Spend a few minutes with Debbie Sonenshine and you will feel the excitement and compassion that she has for life and her community.  She has been involved in helping people much of her life and this spills over to the way she contributes in her community and her clients.

Q:  What community do you represent for The Faces Of?

A:  Sandy Springs, Georgia  – www.thefacesofsandysprings.com

Q:  Please tell us about your family

A:  I have been happily married for 46 years and have one daughter.  My daughter and son in law live with our granddaughter just two blocks away from us.  We are very luck and blessed to have them so close by.

Q:  From where do most of your clients originate?

A:  Most of my business comes from personal referrals or previous clients and are local. However, I also do some transferee business.  My recent niche is empty nesters moving to Atlanta to be close to their grandchildren.

Q:  What is something unique about your community?

A:  Sandy Springs was unincorporated for a long time and just became a city 14 years ago.  It has been so exciting to see this evolve – I feel as if I have been a part of the creation of it.  Just last year the government and performing arts building opened.  It is gorgeous and an incredible addition to the community.  The performing arts are very vibrant.  The City Springs government and performing arts center has become the heart of the community.

Q:  What attracted you to the faces of project?

A:  Because of the new city – it is so exciting and it makes me want to give back.  I have sold real estate in Sandy Springs for 38 years and love being able to put faces to this city that I have grown to love.  This project has enabled me to meet new people and connect others.  I have been able to feature people and their stories as well as introduce diversity to the city.

Q:  Have you ever shown a house you believed to be haunted?

A:  I did show a house once that when I entered it I felt bad Karma and had to leave immediately.  I found out later that a man had murdered his wife in front of his children in that home.

Q:  What are two things or characteristics that have made you successful in your career?

A:  I put my clients first.  I believe that if I take care of them, everything else will be fine.  I’m a very good listener.  In my first life, before real estate, I was a social worker.  This was great training for what I currently do as it taught me to be a good listener and problem solver.  I’m able to find solutions – the right things for each persons needs.  I’ve learned to not just hear but listen.

Q:  What is the most beautiful place you have been in the world?

A:  My granddaughter is the most beautiful thing I have seen in the world.  Of the places I have traveled, I would have to say the Mediterranean.  We went on a cruise to Spain and Portugal.  South Africa was a favorite too.  I have met incredible people from all over the world.

Q:  What is something people should know about you?

A:  Giving back to the community is very important to me.  Not only the community I live in, but also other parts of the world.  I truly want to make the world a better place.  I’m interested in feeding people and am involved in several groups that do this.  One of those is Community Assistance Center  and I consider myself a cheerleader for them.  The goal of this group is to prevent homelessness.  It has a food pantry and thrift shop, which helps through donations and helping those in need pay their rent and provides job training.  I also co-chair Back Pack Buddy which provides food for the weekends for children that are on free and reduced lunches at school.  We have a large diversity in our population, very wealthy and those in need. It is My privilege to help.

Q:  What makes you happy?

A:   Dancing.  Making other people happy.  My Granddaughter.  Chocolate.  Solving Problems.

Q:  What is your long term plan?

A:  Work as long as I love it and find more ways to help my community.  I want to do meaningful work.

I’ve never learned to relax!