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Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Apr 4, 2002

A look at movers and shakers of the Metro -- and what makes them tick.

Joan Hunter

Marketing Director and Assistant Vice President, American Guaranty Title Co.

* Family: One son, Christopher "C.J." Hunter, just turned 19.

* Hometown and childhood: Born and raised in St. Louis, third of four kids. Had a large extended family. Parents still live there as does younger brother and his wife. My oldest sister is in Denver, with next sister in Atlanta.

* Hobbies: Reading, working in the yard, and have a love/hate relationship with golf.

* First job: As secretary in the Sales Department for a subsidiary of Kerr-McGee Corp. in St. Louis. The department was transferred down to OKC when the McGee Tower was completed in mid-'70s. I begged my parents to let me move "just for six months" and I have been here ever since.

* Role models: My mentor, Mrs. Clara Stevens, who died in 2001. Mrs. Stevens worked for C. Harold Brand, the uncle of Gerald Gamble (whom I worked for for 16 years). Mrs. Stevens was a very special woman who faced personal losses yet always had an optimistic and cheerful outlook on life. She taught me much about people and the importance of trying to be a good person.

* Motto: If you're just treading water, you're losing ground.

* Greatest challenge: Raising a teen-age son as a single mom.

* Leadership style: Getting in there and finding out what needs to be done.

* