BERNIE STEPHAN

Born in Germany, raised in Canada, Bernie Stephan moved to California with his parents at age sixteen. Settling in Orange County, he graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a BA in Mathematics and began working for PT&T as a management trainee. Next he became a computer programmer, married Jerilyn and moved to San Francisco, where they both dreamed of owning a home in Marin and raising a family in that paradise north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Their first owned home was in Mill Valley, followed by one in San Geronimo, where they raised their two children and became involved in that semi-rural community. Bernie was twice elected to the Lagunitas School District Board, where he joined with other dedicated parents in creating the Montessori Program, offering public school alternatives for those students.

Bernie earned an MBA from Golden Gate University in San Francisco to further his management career. After 21 years at Pacific Bell, Bernie retired early from his Director of Billing Services position, to become a consultant, guiding other IT departments in the adoption of Quality Assurance techniques for software creation.

After much travel, Bernie became a Real Estate Appraiser, working closer to home and family. That experience enticed him to become a Real Estate Broker where he first helped investors and business owners with their commercial property needs. Next he sold residential properties throughout Marin and Sonoma.

In 1996 Bernie started the RE/MAX franchise for Petaluma and grew that brokerage from 4 to 40 agents in 11 years, overseeing more than 3,000 property sales and leases. Active in the Realtor community, Bernie is serving his ninth year on the MLS Committee and fourth as State Director for the California Association of Realtors. He really enjoys sharing his experience with and passion for computer technology.

Bernie and Jeri were drawn to the west county lifestyle, hiking, biking and exploring the many wonders of the North Bay. They enjoyed gardening and entertaining at their home in Sebastopol for ten years. Bernie and Jeri recently moved to Point Reyes, a place of unsurpassed beauty and biological diversity. They appreciate the culture of involvement, the protection for our ecosystem and a growing localization movement aimed at building greater community resilience.

Bernie joined his son, Chris Stephan, in becoming certified as an “EcoBroker” and earning the “Green Building Professional” designation from Build-It-Green. Understanding and appreciating the Marin and Sonoma geography, culture, politics and quality of life, Bernie and Chris provide complete real estate consultancy and representation. That includes giving sound advice, review of alternatives, timely communications, strong advocacy, skilled negotiations, on-line transaction management, effective problem solving and persistent follow through, for all of their real estate clients.