An
unusual ministry was launched in August of 1988 by Sisters Sheila Walsh and Shirley Pilot.
Sister Sheila had completed five years of real estate experience with Mary McCarthy and Patricia Kulaga at Eastern Real Estate Services in Rochester. Sister Shirley was leaving her position as Chaplain at RIT after 17 years. Together they were able to draft a business plan that was approved by their Congregational Leadership and Sheila Walsh Realty Inc. was developed with the two Sisters as co-owners and located at 97 Park Avenue.
Experienced
real estate professionals soon were affiliated with the company as independent
contractors, sharing a portion of earned commissions with the company at an
agreed upon percentage. That fund provided money for rent, expenses, donations
to the Congregation, and salaries for employees of the company. A full time
receptionist/secretary was needed to staff the busy office. Sisters Dorothy
Mulcahy, Kathleen Burns and Alice Marie Kurtz served in that capacity over the years.
Due
to family needs, Shirley left the company in 1992. When the Park Avenue office
was closed in 1996, the official business address was changed to 1040
University Avenue and business activities were conducted by agents using advanced
technology in their home offices.
In
addition to the established professionals, Sisters Janet Coseo and Luke Hardy
have served the real estate community over the years: Janet as a licensed
broker and corporate partner with Sheila, and Luke as a licensed salesperson
serving a transitional population which values her special gifts.
With
a 30-year history of successful activity, 35 years of experience for Sheila and
23 years for Janet, they determined that transition to a new owner was a wise
move. Thus, in April of 2016, ownership of the company was assumed by
Christopher Daviau, an agent of the company well known to the Congregation as
an excellent IT resource. The name of the company remained unchanged as it
adjusted to new ownership.
As
an energetic, skilled and entrepreneurial young owner, Chris has brought new
life to an already vibrant organization. His plans include expanding the number
of professionals in the company and opening an office in North Carolina when
the time is right for that to happen. He has developed a new logo and changed
the company name to Highland Realty
Group Inc.
The
values and traditions of Sheila Walsh
Realty Inc. will continue to drive the work of the company, and Sheila as
Real Estate Trainer for new agents, Janet as Associate Broker and Luke as agent
for those in transition will continue to be active participants in its future.