In honor of Mother’s Day, we spoke with two mother-daughter duos across Brown Harris Stevens about what it’s like to build a business alongside family. From shared instincts to lessons learned across generations, these partnerships reflect the trust, collaboration, and deep relationships that define real estate at its best.
Cathy van Tornhout and Annie Kruger
How has your relationship as mother and daughter shaped the way you work together in real estate?
Annie: As in life, we are so similar and think alike. We often can almost finish each other’s thoughts and seamlessly work side-by-side without having to overthink or explain. The same goes for working together in real estate.
The nice thing is we balance each other though with bringing different generational perspectives that complement each other and keep us well rounded.
Cathy: Recently we were preparing and staging a house that we were about to list and the client was laughing at how we were able to just move throughout the house, simultaneously preparing without having to pause to overanalyze or plan. Two for the price of one!
What’s one lesson you’ve learned from each other that has made you a stronger agent or team?
Cathy: Annie has such a calm confidence and a strong grasp of the market. I love watching her put her clients at ease as she shares her knowledge and expertise. Her clients love her and I’m truly so proud of her success.
Annie: My mom has been a top agent for almost 25 years and she has faced every challenge, every situation, every possible type of client, with grace and kindness and is still just as passionate about helping her clients as the very first day. I’ve learned to continue to find the joy even when a situation is hard or challenging and remember why we love to do what we do. Because we really do!
What’s a moment in your real estate journey together that made you especially proud to be working as a mother-daughter team?
Annie: Just recently, we closed a purchase for a family with two young children who were moving to Fairfield. We helped them navigate a challenging multiple-bid situation and collectively our work together and our relationships with everyone in the process, from the seller’s agent to the mortgage team and attorney, really got the deal done.
Cathy: It reminded us how strong we are together and how meaningful our relationships with everyone, including each other, truly are for our business and our clients’ success!
Charlotte Beckwith Quadri & Patricia Beckwith
How has your relationship as mother and daughter shaped the way you work together in real estate?
Knowing each other’s strengths has allowed us to work seamlessly over the years. Patricia lauds Charlotte’s technology prowess, and Charlotte takes every opportunity to absorb her mother’s encyclopedic knowledge of the real estate market over the past 50 years.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned from each other that has made you a stronger agent or team?
There may be times you find yourself working with a client who doesn’t appreciate you or the value you provide and treats you accordingly. It’s important to remember your own worth and that sometimes the best thing for both parties is to amicably part ways.
What’s a moment in your real estate journey together that made you especially proud to be working as a mother/daughter team?
Real estate is a very personal, relationship-driven industry and we love that our own personal relationship allows us to provide exceptional service to our clients. It’s wonderful to celebrate our successes together and equally rewarding to see each other handle any difficulties with respect and grace.
Elaine Clayman & Justine Rosenberg Bray
How has your relationship as mother and daughter shaped the way you work together in real estate?
Elaine: Being a single mother from the time my daughter was not yet two years old created a very deep bond between us. We grew up supporting one another and navigating life as a true team, and that naturally carried into our professional lives.
Justine: There is a seamlessness in the way we work together because we know each other so well and genuinely respect each other’s strengths. Our relationship allows us to communicate intuitively, support one another under pressure, and create a warm, collaborative experience for our clients.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned from each other that has made you a stronger agent or team?
Elaine: Justine is exceptionally organized and detail-oriented. She has taught me the importance of structure, research, and precision in every aspect of the business.
Justine: My mother tends to lead with creativity and big-picture thinking, especially when it comes to marketing our exclusives and creating strategies that emotionally connect with buyers. I focus heavily on executing those ideas thoughtfully and efficiently through research and pricing analysis, while she handles much of the negotiation process. Together, our strengths complement one another in a way that makes us stronger as a team.
What’s a moment in your real estate journey together that made you especially proud to be working as a mother/daughter team?
Honestly, it’s not one single moment. Every aspect of working together makes us proud. We are grateful that clients respond not only to our experience, but also to the warmth, integrity, and trust that define our relationship.
We never take the confidence people place in us for granted, and sharing that journey together as mother and daughter has been deeply meaningful.
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