Linda Kepple is a realtor, working for Coldwell Banker Devonshire. Devonshire has four offices in the tri-County area where they control the major share of the real estate sales in those markets.

Kepple has been one of their realtor associates since 1998 and was named the No. 1 agent in the Coldwell Banker franchise for the State of Illinois in 1999. She has been a recipient of their highest production awards since affiliating with them.

Kepple received her real estate license and began that career in 1985. She is a graduate of the Realtors Institute (GRI) and a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Illinois Association of Realtors and Peoria Area Association of Realtors and consistently ranks as one of the top three agents in PAAR.

She received a bachelor of science in psychology and sociology with a minor in religious studies from Maryville College of the Sacred Heart, St. Louis in 1975. She worked as a social worker for Saint Francis Medical Center from 1975 to 1979 in the emergency department/trauma center.

Kepple currently serves as president of the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Advisory Board, where she has been a board member since 1992 and began her involvement in 1989. Other community commitments she has been a part of include:Junior League of Peoria board member and community vice-president, Family House board member and the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate board member.

Kepple is a lifelong Peorian and resides in Dunlap with her husband, Mike, and their three children.

Tell us about your background, schools attended, family, etc.

I was born and raised here in Peoria. I am the oldest of six (four of my siblings also still live here). I grew up with a large and close extended family. My paternal grandparents lived across the street from us, where Nanna would bake cookies, sew our buttons on and knit us sweaters, and Poppi could fix any broken toy.

My maternal grandfather also lived in Peoria and would stop by often. He had been Attorney General of the State of Illinois and loved to quiz us on our history facts. My parents were focused on all of us having college degrees, supportive of all our endeavors, which they encouraged us to give 150 percent to.

My mother loved to make celebrations in honor of those close to her for any occasion she could find. It made for a happy house. I went through all Catholic schools from elementary through college and graduated from Maryville College of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology.

My husband of 26 years, Mike, is in insurance. Our children are 22-year-old John-Michael, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; Casey Christopher, 20, a sophomore at Joliet Junior College; and 14-year-old Mary Colleen is an eighth grader at Peoria Academy.

You’ve lived in Peoria all of your life. What do you remember most as a young child about the community? What has changed the most?

Growing up here I always had an appreciation for what a pretty town we have...with all the wooded and hilly areas and of course, the river. As kids, we used to hike the wooded ravines and creeks—and sometimes look for and find what we were sure were Indian arrowheads. No matter whose house we were at, we could always find a neat, forested area to explore.

There was also lot of open land between neighborhoods and shopping. There were many smoke stacks from factories, which you could sometimes smell, and the hops from Pabst Blue Ribbon in Peoria Heights was always detectable if you were to pass nearby. We infrequently met a family who moved here from out of town. The Caterpillar people moved around quite a bit, but it seemed it was always Peoria people moving out and then moving back in again.

As I grew up and made new acquaintances we could usually trace a number of mutual friends. The big shopping center was Sheridan Village, and there was a significant amount of shopping downtown.

One of the big changes apparent to me is the dramatic downsizing in numbers of employees at area factories, along with a sizeable growth and presence of the medical community here. I’m sure this is responsible in part for the growth in the middle and upper-middle income level earners—another obvious change.

It seems years ago the largest part of our population was upper-income earners, or middle-to-lower income earners. It has been a nice change to see growth in that middle gap, along with the wonderful influx of all the people moving here from out of town. It has really added character to our community.

Your early career choice was as a social worker, with a focus on patient relations. Tell us about your experiences in that career, and if there are still such positions.

The patient relations program at Maryville was a focus on hospital social work. (The title today refers more to internal administrative patient satisfaction representatives.)

The curriculum included requirements beneficial in a hospital setting, such as medical terminology, death and dying, comparative religions and such. It also included an internship where we rotated to different services of St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Louis for one semester. I enjoyed the emergency room and working with terminally ill patients the most.

