​What area do you focus on?
 I sell real estate primarily in the Nocatee / Ponte Vedra communities although our Team sells throughout St Johns and Duval County. My wife Jamie and I have lived in the Del Webb Ponte Vedra community in Nocatee for over 9 years. Jamie is also a Realtor.

 Why do you do what you do?
Frankly, I don’t like people telling me what to do. I also don’t like the idea of having a job where no matter how hard I work someone else determines how much I make. I like to succeed or fail based upon my own efforts, creativity and experience. Being a Realtor allows me the opportunity to live my life doing it my way!
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What is your background?
Right out of college I was an investment analyst for several years, a SVP in commercial lending for a mid-west bank and then I entered the real estate business over 35 years ago.

Was there a certain experience that helped you to become a Realtor?
I have always been fascinated by real estate even before becoming a Realtor. My first experience was in buying farms when I was in my 20’s, then commercial development and investing and most of my Realtor career has been in residential real estate services. Becoming a Realtor was just a natural progression from what I was already doing.

What aspect of your work do you enjoy most?
IMO most successful real estate careers are 20% real estate and 80% problem solving. I like the challenge of trying to make things work out when everything seems to be going in the wrong direction. That is where experience really comes in handy. Most buyers and sellers have no idea how many things go wrong in the typical real estate transaction that they never knew about. That is because agents often work behind the scenes to solve problems or address situations before they become problems.

Did you have a mentor?
I did have a mentor during my early years and I often think about how he impacted my life. He started as a milkman and he died a multi-billionaire. He had many principles he was guided by and he often shared his thoughts by writing them down on a little flash card and giving them to those he was with. Two of his sayings he loved and lived by were also my favorites, “Time Kills Deals” and “Follow a trail of dirt…pick up dirt. Follow a trail of gold…pick up gold”. Anyone in business knows the wisdom of the first saying. The second saying took me a few years to fully appreciate how wise and true it was. Give it some thought!

 How has being a Realtor changed your life?
Over the last 35 years of being a Realtor I have learned many life lessons that have spilled over into my personal life. I can’t think of very many professions where you become such a part of your customer’s life. Sometimes I am a Realtor, advisor, marriage counselor, sounding board, strategic thinker, the hero and the one to blame. I have learned that you never learn anything while you are talking so be a better listener. Don’t procrastinate because “Time Kills Deals”. I have learned to be sympathetic, compassionate, understanding, how to be firm when necessary and flexible when it is called for. It is an honorable profession although there is substantial room for improvement.

What sets you apart?
I am experienced at what I do, well trained, creative, and I believe I work well with others. Those are the qualities that I bring to the table and they have seldom failed me. Our Team is the personification of those principles. In addition, we are strong marketers, we work tirelessly, we help each other whenever there is a need. Our bench is deep, and we have many life experiences that makes us who we are.

 
What is the key ingredient for success in this highly competitive business?
I believe the National Association of Realtors says that the number one thing our customers are looking for is to have confidence that their agent knows how to take them thru the process to their desired goal. It can be a scary undertaking and the stakes are high. For most people selling or buying their home is the biggest transaction they have ever done and certainly one of the most important. Conveying to prospective customers that you are the right choice is the goal. When we go out into the market sometimes it becomes quite obvious that they aren’t looking for the best agent, the most knowledgeable or experienced agent…they are looking for the cheapest agent. Since customers often don’t know what qualities are important to getting the job done they go with commission cutters or people they know but have no real experience, no business success, no marketing, no real familiarity with the marketplace they are working in. These issues have always been a factor in the market especially during the good times. Almost 60% of the agents in business right now have been in the business less than 5 years and many are working for companies who have no formal training programs or experienced management. Convincing potential customers that dealing with a proven, experienced and successful agent, Team or company is the best chance for them to be successful is, and always has been, the real challenge!

What was one of the nicest compliments you have received as a realtor?
 “George you started as our Realtor but ended as our friend”.

 What do you love about St. Johns?
It is exciting to live in a county where there is so much going on. I have never lived in a place quite like it! It is a very positive atmosphere with almost everyone working to make their communities a better place. In Nocatee, where Jamie and I have lived for 9+ years, well over 50% of the land mass is reserved for preserves, greenbelt, community parks and trails. I think that is a great example for others to follow. I think the developers in our county understand they are working in a very special place and want to do their part to make it even better. Economic growth, top rated schools, location, roadways and of course our waterways are all very unique assets that make St Johns County an incredible place!

Are you concerned that new development will jeopardize the beauty of northern St. Johns?
No!  Ask anyone who has witnessed slow development, or no growth and it will be painfully obvious which you would prefer. As long as our county leadership and business community continue to work hand in hand to make St Johns county the best in the state we have a long and exciting future in front of us.

