Scott Christopher
Scott Christopher, Partner
Designated Broker
207-812-0124
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Scott Christopher brings over 35 years of real estate experience and has been through four boom/ bust cycles. Scott first entered the business while still attending graduate school.
His early years were as an acquisition officer for two investment firms with offices in Dallas, Texas and Beverly Hills, California. For these companies Scott located properties, structured financing, and contract terms, and conducted due diligence analysis.
Based upon these experiences Scott started his own company, GFC Investments. GFC and its sister companies purchased and/ or developed over 60 commercial properties in 6 southeastern states. The firms specialized in real estate acquisitions, property and asset management, as well as financial engineering and real estate derivatives. Scott supervised a staff of 40 operating from offices in Tampa, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. Scott sold the companies in 1990.
Scott was vice president of Kidder Peabody Real Estate of Florida, the Florida brokerage arm of the New York based investment house. In that capacity Scott acted as the broker of record in the bulk asset sale of Amerifirst Savings and Loan to Lennar Corporation, a 700+mm transaction.
In 1993 Scott became a partner in Clark, Christopher and Wahlin a financial consulting firm specializing in distressed real estate and marina properties. Scott acted as consultant, broker and expert witness for various bankrupt entities. This led Scott into the marina and boat dealership business.
Scott was one of the founding partners of Marine Sales of Palm Beach. Under Scott’s direction, the business went from 0 sales to the 25th largest dealer in the world for US Marine, the nation’s largest boat manufacturer. Scott eventually sold his interest to return to real estate.
Scott holds broker’s licenses in both Florida and Maine and operates from offices in Bangor, Maine; Tampa, Florida; and Navarre Beach Florida. Scott was a consistent top producer for Trimble Private Brokerage, one of Maine’s premier brokerage companies with a specialization in resort and second home properties.
Scott is one of a few brokers in Maine to hold the RSPS, (resort and second home property specialist) certification. The certification is evidence of special education and experience in resort and second home sales, as well as membership in an elite referral group of resort professionals.
“It is very exciting to develop a marketing program responsive to today’s clients incorporating the latest concepts, knowledge, and technology.”
Scott’s memberships and affiliations include:
- National Association of Realtors
- Maine Association of Realtors
- Hancock Washington Board of Realtors
- Maine Real Estate Information Service MLS Member
- Certified Resort and Second Home Specialist
- Maine State Auctioneer #AUC1512
- Scott is a private pilot, who enjoys collecting boats, and traveling.
Shirley Erickson
Shirley Erickson
207-497-3008
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The Christopher Group, LLC is pleased to announce that Shirley Erickson has joined the agency. Shirley began working as a part-time real estate broker in 2003, and was affiliated with one of Maine’s leading waterfront brokerage companies prior to joining The Christopher Group in August of 2010. She recently received her full Broker’s license. Shirley plans to continue specializing in waterfront related properties in Washington County.
Shirley brings a unique and varied background to her work in real estate brokerage. She is a lifelong educator with over two decades of college and university administrative experience in various leadership positions at both public and private colleges and universities in Maine, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. For the past several years, she has worked in the higher education finance field. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Michigan State University in college and university administration. A graduate of the Washington County Leadership Institute and the Leadership Maine programs, Shirley is actively involved in economic development and quality of life issues in Washington County, where she has resided since 1993. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Sunrise County Economic Council, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Washington County Development Authority, and a member of the Town of Machiasport Planning Board.
Shirley lives at Yoho Head in Machiasport, where she enjoys a wide range of waterfront activities including non-commercial lobster fishing. She is an avid Michigan State fan and follows Spartan basketball and football. A native South Dakotan, Shirley thoroughly enjoys living in Down East Maine.
Rona Gandy
Rona Gandy, Partner
207-266-3831
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Rona Gandy has specialized in coastal vacation investment properties and the second home market since 1984, bringing experience in acquisition, development, management, sales and financing to both buyers and sellers.
With a background in business and running her own export business, Rona came to realize from her own experience that building true wealth in the United States is within reach of everyone, but lies in ownership of real estate. Judicious use of the abundant leverage available and the tax incentives wisely put in place to encourage investment in housing for our population open vast opportunities for each of us to build a personal portfolio of unlimited financial potential. The key is to get started.
Enthusiasm for their own success in acquisition, management of their rented properties, and development of raw land along the Eastern Seaboard as her husband’s Navy career led them to various locations encouraged Rona to move into brokerage when presented with an opportunity to join a Philadelphia investment and development firm expanding to the Southern New Jersey coastal communities. As one of their top producers, here Rona acquired the specialized institutional knowledge of personal real estate ownership that enables her to advise and assist each buyer and seller in maximizing the investment value of their property.
