Meet DWELL SUMMIT: Breckenridge, CO

Get to know Dwell Summit, the exclusive representative for Leverage Global Partners in Breckenridge, including Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Heeny, Montezuma and Blue River, Colorado, USA.

What was your vision in founding Dwell Summit?

I founded Dwell Summit based on the desire to thrive, both in my family life and in business. Maintaining work-life balance has always been important to me and I wanted to provide the opportunity for my team to achieve the same thing. From the start, we’ve found our niche in operating as a boutique company that provides a concierge level of service. I’m passionate about connecting clients with living spaces that match their lifestyle, taking a personalized approach to business, and providing clients with clear and consistent communication, all of which are pillars of Dwell Summit.

Can you describe a significant turning point in your career?

While sharing a bottle of wine with my husband one evening in 2010, we decided to turn our newlywed portfolio of long-term rentals into a full-fledged business venture (self-designed website and logo included). Our focus remained on property management until 2015 when a relatively new acquaintance, Faith, asked me to help find an investment ski property for her and her husband. While working with Faith I began to see my skill set in a new light. At one point she told me, “Tanya, you’re really good at this. Other experiences I’ve had in real estate do not compare to the level of service you’ve provided us with.” The trust Faith placed in me and the encouragement she shared opened the door to two things: a wonderful friendship for me and an expanded set of service offerings for Dwell Summit.

How has technology, social media and online marketing changed and/or impacted your approach to business?

I recently overhauled my website, and spent a lot of time thinking through my company’s philosophy and what constitutes the “Dwell Summit Difference” before going live with the new content and design. Marketing isn’t just about delivering key phrases and wrangling new site visitors via SEO anymore—those things are important, but I wanted to be intentional about the way we used our site to build trust and begin a relationship with our clients. User-friendliness is important, and so is communicating in a voice that clients find relevant. While technology is vital, providing personal attention and taking a hands-on approach still remains essential. For example, the emails clients receive from Dwell Summit contain a mix of properties curated by our team as well as results automatically generated by a custom search we create on their behalf. Last but not least, we don’t just use our blog and social media accounts to auto-post property listings. We spend time thinking about what our clients are interested in and work to create content they will find relevant, useful, and fun.

What do you love most about working and living in Breckenridge, CO?

So many people come to me who are looking for a home for their whole clan—a place for friends and family to gather year after year and season after season. Breckenridge is that place. Our neighborhoods in Summit County provide people with the opportunity to make amazing memories against a stunning natural backdrop…as in, it’s not uncommon for me to see a moose outside my window while enjoying my morning coffee! My kids have been skiing since they were 20 months old, and I love that my 3-year-old is a better skier than most adult men. Summit County is also a huge center for culture and art. From fine food and wine festivals to an airplane stunt show over Lake Dillon in the summer, there’s something happening every weekend.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Family dinners are big for us. Our entire extended family gets together about once a month to enjoy a meal (and a lot of talking)! It’s loud around our table when everybody from Jersey gets together—picture an Italian family that’s not actually Italian—but it’s also such a special time to connect, share, and just do life together. We’re also involved in our church, and I personally enjoy balancing outdoor mountain activities with spa treatments, a trip to the nail salon, or any occasion that calls for high heels.

How do you think your colleagues would describe you?

Loyal, brutally honest, tenacious, goal-oriented, and hardworking. I’m not content with settling—I like to think and dream big, and then figure out what action steps are needed to overcome obstacles and achieve the goals I’ve set.

What is your daily “must-do”?

I always begin with coffee. Nothing in life starts without it! It’s funny because while I enjoy the finer things in life and have an eye for luxury, I am as plain Jane as it gets when it comes to coffee. No lattes for me—just drip please. My daily routine also includes getting outside. Whether it’s skiing, a round of golf in the summer, or a walk around the neighborhood, fresh air and Vitamin D keep me going.

Name one thing we might not know about you.

Although I have the makings of a Colorado native—I was a competitive ski racer throughout childhood and love camping, biking, hiking, and all things associated with the outdoor lifestyle—I originally hail from New Jersey. While on a cross-country roadtrip, what was intended to be a quick stop in Breckenridge turned into a long-term living situation. Since becoming a permanent resident 16 years ago I’ve welcomed the majority of my close-knit family to Summit County as well. My husband and I count it a privilege to raise our two boys in a thriving community where they’re surrounded by aunts and uncles.