When looking for a job here after graduation I had some trouble finding availability in the areas I liked. Hospice was just starting here, and no hospitals had social workers in their emergency rooms. I called Ed McGrath, the administrator of Saint Francis at the time, and he finally agreed to meet with me. I wanted to plant the seed of a social worker in their regional trauma center. About three months later he called and said they were ready to give an E.R. social worker a try.

My four years there were a life changing experience. I learned quickly how fragile life is, how fatal carelessness can be, and how much we don’t have control of. Some of the duties of the job included greeting patients and families at the registration desk, keeping them posted on what they were waiting for in the course of their treatment, explaining procedures, finding next of kin, grief counseling, and making referrals to appropriate social service agencies. After about one year, a second social worker was added to offer more hours of coverage. They still have that position today.

Who or what influenced your decision to leave social work and move into real estate? Any regrets? Why or why not?

I took a leave of absence from Saint Francis to have our first baby, and enjoyed being home with him too much to go back to work. With Mike and I both coming from large families, we wanted the same for ourselves. Several years after the birth of our second, I had three ectopic pregnancies and then learned my birthing years were over. That realization was a very sad day.

We registered with several agencies to adopt a baby, which was a slow moving process. Once the boys got in to school, Mike suggested I try selling real estate. He thought it would be a good thing to occupy my free time, with both boys in school, and offered flexibility for our sons’ schedules. About four years after we were accepted into the Catholic Social Service Adoption program, and three years into my real estate career,we receieved a baby girl.

I’ve never had any regrets about choosing real estate over social work. There are actually some parallels between the two. There is a high level of people contact, and I have the opportunity to assist them in making very important decisions in regards to one of their largest assets. It can also often involve dealing with strong emotions.

Being a realtor involves a lot of hours, but there is the bonus of the flexibility it offers. Something I wouldn’t have if I were still a social worker. Positives include the monetary compensation as opposed to social work, and also being able to experience more "wins."

With social work, many of the problems handed to you to deal with are unfixable. The social worker can offer assistance with solutions to the problem, but in many cases the problem comes back after a period of time. This stems from behavior learned in the environment in which the individual was raised, and frequently they don’t have the discipline and support necessary to make the changes they need to over the long haul to improve their situation.

As a social worker it was important to focus on the small wins; if you focused only on the big wins it could be discouraging, since they weren’t in abundance.

I think social work is a very noble profession, and my hat goes off to those who make it a life-long career.

How has your psychology and sociology degree helped in your current career?

The whole package of a psychology/sociology degree, along with that work experience as a social worker, has most definitely benefited me in my real estate career. It has helped me understand and relate to different thought processes people use, understand and work with the different types of reactions they have, and deal with the diverse natures of people.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is the fear many have when people react in a way they aren’t prepared for. This often causes an individual to just shut down when faced with that unfamiliarity. Having this focus in my education as a foundation, along with the work experience, has assisted me in the form of much stronger skills in the communication process—which essentially is what selling is—and that brings more successes to both my clients and me.

How has the real estate profession changed since you first entered in 1985? The Peoria area real estate market?

In so many ways. Interest rates are no longer just under 20 percent. Some of the more successful agents of those days were the ones who were the experts in creative financing. We were doing many contract-for-deeds then and other forms of seller financing then. It was also not uncommon to call both the buyer and the seller prior to closing to tell them how much money they needed to bring to closing. In 1985, we put little flags on our listings in the newspaper advertising to brag "sold in six months!"

Houses were frequently on the market for more than one year, and often two years, as opposed to an approximate average of about 140 days now (although that time frame is growing).

Differential between listing and selling price was 10 percent or better, as oppose to 5 percent at the most today. A sales contract in 1985 was a total of two pages, as opposed to at least five today. And the day of the house inspection had not yet arrived. Buyers purchased their home without inspections, except for termite.

