"Being successful in real estate isn't about selling houses, it's about building relationships," according to Scott O'Brien, owner of Our Island Real Estate. Mr. O'Brien attributes his success to his close ties with fellow Staten Islanders. As a youngster, he pitched for Snug Harbor, he went to school on Staten Island and his first job was at a local pizzeria. He has lived in Stapleton, St. George, Grymes Hill, Willowbrook and Castleton Corners. Mr. O'Brien currently resides in Westerleigh with his family. He's not a salesman selling a product he doesn't endorse—he's a native Staten Islander who is extremely proud of the place he calls home.

Scott O'Brien's vast personal knowledge of Staten Island combined with his extraordinary ability to think outside the box sets him apart from other realtors. He works closely with mortgage brokers, local builders and commercial real estate investors while maintaining his rapport with clients who are looking to buy or sell a home. His familiarity with Staten Island and its people enables him to meet the individual needs of each of his clients.

Some would look at the Gold Awards hanging in Mr. O'Brien's office as a testament to his success; some would refer to his company's patriotic logo displayed on lawns throughout Staten Island. But Scott O'Brien measures his success differently. He states, "I used to think I'd be happy when I was successful, but then I realized I was successful because I was happy. Finding something you truly love to do means you'll never have to work another day in your life."

Christopher M. Reno was born on Staten Island 37 years ago. He moved to Red Bank, N.J. to attend high school while simultaneously attending Brookdale College as a member of a fast-start program. He lived in Massachusetts while attending Boston University. "While in Boston I worked at Harvard Business School selling advertising for a student publication for two years. I realized my penchant for sales and desire to interact closely with the public on a daily basis."

Chris took a job at Oppenheimer & Co., a leading private investment banking firm on Wall Street. He left after five years to be part of an upstart brokerage company. He became the Head of Sales & Marketing, supervising over 100 registered brokers and was the firm's leading revenue producer. Unfortunately, on September 11th his firm was headquartered in the World Trade Center. "More than anything, the events of that day served to remind me how important my family and close friends are to me. Every day is a gift and should be taken as such. The goal of Our Island real estate is to serve the needs of our neighbors in a respectful and caring manner. We're not trying to be the largest real estate sales organization on Staten Island; we strive to offer more personalized service that treats each home with the dignity it deserves."

Michael P. Gentilesco has lived and worked in the Staten Island community for over thirty five years. He has over 25 years' experience in sales, both in retail and real estate. He has a vast knowledge of the Staten Island community and all it has to offer.

As Managing Broker as well as one of the founders, Mike is an integral part of the Our Island family. Mike is always available for our clients as well as our agents. He is the point person responsible for the day-to-day operations of all aspects of running Our Island Real Estate.

Kevin Adams was born and raised in Queens, NY. Having made the decision to purchase his first home on Staten Island after falling in love with the neighborhoods and the residents, he now lives here with his wife. Kevin is Catholic school-bred and attended SUNY Farmingdale. He is a full-time employee of the NYC Housing Authority and brings with him a vast array of hands-on knowledge in construction, which makes him a valuable asset when searching for the perfect home or investment. One of Kevin's greatest joys comes from helping others find a place to call home.

Virginia Aversano is a native Staten-Islander who has several years' experience in the real estate market. Prior to becoming a licensed real estate agent, Virginia enjoyed a successful 25-year career in finance on Wall Street in the trading and sales of municipal bonds. With Virginia's vast knowledge of Staten Island and all it has to offer, she has a unique talent for finding the perfect home for her clients.

Gail Williams-Baghdadi is a wife and mother of three who has lived on Staten Island since 2002. She has worked in residential, commercial and governmental construction as a Project Manager since 1991. As life changes so do careers, and Mrs. Baghdadi has chosen the more personal side of development — real estate. As a new agent, she is eager to serve and will always provide honest, professional and enjoyable service.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Daniel Brennan has lived on Staten Island for the past 25 years. He currently lives in Westerleigh and has been a NYC firefighter for four years. Danny is a graduate of Port Richmond High School and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the College Of Staten Island. Of his passion for real estate, Danny explains, "I had wanted to get into real estate for as long as I could remember. I love interacting with people and helping them realize their dream of home ownership. I am very excited to join the Our Island team."

