Thirty-six Years at Ashland Homes

Marie Donovan and Stephanie Pollard, principal brokers and owners of Ashland Homes Real Estate (150 E. Main), had both been in real estate for 3-7 years in 1991, when they met with Ted Banke, the original owner of Ashland Homes, who opened the office in 1980.

“The timing was right,” Marie said. “We were looking to open our own firm, and Ted was ready to shift from ownership. The rest is history. Ted mentored us through the transition and has remained a vital member of the Ashland Homes team.”

Marie moved to Ashland from the East Coast in 1979, looking for a special place to raise her family. “When I discovered Ashland, I knew I was home,” she said. “I worked in the hospitality industry for a while and obtained my real estate license in 1988. As a mother of three, real estate was the perfect choice for me. Helping others find the perfect place to live and realize their own dreams is personally fulfilling. I feel so fortunate to work alongside such an amazing group of people, including my two sons and daughters-in-law, who are also part of our larger Ashland Homes family.”

Before moving to Ashland in 1980, Stephanie was a high school career counselor. “I came here to enjoy the small town life and the beauty and wonderful recreational opportunities,” she said. “I worked in the hospitality industry for a few years and then the Shakespeare Festival, while I studied for my real estate license in 1984. My work history has been a perfect match for all aspects of my real estate career.”

Ashland Homes is a locally owned, non-franchise company, and the twelve full-time brokers comprise a wide range of unique backgrounds, talent and expertise.
“Our clients’ best interests are always our top priority,” Stephanie said. “We provide them with innovative tools, local up-to-date market trends and expert advice to ensure a successful transaction. Each of our brokers is committed to service before, during and after the sale. We work to gain our clients’ trust and they quickly come to know that we care about them and their real estate experiences.”

Ashland Homes is definitely invested in the community, as they support and volunteer their time to many local organizations that include coaching youth sports programs, Soroptimist, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, the hospital, OSF and countless others. Marie, in fact, was recently elected President of the Chamber of Commerce.

“We are very proud of our real estate group and their dedication and commitment in providing a wide range of professional, quality service to all of our clients,” Marie said. “We are so grateful to have Pam Nelson, our remarkable office manager, who is at the center of everything we do.”
The phone number is 541-482-0044. Website: www.Ashland-Homes.com. You can also like them on Facebook.