The biggest change in the Peoria area real estate market from 1985 to present is the average price range. With the growth of the upper-middle income earner has come the $185,000 to $350,000 price range of homes. That is the price where much of the new construction falls.

I remember working with couples moving here 15 years ago who would ask to be shown the new construction neighborhoods, and there weren’t any. It would be a huge adjustment for those used to living in new houses to be forced to purchase a 15-year-old home.

Another big change in the Peoria market is the arrival of homes that hover slightly above the million mark. These vary between newer construction and renovated riverview an d golf course view homes. This career has been an exciting 16-year ride—never a dull moment.

What makes a successful real estate market?

As you may know, real estate agents are from all different walks of life. This is a second or third career for a great number of us, although real estate is now offered as a major in many universities—which means our competition is going to get tougher, and I welcome that.

Qualities you find in realtors today are varied, and agents are finding success in their own uniqueness. One given is that it is incredibly important to be an expert on your marketplace so you can assist your client in accomplishing their goals efficiently and with confidence. Other traits necessary to have are tenacity, honesty, patience, intuitiveness, listening and communication skills, a good work ethic, organizational and multi-tasking skills, being a self starter—and having thick skin.

This is a business where it is easy to get discouraged. It’s important to work through and learn from those discouraging times, while continuing to sharpen and develop skills. Some people give up too soon.

How difficult is it to begin a career in real estate today? Is it easier/harder for a woman than a man? Explain.

First, I think many people enter this profession very naively believing there is a lot less involved than there really is, and that it is much more glamorous than is the reality.

One of the most difficult things about beginning a career in real estate is working on straight commission in addition to incurring start up and ongoing expenses. It’s necessary to have some money in savings since you won’t be able to count on income for a period of time while you are on your learning curve.

Something offered in our profession that wasn’t when I started is the presence of real estate coaches or mentors who can assist you in learning how to work smart and not fall in to the pit falls of spending large amounts of time in areas that are fruitless.

If a person can learn how to sell homes working smart, real estate is a wonderful career in every type of economy because people always need to move. The consumer will typically pick an agent to work with who has a history of getting results.

I would say that as far as getting started goes, how easy or difficult it is has more to do with the individual’s instincts as it relates to sales and real estate rather than men vs. women. Some have more of an aptitude for the business than others.

I do find that overall, it seems women may sometimes be a little stronger instinctively in the residential market, and men more in the commercial and development side of the profession—but there is no true rule of thumb either way.

You have volunteered at many organizations through the years. Talk about your interest in the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, where you have been associated since 1990.

My first contact with Children’s Hospital of Illinois was by working on the kick off fundraiser—the Jay Leno concert in 1990. Shortly after that I was asked to assist on their development committee, and then a few years later on their advisory board.

Children’s Hospital for me has been a heartfelt commitment that continues to deepen as time goes on. Watching the growth and sophistication of services and staff over the past 11 years is very inspiring to me.

I have always enjoyed volunteering, and loved the thrill of being on the ground floor of projects. Seeing different services started in their infancy, then springboard into the community—and also see how people benefit from them—is very gratifying. Of key importance to me with CHOI is seeing the volume of children and families impacted, and at a point in these children’s lives when there are still so many years ahead for them to enjoy and give of themselves.

What is so special about Children’s Hospital is how it is geared and focused to the whole child and family. The care of the child is directed in an age appropriate way relevant to their developmental needs and unique to them. We have 60 pediatric physicians with 24 different specialties.

Throughout CHOI we have multidisciplinary teams that consist of the physician and nurse specialists, social workers, child life specialists, speech, respiratory, occupational and physical therapists—all with focused pediatric training in their specialty area.

One of our challenges over the years has been to get two of the same specialists at a time. For example, in the early years we would be able to get one pediatric intensivist—which are few and far between—but then we would have difficulty getting that second one here before the first one would burn out and move on.