"Tony" Dashnor Dema is a Real Estate Assistant who is fluent in Albanian. Tony brings a strong, friendly personality and business background to Our Island Real Estate, as well as a powerful drive to help people understand the ins and outs of the real estate business. Tony is proud to raise his family on Staten Island.

Since becoming a licensed sales associate in 2001, Pamela Fulfrost has simplified the complex real estate process for first-time home buyers, customers looking to downsize their homes and commercial property investors. She is also associated with a Brooklyn-based real estate sales company which makes her uniquely qualified to assist you in a Brooklyn sale and Staten Island purchase with honesty, integrity and reliability.

Richard Ghiraldi says he began working in real estate sales because "I remember the excitement and pride I felt when my wife and I purchased our first home." He enjoys sharing that feeling with his clients in assisting them in finding a home they can be proud to call their own. If you're a reluctant first-time buyer or just too busy to house hunt, Richard will do the research for you. Buyers now have the option of hiring a realtor to work on their behalf for little or no cost. Richard is one of the first Certified Buyer Representatives on Staten Island, and he's ready to provide you with the professional, personal service he is known for.

Thomas Ledger is one of the newest agents to join Our Island Real Estate. Born and raised on Staten Island, he has been a resident of South Beach for most of his life. In addition to graduating cum laude from NJIT and working in support for a medical company, Thomas serves as a Business Analyst for a global bank. His devotion to sorting through the facts and giving professional advice ensures a satisfied customer every time. His background and dedication has jump-started the Property Management division of Our Island.

Marina Levit is a new construction expert. She is fluent in Russian, an important asset with the changing demographics on the Island. Marina is a three-year real estate veteran who is very familiar with the commercial aspects of real estate.

A lifelong Islander and North Shore resident, Edwin Lohrhas seen many changes over the years. Ed and his wife Barbara are the proud parents of twins, and have come to realize that Staten Island is one of the best places to raise a family. He's been a real estate professional for the past 6 years, and understands the needs of prospective homeowners. Ed understands what pride in ownership means to his neighbors.

JoJo Lucido was born and raised in Brooklyn and moved to Staten Island 35 years ago. She and her husband have raised three wonderful children and have four beautiful grandchildren as well.

JoJo explains, "I went into real estate 18 years ago. I've listed, sold, rented and managed properties. I consider myself a go-getter and a very motivated person. I originally got involved in real estate because I wanted to help people attain the American dream — home ownership. I have achieved these goals over the years and it brings me great joy to help others realize that same goal. This job has been very rewarding to me."

Janet Mandile has been an associate broker on Staten Island since 1988. She has always loved real estate because it affords her the opportunity to meet and work with the wonderful people of the community. "Staten Island is unique in that it is home to such a diverse group of people in a variety of settings, yet we are all neighbors and it is certainly a great place to call home," Janet says. She and her husband Bill have raised two wonderful children here, and thanks to the wonderful schools on our Island, they grew up to be well-rounded young adults. She encourages young couples considering a neighborhood in which to raise their family to "visit the communities of Staten Island. Visit our schools and meet the neighbors. I'm sure you will feel at home."

Since 1970, Joe Mannarino has been involved in residential real estate in Brooklyn and Staten Island. A long-time resident of Staten Island, Joe enjoys creating a better life for his clients. His experience in real estate, mortgages, investment properties greatly benefits his clients. Recognizing the value of the World Wide Web in its infancy, in 1990 Joe became one of the first Realtors on Staten Island to create his own website. Joe is the Internet Director for Our Island Real Estate. "A tremendous asset to our company, Joe is the driving force in unlocking the power of the internet for our homeowners. 70% of all real estate transactions last year initiated on the internet, and Joe has successfully propelled Our Island to the forefront of this valuable technology," says Scott O'Brien, owner of Our Island.

