Albuquerque Ambassador
Sante Fe-born Valerie Almanzar holds a deep passion for her native state—its beautiful weather, inspiring landscape, and outdoorsy lifestyle. Her enthusiasm yielded her nearly $4 million in sales in 2009 as a licensed broker and real estate professional—and a spot on HGTV. The network of all things real estate picked Almanzar to introduce Albuquerque, the site of the 2010 Dream Home.
Entrepreneurial MBA
Almanzar, who holds two degrees are from the University of New Mexico, was once asked, "What is someone with an MBA doing in real estate?" she replied, "Not working for someone else." An avid marketer who takes pride in personal presentation, Almanzar says you are your own best marketing tool.
Network and Seek Mentors
"Around the world there are six degrees of separation but in New Mexico there are three," she says. She also regularly seeks guidance from experienced veterans. In addition to cultivating a network of mentors in her community, every year for the last several years she has tracked down previous "30 Under 30" honorees for advice.