LIVE YOUR DREAM represents significantly more than a business tag line to 20-year Corona del Mar Village resident Michelle Brown. Michelle made a bold move from Grand Rapids, Michigan to the OC in 1990 via an adventurous cross-country Thelma and Louise-style road trip with her best friend. She left her position as public relations manager and investor relations manager of a fast-growing publicly held women’s clothing chain to embark on a new life. In 2002, she met her long-time boyfriend and fiancé Roger Shambaugh who was born and raised in Seattle and transferred to Newport Beach with Microsoft.
Fast forward, and today Michelle enjoys a busy life in the sophisticated Village beach community as an entrepreneur, homeowner, business owner, investor and real estate agent for Surterre Properties. “I have amazing friends and clients, and I truly appreciate all aspects of living in paradise”, said Michelle. She credits her success as a top agent to her business savvy and staying grounded in her Midwest roots, and she cherishes the principles of hard work, integrity and compassion. Both professionally and privately, Michelle tackles every goal and challenge with enthusiasm and has created many life-long friendships through her real estate dealings with over 350 area residents. “Some pretty wonderful people have been put in my path over the years, and I am extremely grateful,” said Michelle. “The residents, architecture, shopping and beach amenities offer an extraordinary lifestyle and make the flower streets a remark-able place to call home.”
With her real estate office on PCH close to home on the 200 block, Michelle is often seen buzzing around the Village on her golf cart with her adopted pup, Sonny – a Chihuahua-Terrier mix adopted five years ago through the Petco adoption program. Michelle’s love and empathy for dogs inspired DoggieMomma.com, a web-based business offering lifestyle apparel and accessories for women who dote on their fur-babies. Doggie Momma is run by a friend of Michelle’s until her retirement from real estate. She and Roger enjoy spending time with Sonny at China Cove, Little Corona Beach, Begonia Park and Fashion Island. Additionally, Michelle spends many wee hours of the mornings writing a fictional novel.
Prior to her 15-year residential real estate career, Michelle was marketing director for Fashion Island and the Irvine Spectrum Center. She played a key role in branding Fashion Island in the 1990’s and brought back the country’s tallest live Christmas tree, organized the summer concert series and created their holiday catalogs. During a short stint in Scottsdale, Michelle directed the strategic marketing efforts for a Forbes 100 pharmaceutical company and was director of marketing for Fashion Square. Today her foremost focus is guiding sellers in the most lucrative direction and negotiating relentlessly on behalf of her buyers while working alongside her business partners Dana Christensen and Cara Farley. “Life is short, and I believe every person should work towards living their dream,” explained Michelle. “My first job was harvesting onions in a field at 11 years old. Do dreams come true with persistence, passion and faith? Absolutely yes!”
Michelle and Roger are involved philanthropic members of the community. Additionally, Michelle and her real estate team host popular events in the community such as The Wag and Bark in the Park and The Annual Corona del Mar Village People & Pet Food Drive. They are also platinum sponsors of the Corona del Mar Home Tour. Michelle contributes a percentage of each commission to a worthy cause. Sadly, she lost her Mom to cancer five years ago, and in memory of her, Michelle has donated nearly 70 inches of hair for wigs for cancer patients. The cause dearest to Michelle’s heart is the Epilepsy Foundation. Michelle was diagnosed with Epilepsy at age 35. “I am one of the lucky ones among the over 3 million people in the US who have Epilepsy,” explained Michelle. “I am able to power through each day with high-energy while so many others struggle to find normalcy”.
Michelle and Roger look forward to enjoying the company of neighbors, friends and clients for many years to come.
