2019 Junior Achievement Hall of Fame – Laureate Connie Yoshimura

And Yoshimura’s job takes a lot of work. Each client has different requirements, highly varying incomes, and a multitude of housing needs that take a diverse skillset to satisfy. One of the best ways to improve is to reflect, and Yoshimura says it’s important to learn from one’s own errors. Not all of her residential investments have been successful, but Yoshimura encourages those getting into the business to learn from their mistakes.

“I don’t know that you can always avoid pitfalls,” Yoshimura says. “Even though you may have a good idea, there are other forces that you can’t control.”

She also encourages business owners and employers to consider how they can share their experience and educate those around them about the value of free enterprise, whether that’s through supporting ongoing education for their employees or reaching out into the community to educate youth about the positive role business can play.

One of Yoshimura’s favorite aspects of her job is teaching, specifically educating new agents about how to sell real estate.

One of the most fascinating parts of real estate is that almost every business needs a rented, leased, or purchased space in which to operate, and every Alaskan has one kind of housing need or another: CEOs and other executives are in the market for housing just like anyone else. Real estate agents and brokers cross paths with people working in all of Alaska’s industries.

“Although you may not have the opportunity to work directly with the president of ConocoPhillips, for example, maybe you can list the house that he buys, or build the house that he wants to live in,” she says.

Yoshimura has accomplished much in her life, both professionally and personally. Her greatest accomplishments, she says, actually have nothing to do with Dwell Realty. Yoshimura has lost one hundred pounds—twice—and recently celebrated her 25th anniversary with her husband.

And Yoshimura isn’t slowing down. Her goals for the future are to take four vacations a year, one for every quarter, and to get back into an old passion: “Before I was a realtor, I was a poet,” she says. “My goal was to earn enough money so that I could quit real estate and write poems, and I guess that’s still my goal.”

Yoshimura is optimistic about Alaska’s future. “I think Alaska is a great state, and I couldn’t do what I’ve been able to accomplish today in any other place,” Yoshimura says. “It has so much opportunity… I hope that opportunity continues for young people.”