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Why do you do what you do?
Buying or selling a home is one of the most significant transactions, both financially and emotionally, that a family will make.  I am so honored to offer my experience to ensure that process goes well from start to finish.  The opportunity to meet so many incredible people and to positively influence this important event makes me so grateful to be able to do what I do.

What is your background?
I spent 2 decades in the Financial Industry (Merrill Lynch) prior to becoming a realtor.  My experience servicing a wide variety of customers and clients, managing multiple operations organizations and mitigating risk translated seamlessly to Real Estate.  I apply the same client focus, operational and risk management disciplines one customer and transaction at a time.
 
Was there a certain experience that helped you become a Realtor?
This probably won’t be a surprise, but it was my own experience relocating to the area and buying a home that inspired me to be a Realtor.  My family relocated to Northeast Florida from Toronto and what a change that was!!!  The warm climate was not the only big transition in our lives as I was pregnant with our daughter Cahlie.  We toured over 20 homes in Duval and St. John’s county before making the decision to purchase a home in a new development (16 years ago!) called St. John’s Golf and Country Club (SJGCC).  As fate would have it, our next door neighbor, Bob Bullock was a site agent with SJGCC.  He was the one that encouraged me to obtain my Real Estate license.  Thanks Bob! 

All these years later, I still rely on my experience relocating to Northeast Florida as the basis for every customer I help.  I remember how overwhelming it can be.  Being there for my customers, whenever they need me remains a priority whether buying or selling a home.  They are not in this alone!  Finding or selling a home is a unique experience for each family and my team and I strive to deliver a personalized experience to find the right home or bring the right buyer for every customer.

What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most?
My team and I get to help families with one of the most important transactions they will ever make.  For some, it’s realizing the dream of becoming a home owner.  For others, it is helping them sell their home so they can move on to a new chapter in their lives.  To be part of that experience is such a privilege. 

I love the analytics we have at our disposal.   Leveraging that data, I can discuss with home sellers how the value of their home fits into the current real estate landscape.  I love the marketing we get to do for sellers.  Negotiations are always exciting and I enjoy combining my experience as well as the tools and influence of Watson Realty to give my clients the edge.  

Did you have a mentor?
I have had several pivotal people help me along the way, when I was new I had a business partner, Ruth Stigall, we worked together for a few years until she retired and moved north to be with family. One of my first Brokers, Mary Ann Bongiorno, was also instrumental in helping  me grow into my role as a Real Estate Agent. My Broker for several years, Mark Rosener, was always a great resource, he was recently promoted up to the Regional role and I now have a new Broker, Joe Saber, who is a seasoned veteran and whom I already feel will be a great ally as we continue to grow our team into all it can be. 

How has being a Realtor changed your life?
This job is incredibly challenging, when I take a moment and think back over my career in real estate so far, I am deeply grateful for the success I have found. In every way it is attributable to each customer I have met and helped. For all those customers who trusted in me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, we worked together and accomplished something! Whether selling or buying, each deal has its own nuances, its own twists and turns, its always exciting and very rewarding both financially and from a personal growth perspective.
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I was here during the most difficult time to sell a house, the real estate market plummeted, short sales and foreclosures were prevalent. I have had the opportunity to help sellers/families steer themselves through challenging situations, coming out the otherside better, whether surviving a short sale or making money on the sale of a home. I have helped buyers get excellent value for home purchases, I have had the pleasure of seeing great profits made that, if not for the downturn in the market, people would never have been able to achieve. I can’t think of another job that would allow me this kind of opportunity.

What is the key ingredient for success?
Treat each customer as you would want to be treated, listen and know their needs, keep an eye on the landscape for innovative ways to sell homes, stay current with regard to inventory and buyer options.

What do you love about St. Johns?
St. Johns county continues to grow and evolve, offering so many options to different tastes. Whether it’s golf course communities, retail, restaurants, wa­ter parks, tennis courts, blue lagoons, quiet houses on quiet streets, the ocean…there is something for everyone here.  It’s where we have proudly called home for the past 16 years and hope to for many more!

by Lauren Henry Rogers
Photos by Mindy Kerr at Nature's Child Photography

​A Jacksonville native, Dr. Mary Ann Kenneson of Blue Water Urology Associates is a board certified urologic surgeon who has become one of the region’s leading experts in urology. Establishing her practice in Northeast Florida has not only been a homecoming, but the embodiment of realized dreams. 

