Mary Berger Adams

Bosses - their leadership can motivate, or their power can frighten, or their various forms - CEO, mother, coach - can confuse. Such faculty has spawned stories the stock of urban legends, or movies with character sketches that inspire viewers to change the world. But how many can say this of her boss:

"She is a very kind and thoughtful woman who continues to strive for the impossible and challenges herself and those around her to inspire only greatness. She is truly a remarkable woman," said Suzanne Murley, realtor with Strano and Associates.

Her boss is Dede Strano, mother, grandmother, sister, friend and co-founder of Strano Real Estate, a local company that began in Belleville as the brainchild of a husband and wife team in 1981; Strano now boasts eight offices spanning four counties in the metro-East, including St. Clair, Madison, Clinton and Monroe, due in part to the leadership of Mrs. Strano.

Indeed remarkable in her humility, she refuses to solely take credit for Strano's growth over the last 28 years.

"Good people work here," said Strano. "They're the reason for Strano's success. It's rewarding watching new people come into our company and chart their progress as they achieve professional and monetary success. That [reward] hasn't changed in thirty years."

Throughout and before her 30 years in real estate, Strano has put her family, friends and faith first, and such a stance cements her leadership.

After a stint in clerical work and marriage to husband Bob Strano in 1960, the new couple took a real estate class and were licensed soon thereafter. Mr. Strano, a former stockbroker, worked his way into commercial real estate. With the birth of their son Rob in 1964, Mrs. Strano adopted the rewarding, yet no less grueling, work of a mother and chose not to renew her license for several years.

With her youngest child at age fourteen and the market doing considerably well, Strano decided it was time to jump back in.

"I saw my life and thought, 'Where is this going?'" she said. "My children were growing up and were becoming more independent. I thought there had to be more purpose."

Though they were originally working for the same company, the Stranos wished to pursue their independence. Strano said that the flexibility of the hours, encouragement from friends and advice from Mr. Strano's New York associates sealed the deal to begin Strano Red Carpet (Strano Real Estate has gone through three name changes).

"We wanted to branch out on our own, to bring a new franchise into the area," she said. "The market was poor at the time, interest rates were at 16%, but we had active buyers and did a lot of creative financing. In one year, we had achieved our five-year goal."

As she mastered leadership with her team, Mrs. Strano said she encourages her team to not only be the best, but to want to do the best jobs they can. To better serve their clients, Strano began Strano Superior Service in which agents sign a commitment to the client; at the close of a deal, clients will take a customer-satisfaction survey compiled by an independent company.

"In 2009 at the close of first quarter, we had a 94% satisfaction rating," Mrs. Strano said. "I'm pleased, but it's not good enough. We want 100%, and that's what makes us successful. "One thing I've discovered is that I'm a very competitive person."

Changing technology increased Strano's growth and change over the years as well.

"In the company's early years, one would need to be in the office to access listings and all relative information," she said. "There were no home offices and office lights could be seen burning all hours of the day and night."

Crediting the flexibility of real estate hours despite the demands of running one's own business, Mrs. Strano said she learned to juggle her professional and home lives.

"No one should ever sacrifice her relationship with a mate or children for a career," she advises. "Find a career that allows you to be there for the important things."

Without glancing at the clock, Strano associates knew daily when the school day ended. "The phones would start ringing, and they would say, 'School's out - the Strano kids are calling!' Either their dad or I were always reachable."

She says that even though she always makes time for the most important events, her children quip that they were the ones sitting on the curb waiting when Mom was late though they always knew they could count on her for the important things. Eyes twinkling, she recaps a moment she surprised them.

"I had some time, so I got home before them and baked them cookies," she remembered. "I was home, waiting, and they ran in, grabbed some cookies, dropped their books, and left on their bikes!"

No longer biking after school, the Strano children have grown. Son Rob Strano, a PGA golfer, resides in Niceville, Florida and runs camps around the country teaching hearing impaired children to golf. Daughters Alison Anderson and Stephanie Maine are both licensed realtors with Strano, and Maine manages the Belleville East Strano office and is their marketing director. Between the three, they have given Mrs. Strano six grandchildren whom she now spoils with time and devotion.

"I'd drop anything to be with my children and grandchildren," she said. "My children are truly blessings especially since I lost Bob [in 1999]. They're always checking in on me now!"

Also making time for her three siblings, two sisters and a brother, and her dad, who is 102 and still living in his own home, she admits that trying to have a personal life is a challenge. Still, she makes time for her family and friends. She and five other women play golf every Tuesday afternoon followed by dinner, and she says that her business with Strano contributed to the building of many relationships.

"I've made many life-long friends," she said, "and in this business, you hope that you've touched some lives, too. In order to have happiness, you must have balance."

Balance Mrs. Strano does, and with flair. Whenever possible, she is a cheerleader for all her grandchildren. She travels frequently to her granddaughter's college golf tournaments, noting the love of the sport ingrained in several of her grandchildren inherited from their grandfather.

"I was married to my husband for 39 years," she says with an obvious and unwavering pride and affection. "It sure didn't seem that long."

How does she do it all?

"I don't think there's a secret formula," Strano said. "I'm surrounded by good people. Good things don't just happen. Good people make good things happen."