As a Staten Island resident for the past 30 years and a real estate professional for over 25 years, Josephine Mannarino is truly qualified to proclaim Staten Island a wonderful place to raise a family. Along with her husband Joe, she has raised three wonderful children on the Island. Josephine has vast experience in new construction, resales, foreclosures and all other aspects of real estate.

Guy Marasa has been involved in the real estate & construction industries for over 16 years. He began doing home improvements with his father at the age of 15. After graduating from the College of Staten Island, Guy chose to pursue a graduate degree in Alternative Medicine, but his passion for real estate never dwindled. He put his degree on hold, began investing in real estate & became a realtor. He now works full-time as a realtor & truly enjoys helping clients buy, sell, rent & improve their homes.

Morris Maya was born in Canarsie, Brooklyn and moved to Staten Island in 1999. He has eight years of real estate experience and is fluent in Hebrew, Polish and Spanish. Morris is a masonry contractor who knows the ins and outs of construction. Mike Gentilesco says, "Morris is a valuable addition to our growing family."

Mario Montuori & Theresa Folino are a husband and wife duo with over 12 years of combined real estate experience. Italian-born and New York-bred, Mario is an investment and commercial guru who knows the ins and outs of all aspects of the business. "They are both a great addition to our family," says Chris Reno.

Jason Myerwold of Westerleigh was born and raised on Staten Island. He is a graduate of Port Richmond High School and attended the College of Staten Island. He is an avid football and baseball fan with a background in sales. "Jason has the power of youth on his side. He has boundless energy and really relishes the success of helping his customers find that perfect home or maximize the price potential on the sale of their house," says Chris Reno.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Elyse Priola relocated to Great Kills in 1986 with her husband, where they still live with their two children. For over 10 years she has been a full-time licensed sales associate. Elyse is a diligent, detail-oriented sales professional, and will help make your home sale or purchase as stress-free as possible. Her knowledge of the Island and its schools will help you find the home of your dreams.

Patricia Racos was born and raised in Brooklyn. She moved to Staten Island in 1990 and resides in Richmondtown. A mother of three, this former Girl Scout leader and religion teacher has been a full-time realtor for over a decade. Experienced in all phases of real estate, Patricia has made her mark specializing in residential rentals in the new home market. "Scott O'Brien and Mike Gentilesco have truly made me feel that Our Island is a great place to call home," she says.

A native Staten Islander, Kimberly Seton has been a licensed real estate agent since 2001. Upon meeting Kim, you'll be immediately put at ease by her friendly, outgoing personality. She possesses a unique aptitude for working with potential home buyers, listening intently to her clients' needs. Kim works diligently and unerringly to locate that dream home. She maintains the highest level of professionalism, honesty and reliability, which is evidenced by the growing number of client referrals she receives each year — a true testament to her achievements.

A Brooklyn transplant, Veronica Vecchiarelli has lived on Staten Island for the past eighteen years with her husband John. They have two beautiful daughters, Lauren and Dana. A real estate agent for over two years, Ronnie truly enjoys speaking to both sellers and buyers about their needs and desires and using her expertise to fulfill them.

Like many Staten Islanders, John Vosilla was born in Brooklyn. He has called the Island home for over 20 years. He and his wife, Mary Lou, have raised three beautiful daughters in Great Kills. John's prior experience in the restaurant business is an indication of his passion for serving the public. Focusing on customer needs as a number one priority is his forte and is a major reason for his instant success in the real estate industry. "John has been a Licensed Sales Associate with Our Island since day one, and has proven to be a tremendous asset, a team player and mentor to other agents. John has an upbeat outlook and is a strong catalyst towards the future growth of our company," says Managing Broker Mike Gentilesco.