Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelle Carrig.
Shelle, please share your story with us. How did you get your start?
I started working at a young age. My friends laugh at the variety of jobs I’ve had. I worked at a hair salon, a dry cleaner and a coffee shop. I’ve been a nanny, an accountant, a cashier, a graphic designer. I have always been creative, drawing and making art, so marketing and design came naturally to me. I didn’t know it at the time, but my real career kicked off in high school while working for a real estate developer in Omaha, Nebraska. I had a knack for creating asset portfolios combining photography and financial statements.
My best friend encouraged me to look at Texas universities and I accepted a scholarship to TCU. Four years later, I left Fort Worth with a degree in fine arts and went on to work as a designer immediately. Within one year, I landed an amazing job as a creative director where I worked with teams to create the signs, billboards, grand openings and logos for national retail brands such as PetSMART, Dick’s Sporting Goods, SAM’S CLUB, Wild Oats Markets and TGIFriday’s. Christopher Hanley and I created Carrihan Creative Group in 2004 which lasted for about a year. Then, I was offered a position in marketing for one of Dallas’ best real estate developers, Lucy Billingsley.
What did you do there?
At Billingsley Company, I came full circle back to real estate as the Director of Marketing. It was a great time to be at Billingsley Company because we created One Arts Plaza in Dallas’ Arts District, the first high-rise to be built in Downtown Dallas in over 18 years. I believe it was the catalyst for many other great developments that we are all enjoying in Dallas today, and I take pride in being a part of the growth. I was also lucky enough to be a part of many other amazing developments, including Austin Ranch, Gramercy on the Park, International Business Park, Hemingway Court and Cypress Waters.
We’d love to hear more about what you’re currently doing. Tell us about your business.
My business is a combination of real estate, data, design and my little marketing company called Carrihan.com. It operates on several tiers: global, regional, and granular. The global component is SothebysRealty.com with a network of salespeople around the world and brand recognition that blows my mind. The affiliation with Sotheby’s Fine Art tickles my core. I absolutely love the connection of art, architecture, real estate and investments that the Sotheby’s brand provides. The regional component is Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, which is a staple in Texas for business and for philanthropic leadership. I am the Commercial Ambassador at Briggs Freeman. Robbie Briggs has allowed me to be creative in real estate, and I cherish working for such a well-respected company. It is all about relationships and feels like a family. The granular component of my business is Carrihan Creative+Marketing, which is composed of business plans, spreadsheets, technologies, development, creative projects and place-making. I find locations and work with architects to create new spaces. I market buildings, businesses and residences. I love opportunities to create the highest and best use of a place. When everything works together, beautiful things come out of it all.
We’re always bombarded with people saying how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. But we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I am grateful to be able to say that it has been a smooth road along the way. I have had great mentors, and encouraging friends and family. Amazing people have helped me become who I am today. I am stunned by the generosities of the following folks: Robbie Briggs, Lucy Billingsley, Becky Frey, Lucilo Peña, Peter Benanti, Warren Ivie, Tom Zielinksi, Ann Marie Bratton, Ginia Pigeaire, Dr. and Mrs. Peter Chilian, Dr. Leo Munson, Betsy Johnson, Michael Cutler, Dawn Tieken, my Pi Phi sorority sisters and my parents, Doug and Mary Carrig. All of these people provided opportunities for me when they didn’t have to and each one has made my life better. Smooth as butter. My siblings and my stepson have brought me love, support and invaluable life lessons, too. I am puzzled by how I got so lucky.
What were you like growing up?
I have always been an artist. As a kid, I would draw scenes of a city or a circus on paper menus at restaurants. As a student, I painted the store windows for extra cash at shopping centers. My family went on a lot of road trips where I was constantly inspired by new places. We spent a lot of time in the outdoors. I had a four-wheeler and a jet ski and I was a tomboy. My dad loved teaching me to shoot guns, hit bullseyes with sling shots, play soccer and pitch a softball. My mom was definitely my creative inspiration: she would stay up all night long with me working on my projects, creating my Halloween costumes, and helping me win first place in anything that had to do with creativity. I think as a kid I used to be more laid back; but, I am certain my interests and personality have remained the same. I love to hike, bike, fish, ski, get festive and explore. I enjoy playing golf; and, I love yoga, travel and live performances. I still love the outdoors.
What lies ahead in your future?
People have always told me I was unique because of my combo of right-brain creative skills and left-brain analytic tendencies. There have been times where I wished I could focus on only one! The artist in me would like to be a full-time painter where I could travel globally and do workshops with painting masters. But, setting the fun and travel aside, I would like for there to be a lot of real estate in my future. Launching a property on the market is a lot like preparing a new business, or a new campaign message, to launch on the market. I do that very well. I have dreamed about purchasing historic buildings and repurposing them. Maybe I will create places of my own, one of these days?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.carrihan.com & www.sothebysrealtor.info
- Phone: +1(214)450-8782
- Email: shelle@carrihan.com
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/look.realestate. sothebys/; https://www. instagram.com/shellecarrig/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/shelle.carrig - Twitter: @dallaszip75201
- Other: https://www.linkedin.
com/in/mcarrig/
Image Credit:
©ShelleCarrigRealEstate
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