Living in a society that is increasingly “me-me-me” focused, it’s heartening to realize there are still plenty of people who make it a point to reach out and help others. Christine Torres, a local realtor in Berthoud, is raising the bar when it comes to giving back in her community.
How did you evolve into being so connected with the community?
I got involved back in 2014 when my daughter was at Berthoud High School (BHS). When suicides were on the rise, I wanted to get involved to be preventive instead of reactive. Thompson School District paid for a week of training with Sources Of Strength Suicide Prevention to train me to teach other high schools about the program. From there, the athletic director asked me to be the president of the BHS athletic booster club whose mission is to support all 16 sports teams. I began interacting with all small businesses in Berthoud that would sponsor the boosters club. I learned how to market the local businesses to the Berthoud community in this role.
What is you WHY?
My grandparents and my mom escaped from Hungary in 1956 after 7 generations. Their restaurant, small grocery store, and bowling alley business was taken by Communist government after WW2 and they chose to escape with nothing but my mom and come to America where my great uncle sponsored them. They lived in a one room place above the restaurant they ran in Boulder, CO.
My mom met my dad at CU Boulder. They married and my dad was an Air Force Colonel and my mom was in the CIA. I have a passion for supporting and collaborating with the Berthoud community, which in turns supports America. I believe in the term United We Stand, Divided We Fall and desire to give back for the opportunity this country has given my family.
What woman inspires you and why?
I’m inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) because she was a woman of few spoken words while making a huge impact as a pioneer on the Supreme Court. I often reflect on her quote, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” The hours that she put in, along with her focus, when writing her supreme court briefings was amazing. She worked incredibly hard, both for our country as well as for her family.
What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?
The most valuable asset in life is time spent with family and friends.
Where will we find you on a Saturday morning at 10 a.m.?
I’m always engaging in some sort of outdoor activity or hot yoga to relieve stress. I make fitness a priority for physical and mental resiliency.
What advice would you give to young men and women entering the real estate industry?
Find a good mentor. Dig into data, be over prepared with all information about the property. Value your client relationships and find a good contact management system to be able to stay in touch with your clients effectively. One thing that has worked well for me is to always connect like minded people. When you empower others, you ultimately empower yourself.
How are you continuing to stay engaged in the community?
There are several different focuses for me that include nonprofits, local government, and support of the schools. An example of my nonprofit engagement is the Rope For Hope fundraiser for House of Neighborly Services where 50 edgers will be rappelling off of the side of The Foundry in Loveland. Attending Town Hall meetings and staying in touch with the Chamber of Commerce is always a priority. I enjoy coordinating the BHS homecoming parade and community bonfire at Grace Place. Come out and support our BHS Spartan athletes on September 7th!