Buying their first property in coastal Maine in 1976, it was not until 1990, however, that Rona and her family followed their dream and moved to Maine permanently. Her time working as a broker with waterfront specialist Vance Gray for many years at Downeast Properties convinced her that Maine provides the unique combination of offering fantastic coastal property that can be loved and enjoyed while it builds investment value for its owners.
Truly hearing what her sellers and buyers are saying about their lives, their hopes, and their dreams enables Rona to enthusiastically join them and advise them in attaining what will make each person happiest in life in owning or selling property along our magnificent Maine coast.
Buyers: “There has never been a better time to follow your dream in Maine. Carpe Diem…. The wonders of Maine await you!”
Sellers: “Let us help you continue your dreams! It’s your life…live it!”
Rona’s memberships and affiliations include:
- National Association of Realtors
- Maine Association of Realtors
- Hancock Washington Board of Realtors
- Board Member Schoodic Arts for All
- Member Schoodic Chamber of Commerce
- Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium – Blue Hill Committee
- Past Maine State Education Chair, Susan G. Komen Foundation
Dan Martinson
Dan Martinson, Partner
207-598-7799
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Dan Martinson came to the world of real estate by way of owning property in South Carolina, Virginia, New York, Nebraska, Washington and Maine. After eight years in the U.S. Navy, Dan spent over twenty years in international software and hardware sales and marketing. During that time he traveled in and did business with customers in more than 35 countries and believes that being a good emissary for America was one of the most important responsibilities of that career.
Now in his ninth year in the real estate business, he has brought the communication skills honed in the international business world to the people that he represents as a broker; it’s his belief that really listening to the client or customer is one of the most important services a realtor can provide. Of equal importance is adhering to the Realtors Code Of Ethics and to the laws and practices that govern this industry. He has served as Vice President, Secretary, and Director of the Downeast Multiple Listing Service and is a member of the Hancock-Washington Board of Realtors. He received his full Brokers license in May of 2006.
Being fortunate enough to live on the coast of Wohoa Bay in Addison has given Dan a first hand appreciation of how special Maine is and a strong sense of ownership and responsibility to preserve that treasure.
“My first rule of business is to only represent properties I believe in…my second rule is only to do business with people with whom I have a mutual liking and respect. This formula has served both my customers and me well, and I look forward to serving them even better in our new business venture.”
Dan’s memberships and affiliations include:
- National Association of Realtors
- Maine Association of Realtors
- Hancock Washington Board of Realtors
- Past Vice President Downeast MLS Board
- Energy Smart Real Estate Specialist
- Maine Real Estate Information System MLS Member
George MacLeod
George MacLeod
207-944-8771
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George MacLeod has years of experience marketing unique Maine properties. MacLeod graduated from the University of Maine, and between 1976-1980 he was the land use and community development consultant for several mid-coast towns. His innovative system for municipal planning was promoted as a model by the state planning office in 1978.
MacLeod has purchased, developed, and successfully operated several commercial properties during his career, including the landmark MacLeod’s Restaurant in Bucksport. He co-founded the Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and served on numerous boards including the Blue Hill Hospital, Liberty School and the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
He accepted several gubernatorial committee appointments, and in 1995, he was cited by the state legislature and the Maine Commission for Historic Preservation for organizing and leading the statewide campaign to save Fort Knox, Maine’s most-visited state historic site.
Prior to joining the Christopher Group partnership, MacLeod was top producer at one of Maine’s leading waterfront and luxury real estate brokerages. MacLeod thinks depiction is critical to marketing special properties. Floor plans and topographic maps are indispensable, he says, but the buyer’s initial judgment will turn on the right photograph or a few well chosen words, and often that first impression will decide the deal. Getting that photo and choosing those words usually requires numerous site visits under various seasonal and weather conditions. The job may entail aerial reconnaissance, paddling an unmapped stream or snowshoeing remote boundary lines. MacLeod researches each property’s history, its legal and physical characteristics, and he routinely consults with architects engineers, and site evaluators in the process.
But according to MacLeod the most important step in the process is often just listening to his clients. That personal input may include hidden details that can be critical to the property’s appeal. Taking the time to listen is critical to understanding and appreciating his clients’ goals and expectations. MacLeod says focusing on the individual needs of clients and the unique aspects of their properties instead of acquiring territory or building gross sales volume is the key difference between the Christopher Group and most competitors.
Memberships and affiliations:
- National Association of Realtors
- Maine Association of Realtors
- Hancock-Washington Board of Realtors
- Maine Real Estate Information System
- Member Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust
- Co-founder and member Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
- Life member Natural Resources Council of Maine
- Advisory committee member Bucksport Healthy Community Coalition
- Member Maine Farmland Preservation Trust
