(from left) LJ Hooker Group CEO Christine Mikhael, Amber Shay, Dean Shay, Pauline Shay, Michael Shay, Ange Shay, Kent Shay, Luke Shay and Paul Moore.
In a remarkable achievement for LJ Hooker Ballina, four family members owning and working at the office have joined a distinguished group within the iconic real estate network, reaching 21 years of continuous service.
Principal Michael Shay, who has been at the helm for 53 years, never expected his three sons to follow his footsteps into real estate. Not only have they done that, but the siblings — Kent, Luke and Dean — have stayed long-term and are now all members of LJ Hooker’s 21 Club.
A special luncheon is held in Sydney every year to celebrate those within the LJ Hooker network who have reached the 21 years milestone and beyond. Members can continue to attend the annual event even after retirement.
“Working together is just something I never expected, and I’m very proud of my sons,” Michael Shay said.
“They grew up around real estate, coming into the office after school or the occasional auction, but they all went off to explore different careers. Kent was with the Commonwealth Bank in Brisbane, Dean was a town planner in London, and Luke was working in Melbourne. Then, one by one, they decided to come home and join the business, which has been fantastic.
“This year was the first time the four of us could be there together at the LJ Hooker 21 Club. A lovely presentation was made to us; it was just very special.”
Christine Mikhael, LJ Hooker’s Chief Executive Officer, said it is a wonderful achievement for four family members to join the 21 Club.
“We’ve calculated that together, the Shay family has dedicated 120 years to the LJ Hooker network, which is an outstanding legacy of loyalty,” she said.
“This annual event is about recognising those who have dedicated 21 years of continuous service to the brand. No matter the role, from receptionist to business owner, the club is about commitment.
“This year, for the first time ever, we had more active members still working in the brand than those who have retired. That speaks volumes about what we are building.”
Kent, 46, who is principal of LJ Hooker Lennox Head, was the first of the brothers to join the 21 Club. Dean, 48, specialises in commercial sales, while Luke, 44, a residential sales agent, is one of the youngest ever to join the 21 Club.
“In my early 20s, I went travelling overseas and ended up in Melbourne in a communications sales job that I really wasn’t enjoying,” Luke said.
“I’d grown up in real estate but never thought I’d ever do it. Once I started, I knew I’d be here for a while. The past 21 years have gone extremely quickly, but it is nice to be at this point in my career and be recognised.
“Every day in this job is different, it is never boring and working with family is great. We do tend to talk a bit about work when we get together outside of the office, but it is good to bounce ideas off each other.
“We’ve seen so many changes and growth here over the past decade, especially around Cumbalum to Lennox Head. It is still mostly locals buying, but we do get people from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane looking for a quieter lifestyle. Helping people make the move is one of the best parts of the job.”
Share
