 I met Suzanne Page-Pryde in 1996 at a CCIM Forecast Luncheon meeting. Suzanne had engineered the event and it was fabulous. Suzanne is one of those unique, quiet people that everyone looks to for advice and council. Her background is broad and at the same time focused on making Houston a better place to live.
Suzanne was reared in the Chicago, Illinois area. In college and graduate school she concentrated on Economics and City Planning. Her undergraduate work was done at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. During her junior year she went to the Free University of Brussels to study the Common Market. This gave her a special view of world economics and the culture and history of Europe. Suzanne completed her Master of Arts degree at the University of Akron, Akron Ohio in Urban Studies. Later she did some Post Graduate work in Environmental Management at the University of Houston in Clear Lake.
When Suzanne moved to Houston she joined the Friendswood Development Company. This was a remarkable opportunity to work for an innovative developer that had deep pockets yet was tied closely with Exxon Mobil and their management approach. In her 15 year career, Suzanne was able to help direct major subdivision projects and work with all parties in the development process including volume and custom builders, city planners and infrastructure construction groups. She became acutely aware of the importance of politics in the process.
In the meantime, Suzanne’s two sons were thriving. Both have responsible positions, one with the IRS in Austin and the other as genetics researcher PhD in Atlanta, Georgia. Here in Houston, Suzanne and her husband Art, are exceptionally active in giving back to the community. Patrons and long time season ticket holders to the Houston Grand Opera, they are in fostering and hosting programs that helps visiting artists while they are performing or studying in Houston. Suzanne gives back to the real estate industry in a big way, but I will get to that later.
When Suzanne left Friendswood Development it was 1992. Art and Suzanne said, “Carpe Diem” or “seize the day” and went to Europe for six months on a trip of a lifetime. And that it was. The only caveat is that they have returned to Europe many times and have become quite the Francophiles. What can I say—Impressionist and Modern Painting, Sculpture and Wine!
When Suzanne and Art returned to Houston Suzanne set up her own brokerage and was a consultant to homebuilders and developers. She became increasingly involved with the Houston Association of Realtors® (Director for three years) and the Greater Houston Builders Association (Director for seven years). In addition, CCIM--Certified Commercial Investment Member—(where she currently is the President of the Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter) plus our own HIREBA (President for two years) have been passions for Suzanne. On the civic side, she has been a Board Member of TIRZ #1 and the St. George Place Redevelopment Authority (Lamar Terrace).
There is more! Suzanne and Art are fans, big fans, of the Astros and the Boston Red Sox. They enjoy watching both major and minor league games and visiting stadiums around the country. When there is an opportunity they go white water rafting and, of course, country western dancing. When the grandchildren are in town reading a old Harry Potter book is good fun. Their dog, an adorable Cavalier King Charles, thinks it runs the house.
Suzanne has been a special friend to the HIREBA family and has given us an insight in how to achieve the highest standards. |
