My Biography

My first name is unusual! Many people say my name quite often, without even realizing it, when they say something like this: "Well, I, uh, I don't remember!" The "I, uh" part is my first name! I put a pronunciation help on my calling cards that looks like this: (eye-uh), to help people who think, "I, uh, don't remember how to say her name!"

My name is a very common name in the little country of Latvia, which is where my mother and father were born. After WWII, they had the choice of either staying or leaving their homeland forever. The Iron Curtain was about to fall, with Latvia behind it, shut off from the western world as part of the new United Soviet Socialist Republic. Not wanting to live under communism, under the tyrants who invaded and now held their country, my parents chose to live in a Displaced Persons Camp. A host family in the United States of America agreed to care for them, as immigrant refugees, until they got their feet on the ground in their new homeland. I am the first person in my family to have been born in the United States!

My mother and father both ended up as professors at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. I have followed their lead. After obtaining my Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Ohio, I fell in love and married my leading tenor, James Shrader! We sang our way through the opera houses of the Midwestern United States. When we became serious about raising a family in a stable household, we both obtained our doctoral degrees, and entered university careers. 

Jim has now retired, and I have tasked him with being my real estate assistant! He was a tenured Professor in the Honors College at Valdosta State University, teaching leadership and creativity. Our two children entered the musical world: Alek and his wife, Daniela Mack, are singing with opera companies throughout the world, and directing opera and making movies. Dorothy is Senior Director of Administration and Operations, Vocal Studies and Curtis Opera Theatre at Curtis Institute of Music. I earned a Doctor of Education degree, focusing on creativity and leadership in administration.

With both children grown up, I once again became a student, this time, of real estate. It is my background of understanding the need for thorough research, understanding how to communicate, and understanding how to achieve your goals, that I bring to the table as a Realtor. It would be my pleasure to meet you, and to work with you to help you achieve your goals as you go through this transition in your lives.

Realtor of the Year in 2017
Professional Development Chair 2015-2018
Valdosta Board of Realtors Director at Large 2016-2018
GAR Grievance committee 2018, 2019
Professional standards committee 2020
Top Producer for over 10 years – and ready to give you the personal attention and service you are looking for!