Christopher M. Reno, co-owner and president, was born on Staten Island 39 years ago. He moved to Red Bank, N.J. to attend high school while simultaneously attending Brookdale College as a member of a fast-start program. He lived in Massachusetts while attending Boston University. "While in Boston I worked at Harvard Business School selling advertising for a student publication for two years. I realized my penchant for sales and desire to interact closely with the public on a daily basis."

Chris took a job at Oppenheimer & Co., a leading private investment banking firm on Wall Street. He left after five years to be part of an upstart brokerage company. He became the Head of Sales & Marketing, supervising over 100 registered brokers and was the firm's leading revenue producer. Unfortunately, on September 11th his firm was headquartered in the World Trade Center. "More than anything, the events of that day served to remind me how important my family and close friends are to me. Every day is a gift and should be taken as such. The goal of Our Island real estate is to serve the needs of our neighbors in a respectful and caring manner. We're not trying to be the largest real estate sales organization on Staten Island; we strive to offer more personalized service that treats each home with the dignity it deserves."

"Being successful in real estate isn't about selling houses, it's about building relationships," according to Scott O'Brien, owner of Our Island Real Estate. Mr. O'Brien attributes his success to his close ties with fellow Staten Islanders. As a youngster, he pitched for Snug Harbor, he went to school on Staten Island and his first job was at a local pizzeria. He has lived in Stapleton, St. George, Grymes Hill, Willowbrook and Castleton Corners. Mr. O'Brien currently resides in Westerleigh with his family. He's not a salesman selling a product he doesn't endorse—he's a native Staten Islander who is extremely proud of the place he calls home.

Scott O'Brien's vast personal knowledge of Staten Island combined with his extraordinary ability to think outside the box sets him apart from other realtors. He works closely with mortgage brokers, local builders and commercial real estate investors while maintaining his rapport with clients who are looking to buy or sell a home. His familiarity with Staten Island and its people enables him to meet the individual needs of each of his clients.

Some would look at the Gold Awards hanging in Mr. O'Brien's office as a testament to his success; some would refer to his company's patriotic logo displayed on lawns throughout Staten Island. But Scott O'Brien measures his success differently. He states, "I used to think I'd be happy when I was successful, but then I realized I was successful because I was happy. Finding something you truly love to do means you'll never have to work another day in your life."

Janet Mandile is an Associate Broker and has been a Realtor on Staten Island since 1998. She has always loved real estate because it affords her the opportunity to meet and work with members of the community in all aspects of buying, selling and leasing real estate. "Staten Island is unique in that it is home to such a diverse group of people in a variety of settings, yet we are all neighbors," Janet says. Whether dealing with residential clients or commercial businesses, she always enjoys the challenge of finding the right match. Janet's two children, Billy & Diandra, were raised on Staten Island, and, thanks to the wonderful schools here grew up to become well-rounded young adults. She encourages young couples considering a neighborhood in which to raise a family to "visit the communities of Staten Island. Visit our schools and meet our neighbors. I'm sure you'll feel at home!"

Like many Staten Islanders, John Vosilla was born in Brooklyn. He has called the Island home for over 20 years. He and his wife, Mary Lou, have raised three beautiful daughters in Great Kills. John's prior experience in the restaurant business is an indication of his passion for serving the public. Focusing on customer needs as a number one priority is his forte and is a major reason for his instant success in the real estate industry. "John has been a Licensed Sales Associate with Our Island since day one, and has proven to be a tremendous asset, a team player and mentor to other agents. John has an upbeat outlook and is a strong catalyst towards the future growth of our company," says Managing Broker Mike Gentilesco.

Mary Lou Vosilla, Administrator