiness.com, with categories including Starting a Business, Forms & Agreements, Finance & Accounting, Sales & Marketing, and Buying/Selling a Business. While you’re at this website, don’t miss Lessons Learned (at the left of the screen). You’ll find articles with advice from entrepreneurs allowing you to learn from others. These articles include: Have the Courage to Fly Solo (launching a business without a partner), Dare to Be Different, Do What You Know, Funding a Woman-Owned Business, Why Business Plans Matter, and Find a Niche.

The IRS website www.irs.gov/businesses/small calls itself a Small Business and Self-Employed One-Stop Resource. Topics that you may find interesting include Starting, Operating, or Closing a Business; 2003 & 2004 Tax Changes for Businesses; Online Application - Employer Identification Number; Small Business Forms and Publications; and Small Business Resources.

Check out www.isquare.com for advice on starting or operating a small business or home-based business. Here you’ll find Advertising Tips, Marketing Tips, Accounting Tips, Tax Tips, Success Tips, and Words of Encouragement. Subscribe to the free “Small Biz” newsletter to receive these tips by e-mail. About half way down on the right side of the screen, you’ll find Articles—Select a Category. The category “Starting a Business” leads you to the following articles: Planning for Success, Financing Your New Business, Small Business Truisms, Are You an Entrepreneur? and Nine Steps to Business Success.

The International Small Business Consortium (www.isbc.com) provides assistance to small businesses. At the left of the screen click on Marketing Tips, The Life of a Small Business Owner, or Learn From Mistakes. You’ll definitely enjoy reading the latter. Here are some excerpts:

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication, the device is inherently of no value to us.” -- Western Union, internal memo, 1876.

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” -- Ken Olson, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.

“The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a ‘C,’ the idea must be feasible.” -- A Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith’s paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.).

Happy surfing!

Geraldine Mosher is a computer consultant and trainer, as well as a freelance writer. Her business is Your Computer Tutor, (505) 296-4042. She is also the owner of Top Quality Publications. Check out her website at www.topqualitypublica-tions.com

The Top 25

In this, the Eleventh Annual Top 25 Women-Owned Businesses in New Mexico Awards, New Mexico WOMAN salutes the women who have ranked here repeatedly, year after year, along with our two special award winners, and the newest honorees added to this prestigious list. The outstanding, dedicated women honored by the awards and profiled in this special section are women of vision — leaders, innovators, organizers, and builders.

We believe that in the last eleven years these women, and many who have previously graced our pages have laid the groundwork and led the way for a thriving environment for women-owned businesses in every field, and in every community in the state of New Mexico. They have survived, grown, succeeded, and triumphed against enormous odds. They have changed the face of business in New Mexico. They deserve our heartfelt congratulations, and we are proud to salute them!

The Top 25 Woman-Owned Businesses in New Mexico is a list compiled annually by Duval Publications Inc. from submitted entries. "Largest is defined by gross sales during the 12-month period ending September 30, 2003. "Woman-Owned" is defined as at least 51 percent woman-owned and managed.

SPONSORED BY: Lovelace Sandia Health System; Staples; First National Bank of Santa Fe; Atkinson & Co., Ltd.; New York Life; ACI; The Albuquerque Tribune.