Maria was born in Bogota, Colombia and moved to the United States in the early 1980's. A graduate student from the University of Florida she received a M.A. in Latin American studies. Maria has been an area resident in Sarasota, Florida for more than 25 years. For many years Maria owned a retail store which took her to travel to many countries around the world. She loves to work with people and she takes pride in getting to know each client and to truly listen to their needs. She believes each transaction is unique and should be given the personal attention necessary to deliver the needs and wants of each client. It is Maria's goal to ensure that you are making an educated and informed decisions from start to finish so you can rest at ease. Maria truly believes that honesty, knowledge, loyalty and trust are the pinnacles of her business. Maria holds multiple professional designations, Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), At Home with Diversity (AHWD) and Graduate Realtor Institute Certificate (GRI). Maria is also a member the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing (ILHM) and the Sarasota-Manatee Global Council Committee. Maria is fluent in Spanish and she is a member of the Sarasota-Manatee Board of REALTORS®. She is also a member of both the State of Florida and National Association of REALTORS®.Maria received the Keller Williams On The Water Sarasota 2016 and 2017 Cultural Icon Award. Maria is the embodiment of a Cultural Icon and this is why she was voted by all her peers, associates and staff. Maria also was nominated the Cultural Ambassador for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 for Keller Williams On The Water Sarasota. Maria was selected to be the 2018 advocate for Give Back Homes a community of real estate professionals who are committed to creating social change by helping build homes for deserving families around the globe.