We now have a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Step Down Unit, staffed by five pediatric intensivists. To me that is very cool, and shows what a long way we have come. Examples like this go on and on with the same happy ending—it was a great day when the realization hit that CHOI is here for good, alive and kicking!

Our latest piece of good news is this past Summer CHOI was listed no.1 for patient satisfaction—as measured by the Press Gainey Survey, which is a national survey covering children’s hospitals throughout the country. All CHOI staff deserve accolades for this coveted accomplishment.

What new developments are planned at the Children’s Hospital?

There are always new developments. What is at the forefront of my mind is the hope we will be able to start making plans for a new Children’s Hospital building while I am chairman. Currently our facility is a hospital within a hospital, housed at OSF Saint Francis. We have dedicated hallways marked by special arches identifying the hall as a part of CHOI. It would be immensely better and more efficient to be housed all together in one building. It makes sense for us to partner with a medical center that already has the majority of high-tech equipment we need. We hope to have our own building on the OSF Saint Francis campus where we could still be connected to the main medical center for collaboration of certain facilities.

The standing committees of our board are highly active and always revamping as they see fit. They include the development committee—the fundraising arm of the hospital. Development’s direction is to continue to grow the local events that are not only fundraisers, but friend raisers to CHOI. This committee hopes to get more community volunteers to assist us in those endeavors so additional efforts can be made by staff and advisory board members to develop the corporate relationships we have.

The advocacy committee was very successful last year in raising awareness for Bicycle Helmet Safety by giving away hundreds of helmets to kindergarten and first grade children that came with a presentation at their schools. This committee was also involved in "Kick Butts Day" which is an awareness of the harms of teenage smoking. Advocacy continues to find ways to put their arms around issues that offer prevention and well-being for children.

The community relations committee works at keeping top of the mind awareness of CHOI in central Illinois, what our mission is, and what we’re all about.

Their challenge 10 years ago was to let Peoria and the surrounding communities know we were here. Today their challenge is to keep the community cognizant of what we are doing—in all realms. Our newest committee addition is Haitian Hearts. A number of years ago Dr. John Carroll began going to Haiti several times a year to help the sick, and soon began bringing seriously ill children back for necessary treatment that couldn’t be given there—most often heart issues.

As people learned of his endeavors they began offering their support, monetary and physical. This project has grown to a point where CHOI is now assisting in the coordination of these efforts through the formation of a committee that can offer additional help and coordination of services in numerous ways. New developments also continue through the medical staff in every corner of the hospital.

You and your family have also been involved in a very successful fund-raiser for the Children’s Hospital—the Mother/Daughter Holiday Luncheon. Talk about that event and how important it is to your family.

In 1994 a CHOI advisory board member suggested a fundraiser that would be a mother/daughter holiday luncheon, and also suggested I chair it. I accepted, and asked my mother to be the co-chair, and would not take "no" for an answer.

Parties have always been her forte, and I knew she would make it like no one else could. She also always had a passion for the quality of life and happiness of children, so I knew the benefit of the fundraiser would put a fire under her. I was excited to have her help since she was extremely selective of what she committed to outside the home.

We had a committee of five, which coordinated efforts and followed her lead. We asked the development office if we could designate where the funds were to go. They gave us a list of five different needs, and our committee chose to make our goal a transport incubator for moving high-risk infants by helicopter. It cost around $35,000. Mom felt it was important to make the day feel like a festive, sparkling holiday with lots going on.

My mother kept telling me I needed to find a job for Dad since the majority of the family was involved and he should be too. That was a difficult assignment. He’s a hard guy to just tell to go do something. I just made sure he knew about all the "special touches" Mom decided to add to the event at her expense—and that’s when he decided to help by getting underwriting. The event raised about $105,000—mostly through these underwriting efforts. We were able to buy several isolettes. It was the most successful single fundraiser in the history of CHOI.

In May 2000 my mother died. That December it was time for another Mother/Daughter Holiday Luncheon. My sisters and I decided to offer to co-chair it in memory of Mom.

