Cyd Gardner (Manager, Greenbrae Office)
Cyd Gardner has been with Frank Howard Allen for more than 25 years. Prior to entering the real estate industry, she was a registered nurse. She views both professions similarly, in that they both require excellent listening skills, and decisive counsel and action. “People are the living reality of this business and my previous years as a nurse provide me the ability to exercise compassion and guidance in stressful situations,” Cyd comments.
As Manager of the Company's flagship office, Cyd plays a key role in helping her agents and their clients. “Clients need a good ear and a firm hand in navigating through the complexities of today's real estate transactions.” Cyd also believes that guiding her agents to give exceptional service on each real estate transaction is the primary focus of her work.
Cyd is passionate about living in Marin and understands the unique value of the North Bay and the lifestyle that makes it such a desirable place to live. She is proud to work for Frank Howard Allen, a company that is committed to giving back to the community and improving the quality of life in the North Bay.
The Greenbrae Office is richly diverse in personality and breadth of skills in real estate. The agents are a cohesive group who work together to assist one another in brainstorming and problem solving. In 2010, Frank Howard Allen celebrates its centennial, in addition to the opening of an office in the town of Larkspur at 545 Magnolia Avenue.
Cyd grew up in the close-knit community of Salt Lake City, Utah. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Utah. Upon arrival in California, she worked at UCSF. Additionally, she worked at Mt. Zion and Marin General Hospital, with Neonatal Intensive Care as her specialty. She lives in San Anselmo with her husband, Jim.
Melissa Lyckberg (Assistant Manager, Greenbrae Office)
Melissa Lyckberg is a veteran real estate professional. She began her career in 1976 and founded her real estate practice on delivering a high level of service. To stay on the cutting edge of performance, Melissa believes education is essential and continually updates her knowledge and training. She is co-founder of the San Francisco Bay Area Mentor Group, has earned the title of Certified Residential Specialist, has a real estate Broker's license, and is a member of the elite Master Sales Society. She speaks to groups around the region on various real estate subjects.
Applying more than 20 years of experience in all facets of the business, and a passion for making the process of home buying and selling property as smooth as possible — Melissa is a true client and agent advocate. She brings a keen awareness of market conditions, practiced negotiating skills and a 100% commitment to achieving the goals and needs of each client to her role as Assistant Manager of the Greenbrae Office.
An open space advocate, and a member of MALT, Melissa also believes in alleviating poverty, and supports several micro credit organizations, Grameen Foundation and Trickle Up. She also gives a charitable donation for every sale, usually to the client's organization of choice.
Melissa is a graduate of Stanford University and lives in Point Reyes Station with her husband and three dogs. She owes her calm demeanor to practicing Buddhist meditation for twenty years and also finds solace as a talented painter and sculptor who has shown and sold her work in Fairfax and Point Reyes Station.
Andy Gellepis (Manager, Mill Valley Office)
Andy became manager of the Mill Valley Office in July 2001. During his first year, he distinguished himself as a top-notch recruiter resulting in the addition of many additional agents to the Mill Valley Office.
Prior to his management role, Andy was a successful sales associate with Frank Howard Allen's Mill Valley Office. With over ten years as a top producer, he achieved the “President's Gold Award of Distinction” and the “Chairman's Circle of Excellence” designations. The year 2000 was a banner year for Gellepis when he became the top producer for the Mill Valley Office with over $25 million in sales and received testimonials from countless satisfied clients.
Andy's philosophy about real estate is simple: “Be passionate about what you do and success will follow! Combine energy, enthusiasm and stamina with experience, knowledge, and negotiating skills. Have a strong belief in the value you add to your clients' pursuit of the American Dream of home ownership.”
Andy lives the Marin lifestyle to its fullest. He balances his busy real estate career with his family who enjoy time together in Hawaii and skiing in Colorado. Andy lives in Mill Valley, California with his wife, Jan, and their son.
Michael Sommer (Manager, Petaluma Office)
Michael Sommer, manager of our Petaluma office, began his real estate career in 1977 with Frank Howard Allen and consistently ranked among the top producing agents in the company. He was the #1 producer in number of homes sold in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and in the top 5% of the company in dollar volume for 1992 through 1999. In 1998, he was inducted into the Lifetime Hall of Fame.
Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the University of Nebraska and among many of his long term clients are prominent builders of exclusive Marin homes. He has also done extensive consulting for developers in the marketing and sales of their new home communities in the North Bay and in the Coachella Valley of southern California. Michael has been a sales trainer for a national real estate training company having taught sales classes in the western part of the U.S.
When not managing, training and offering support at the Petaluma office, Michael is a dedicated father and grandfather. A past member of the San Rafael Rotary Club, Michael is also the President of the Marvelous Marin Breakfast Club.
Rocky Vannucci (Manager, San Rafael Office)
Rocky began his real estate career in 1976. He received his Brokers license in 1978 and managed William Timmer Realty from 1979-1984. He joined Frank Howard Allen in 1984 and in June of 2006 Rocky was appointed Assistant Manager of the Frank Howard Allen San Rafael office. In May of 2008 Rocky was promoted to Manager of the San Rafael office.
