Renee was born and raised in Richmond Hill, New York. Her academic years found her studying Russian literature at Vassar College, piano performance at Queens College, textile design at The Fashion Institute of Technology, and glass blowing at the Corning Museum of Glass. In 2000 she came to East Hampton for what was meant to be a seasonal position as a line cook, but when the season was over she realized she was never going to leave. She was so enamored of the environment, the food and the community that she knew she had found her home. Being the consummate "people person," Renee was unable to stay put in the kitchen and moved out to the front of house. Her hardworking nature and desire to always be the best caused her to rapidly move up the ladder into management and event-planning positions at such notable properties as the 1770 House and East Hampton Point. After being courted by several agencies, Renee decided to leave the hospitality industry. She transitioned into real estate where, she is proud to say, her business took off immediately. Years of taking care of people and being heavily involved in the community had created a network of trusted friends and clients who were excited to have her as their ally in their real estate ventures. They knew that her love of numbers and study of the market had given her a keen sense of what does and doesn't make a good deal. Her business acumen is complimented by her keen intuition, which she feels is informed by her ability to listen, her knowledge of her community and her genuine passion for bringing people together. "I had loved my time in the hospitality industry and always felt that good service meant knowing my industry inside and out so that my clients could relax and just watch their perfect event seamlessly come to life. When I first got into real estate I wasn't sure where that sense of fulfillment would come from, and then my first week I brought a deal together and felt the same magic that I felt after a perfectly executed event. It feels so good to take good care of people. Sometimes that's just the ideal summer rental. Sometimes it's helping them part with a family home that they've loved for 30 years. Real estate is business, but it's also extremely personal. I used to feel the greatest honor was to be trusted with someone's wedding day, and now I feel it's being trusted with their most valuable asset and what has been or will be the setting of their lives. I take that responsibility extremely seriously and dedicate my life to my work. As far as choosing an agency to work for, I know that I work too hard and care too much to not work for the best, and Saunders is the best." "Your work ethic, patience, competence, kindness, and passion are truly unmatched. Thank you for all that you do and we hope to work with you again."- Talia & Ben "You were truly amazing! Thanks for everything! You are the BEST."- Lora & Todd "It simply wouldn't have happened without you" - Hayley & Gregory