The synergy of our family and an awesome committee created a magical day, Dad solicited underwriting again, and this time we raised $149,000. We also once again asked if we could designate where the money would be used, and the committee chose to put it towards major necessary upgrades in the Pediatric Intensive Care Step Down Unit. From the very first Mother/Daughter Holiday Luncheon we’ve had people call for reservations before the date is ever formally announced, and every year we have sold out.

How do you balance career and family? Is it easier when the children are in grade school or high school?

Over the long term, what has been important and helpful is to stay extremely focused on the task at hand and also stay scheduled. Another thing is to prioritize and not let it get overwhelming if some of the small things don’t get done the way I prefer.

Most importantly, everyone helps—I think if I told Mike when we were first married he was going to be as involved on the home scene as he has been he would have said "no way." It’s certainly not the way things were when he grew up—I’m so glad he didn’t know what he was getting himself into. He’s a great help.

I think he does enjoy the extra involvement, and at this point if he was removed from some of the things he’s gotten used to being in, I’m pretty sure he would miss it. It was mentally easier when the kids were in grade school, but physically harder. In high school it was just the opposite—it became physically easier—but much more mentally tough.

During any little bumps in the road everything else would just have to get put on hold until the dust settled. We had a great nanny for about 11 years, and good childcare makes all the difference in the world. It lets you enjoy your work. Sixteen years ago we didn’t have anywhere near the options for good child care that are out there.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

It has to almost go without saying I’m most proud of our three great kids that are none the worse for wear by having a working mom. When a mother works, it is a constant internal struggle as to whether it’s the right decision. They are all currently productive and successful in their respective schools and extracurricular involvement.

The Family House will always stay close to my heart because it is such a wonderful example to me of the American way—people helping people. I was in a job where I saw a community need, took the idea to a volunteer organization, we organized, formed a board, and within a couple of years we had Family House. It was such a great success story where I had the privilege of being a catalyst.
Children’s Hospital has been somewhat of a similar experience only on a much bigger scale. Having the opportunity to watch its development from the ground floor, and seeing what develops with commitment and vision of very special people is inspiring.

Being able to help in those strides is a connection of which I am very proud and humbled by having been given the chance. It gives me an awesome feeling to think about the extent of how both Children’s Hospital and Family House impact and help others.

I’m also grateful and proud of the success I’ve had in my profession. It’s been very gratifying to be in a job I enjoy so much and that allows me to have positive results.

You have a young teenage daughter. How different do you believe her world is than the world you grew up in—regarding her peers, expectations for career and family, etc?

Colleen’s world has been so much busier as a youngster than mine was. There weren’t very many opportunities for sports participation for girls, and communication with my friends was via the phone.

The world today seems to be begging these kids to get to know it better with information so accessible in every subject. She has a much wider circle of acquaintances and friends than I did at her age, in part due to how many she meets though her extracurricular activities outside her own school. There is just a lot more offered today for her—as I’m sure every parent can attest to.

Broadening and expansion in many professions offer more choices for careers. Also, many of the careers that were men only in the 1970s are now full of women professionals. I love the more accepting and open-minded attitude where value is placed more on the quality of the job done—not the type of job worked at.

The marker today seems not always measured in relation to accumulation of money, but more for what is accomplished as a whole and the quality of life it brings.

These philosophies will give her so much more freedom to follow the path where she feels she can be most successful—whether it be the type of career she chooses, staying home to raise a family, or both. That makes me very happy and hopeful for a fulfilling life for her.

What are your hobbies? What do you like to do in your leisure?

Favorite things to do in my leisure are to be home with everyone there and catch up on getting things done, stay in touch with my sisters and of course always tease their kids a little, or spend time out at our farm, where it is so peaceful, and doing some reading. Old time hobbies are water and snow skiing, and more recently, scuba diving. TPW