Rocky considers the San Rafael Office a relaxed, but highly professional and productive environment. He sees energetic agents unselfishly sharing their knowledge and experiences with each other and believes it comes from trust. Fostering this kind of attitude and encouraging agents to embrace sharing, are focal points of his work and management philosophy.
A Marin County native, Rocky has a well-established reputation as a skillful and effective communicator who is liked, but most importantly respected among his peers. Rocky lives in San Anselmo with his wife, Diane, and their son.
Brian Connell (Manager, Santa Rosa Office)
Brian Connell has over a decade of management experience in real estate with both Frank Howard Allen and Pacific Union/GMAC. Brain served as President of Pacific Union/GMAC — North Bay — responsible for 3 offices (St. Helena, Sonoma and Santa Rosa) in Sonoma and Napa counties. Brian currently manages the Santa Rosa office of Frank Howard Allen where he has responsibility for more than 50 sales associates. Over the past 14 years, he has gained extensive experience in residential, commercial, land, income property, vineyard, and development projects in the North Bay. In Brian's first year in real estate sales, he received Frank Howard Allen's “Rookie of the Year Award.”
Before embarking upon his real estate career, Brian spent two years in Los Angeles in film and television production. The prior seven years were spent establishing and building an enterprise serving the commercial, television and film production business along with two partners in New York City. This enterprise employed a staff of 45 and had annual sales of over $2 million. He is a graduate of the Business School at Arizona State University with a specialization in marketing and where he was a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society.
Today, Brian serves his local community through participation in many local organizations including: Member, Board of Directors for the Santa Rosa Chapter of Realtors, as a BAREIS MLS Board of Directors Member, and at local wine industry organizations such as the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, and Bennett Valley Grape Growers. He lives with his wife, Sally, and their children in Santa Rosa.
Jeff Sterley (Assistant Manager, San Rafael Office)
Jeff Sterley has over 30 years experience in Marin County real estate sales and management. He has continually performed at the top of his craft in a number of varied positions - from top-producing sales agent to manager and sales manager of some of Marin's top offices and companies. Jeff brings a depth of experience and creativity rarely found in the home buying and selling process.
Known as one who continually creates extremely innovative marketing systems as an agent and manager, Jeff has incorporated his No Stone Unturned sales philosophy in managing the Novato office. “’No stone unturned’ is a mission I have adopted in representing my clients. It is about employing every smart, traditional method as well as implementing new and creative techniques to achieve our goals.”
Daunielle Cutting (Manager, Novato Office)
Daunielle Cutting, a 24-year veteran of the industry, is the Managing Broker of our Novato office where she oversees an experienced team of real estate professionals.
Prior to joining Frank Howard Allen, Daunielle held the position of managing broker of the Novato office of a national firm. She has also held other positions with that firm, specifically Managing Broker of the company’s San Rafael office, and Sales Manager of the Tahoe/Truckee region where she oversaw six offices. In this position, Daunielle was responsible for general operations, human resources and risk management for offices located in three counties.
Throughout her real estate career, Daunielle has acquired a broad range of experience and has built an impressive resume in real estate management. A licensed Real Estate Broker, professionally coached by Success Strategies Institute and a designated “CCRA,” Daunielle is constantly working to enhance her knowledge in her field of expertise.
Daunielle studied business at the College of Marin in Kentfield, California.
In her spare time, Daunielle enjoys hiking, running, gardening, decorating and cooking. She has been married for 25 years and has a son who attends college in Santa Cruz.
Barry Crotty (Manager, Tiburon Office)
Barry Crotty began his real estate career in 1986, working with his father at Crotty & O’Halloran Realtors in San Mateo. In 1993 Barry purchased the company and became Broker/owner of record, managing 30 sales associates and selling real estate throughout San Mateo County. In 1995 Barry sold the company, moved his family to Marin County and began working as a broker associate with Frank Howard Allen in San Rafael. In 2000 he affiliated with Pacific Union’s central Marin office and in 2006 was hired as the sales manager of Coldwell Banker in Greenbrae. The following year Barry returned to Pacific Union to become branch manager of the southern Marin office where he managed 75 sales associates and a staff of 5 in three sales offices.
Barry’s career has now come full circle and he has returned to Frank Howard Allen to manage the Tiburon office. He was hired to continue his great work of supporting agents and their clients as they successfully transact business in a challenging real estate environment.
Barry has also been active within the real estate community and proudly served as a director on the Marin Association of Realtors’ (MAR) board from 2002–2005. In addition to being a director for the California Association of Realtors from 2003-2005, he also served on the Board of NorCal MLS from 2005-2007. Barry is the 2004 past-president of MAR and was honored as MAR’s 2006 Realtor of the year, the organization’s highest level of achievement which recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the profession and his community.
An advocate for his community and for the homeless, Barry considers his 7 years of service on the board of directors for Homeward Bound of Marin and his past chairmanship of the organization’s real estate development committee among his most important community involvements.
Barry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Oregon and is trained in Mastery of Negotiations from the University of California at San Francisco.
When Barry is not working or contributing his time to community organizations, you can find him rowing for the Marin Rowing Association on the Corte Madera Estuary and out in the San Francisco Bay.