Dr. Kenneson began her medical career as a nurse and worked her way up to a surgeon. “I took the long road around to becoming a urologic surgeon,” jokes Dr. Kenneson, “but I wouldn’t want it any other way.” She first worked as an RN and then completed a Master’s Degree at the University of Florida as a nurse practitioner. It was while working as a nurse practitioner that she realized she wanted to become a surgeon. She was accepted into the University of Kentucky College of Medicine where she served as class president and graduated with honors. Dr. Kenneson completed her surgical residency training at the Ohio State University, spending an additional year on staff concentrating her focus on robotic surgery. 
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Growing up in Jacksonville, she graduated from Bishop Kenny High School and though school took her away, it was always her intent to return home. The road may have been winding, but Dr. Kenneson was laser focused on opening her office in Jacksonville, Florida where everything began. With family being the major force drawing her in, (her mother, brother and sister reside here), it has also been what keeps her here. Dr. Kenneson reminisces, “Before I moved back to Jacksonville, I used to laugh talking about a five year plan to get the entire family to join me in Florida once my surgical residency was complete.” Since relocating to Florida, both of her adult children have joined her in the Jacksonville area helping to fulfill this plan as she imagined. Dr. Kenneson remains strongly devoted to her family, and her practice, where she is beloved by her patients for her exceptional bedside manner and individualized treatment plans.

​Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am a board certified urologic physician and surgeon. I treat all urologic diseases on both men and women. I am specifically trained in robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery, which usually helps decrease postoperative pain, bleeding, and length of hospital stay for patients. 



With such a broad background in medicine, how did you get into Urology?
A lot of people ask me, being female, how did I get into urology? The truth is, I kind of fell into it, but I also fell in love with it. For me, urology has been a field that allows me to continue using my strong medical background while allowing me to operate. It really is the perfect match for me. 

​What is your background?
I started my career as a two-year nurse before going back to school for a bachelor’s degree in nursing. I then continued my journey as a nurse practitioner with a master’s degree in nursing. It was while working in this physician extender role where I realized my love of surgery. This led me to attend medical school and, as they say, the rest is history. 

Was there a certain experience as a young person that led you to become a doctor? Please tell the story.
I’ve always been a “hands on” type of person and was drawn to medicine from an early age. The ability to make a lasting impact in people’s lives for the better captivated me. Getting the exposure to performing procedures as a nurse practitioner and the increased interaction with the doctors and surgeons helped me discover what I was really meant to do: become a doctor, and more importantly, a surgeon. 

What aspect of your work do you enjoy most?
I love the relationships I have with my patients. I truly get as much from them as they get from me. The interaction I have now with my patients as a doctor continues to make me dedicated and compassionate about this field.

Did you/do you have a mentor?
There was a urologic surgeon when I was working as a nurse practitioner at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky who inspired me. I just loved his interaction with his patients and he was an awesome surgeon and an all around great person. He was a great mentor and I have always appreciated that. 

How does being a Doctor change your life?
The responsibility can be unimaginably sobering and at the same time extremely rewarding.

What are the newest/best treatments for women’s health today?
We have just introduced the Mona Lisa Touch as an addition to the therapies provided at our office and I think it’s going to be a game changer for women’s health. The Mona Lisa Touch is an innovative, clinically proven, minimally invasive laser treatment that improves pelvic health. In the past we had to rely on hormonal therapy. Now we have an exciting alternative without the associated risk. It is exciting for women’s health as a whole and we’re already seeing phenomenal results. 
 
What sets your practice apart?
I think my communication skills with patients, really being able to listen and understand what’s wrong, sets me apart from the rest. I think oftentimes, as physicians, we get so busy that we really don’t stop to listen, and I make that a huge part of my practice, listening, so that I can actually help with the problems that are bothering the patients. I also credit my outstanding medical team at Blue Water Urology Associates for being so friendly and professional to our patients and for helping to provide advanced care to the men and women of Northeast Florida. As a whole, we seek to work together with our patients and provide exceptional care from the minute they enter our door and I believe this also sets us apart.

What is your favorite activity when you are not working? Do you have any hobbies?
I like anything outdoors; gardening, fishing, boating, and watching Jags games, you name it! I also love spending time with my family and friends and playing with my grandson. It has become a tradition to host Sunday night dinners and everyone comes over for a day of grilling out, laughing and enjoying time together. 

What is your favorite place or thing to do in our community?
My favorite place is the Fernandina Beach/Amelia Island area, exploring the shops on Center Street downtown, listening to music at the Green Turtle, and trying every pizza spot available, but my favorite thing to do is spend time fishing offshore, hence the name Blue Water Urology Associates.  

*For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call #904.644.8353 or visit Dr. Kenneson’s website, bluewaterurology.com or find her on Facebook by searching Blue Water Urology Associates today.