In the competitive world of real estate, Ruwena Healy and Missy Heard, REALTORS® with RealtySouth and team Birmingham Homes Online, stand out due to their passion, dedication, and unique approach to the industry.  Their inspiring journey, overcoming challenges, and award-winning commitment to their clients make them a force to be reckoned with. 

 

“I started my career early in life and always gave 100%. I felt I had something to prove and worked hard to succeed,” says Missy. Her leadership ability was evident at a young age. 

Working her way up from an entry-level customer service position to a contracts administrator at the age of 23 was indicative of her drive, determination, and dedication. 

Missy found herself ready for new challenges and switched her career path to the commercial construction industry. She was blessed with a wonderful mentor that guided her into the marketing arena. She loved the commercial real estate environment with her quest for knowledge and ability to learn and grow, she soon became known as a marketing expert in her field. She says, “I loved chasing work, bringing my creative abilities to the table no matter the project at hand, working with and giving back to the community, and ultimately doing my part to ensure my internal and external clients were always satisfied.”

In 2016, she fell unexpectedly ill and was unable to work, eventually diagnosed with Lyme disease. A debilitating disease, it was six months before she improved due to several medical treatments. Wanting to get back to work, she entered the world of real estate and earned her real estate license in 2017. With her decades of experience in marketing and construction, real estate was a natural fit. With real estate came a new found purpose for Missy and she became passionate about her new path.

Ruwena is also experienced and familiar with how to overcome challenges. These experiences were formative in making her the driven person she is today. She explains, “As a daughter of German immigrants, I learned the value of hard work early in life, especially from my mother. I was the first member of my family to be born in the United States and also the first in my family to have the opportunity to go to college.” 

When she arrived at the University of Florida, Ruwena says, “My world opened up to all the possibilities before me.” She earned her degree in business administration with an in-depth understanding of finance, accounting, and marketing before working in the corporate world. 

Beginning her career as a management trainee for a multi-state financial institution, her career flourished through the years. Along the way, she gained invaluable experience and earned her Masters of Business Administration from Florida State University while working as a commercial loan officer.

Ruwena explains, “As my career continued to progress from banking to membership director for a private club, then director of marketing for a defense law firm and director of business development for a forensic accounting firm, I developed a vision for opening my own marketing and public relations consulting firm.” 

Her dream became a reality when she launched her own firm, Marketing 24/7 Inc. Her firm impacted “countless clients to exponentially improve their successes within their industries.”

In late 2019, Ruwena started a new chapter of her life in real estate. “I had always been fascinated with real estate,” she says. Becoming a REALTOR® has helped her to utilize her financial and marketing expertise and help others accomplish their real estate goals.

Missy and Ruwena first met in 1997 when they served together on boards of marketing and professional organizations while advancing their careers as marketing executives in corporate America. Fast forward decades later, and life brought them back together. When Ruwena was researching brokerages to place her license, she was made aware by a mutual friend that Missy had also become a REALTOR® two years prior and was working for RealtySouth. Ruwena elected to begin with RealtySouth, and a few months later, the two joined together to form a dynamic duo and created Birmingham Homes Online. 

Ruwena and Missy's passion for their work shines through every aspect of their careers. Both of them were nominated for Rookie of the Year in their respective first years in real estate, which speaks volumes about their work ethic. They genuinely care about their clients' success and are deeply invested in understanding their needs and helping them navigate the real estate market. Their background in marketing gives them a unique perspective, approaching real estate from a storytelling angle that highlights the unique features and stories of each home.

 

One of the standout aspects of working with Ruwena and Missy is that clients get two experienced real estate agents for the price of one! They work as a team, dividing the responsibilities based on their individual strengths. Ruwena's expertise lies in networking, while Missy excels in technical skills and both are strong in marketing, negotiations, customer service and client interaction. This balance allows them to provide a comprehensive and well-rounded real estate experience to their clients. Together, their strengths complement one another. They are always available, responsive, and coming up with ideas for their clients. Their clients couldn’t be happier working with them.

 

For Ruwena and Missy, success extends beyond professional achievements. They value the flexibility that their real estate careers afford them, allowing them to prioritize their families and personal lives. Both have experienced the challenges of caring for aging parents while building their careers, and the flexibility of being real estate agents has allowed them to navigate these responsibilities effectively. Success, for them, is measured not only by their accomplishments in the industry but also by their ability to make a positive impact on their clients' lives and create lasting relationships. 

 

Ruwena shares, “We genuinely care about what is going on in our clients’ lives, and how we can help them through this transition. Drawing on our professional backgrounds, we help our clients overcome obstacles, negotiate deals, and achieve the results they deserve.”

 

Outside of their real estate careers, Ruwena and Missy have diverse interests and hobbies that enrich their lives. Ruwena enjoys spending time with her husband and her 17-year-old twin boys. “One is on the high school golf team and plays individually in tournaments throughout the Southeast. The other is an equestrian athlete and is now competing nationally as a show jumper,” she smiles. She also enjoys traveling, needlework, and spending time with her family at the lake and being out on the water.

 

Missy, a woman of faith, is passionate about her family and has always loved music and singing. “I married and started my family later in life,” says Missy, just as Ruwena did. “My oldest daughter has excelled academically and is graduating from high school and heading to Auburn University. My youngest will start high school and play percussion in the marching and jazz bands.” Missy enjoys staying active with her children’s activities in their school bands and academic pursuits. 

 

Both treasure their families and the support they provide, playing pivotal roles in their personal and professional lives.

 

Ruwena and Missy are remarkable individuals who exemplify dedication, resilience, and a genuine passion for their work. Their story is a testament to the transformative power of hard work and the ability to overcome obstacles. This dynamic duo is an inspiration in real estate and the future looks bright for these two Rising Stars in real estate!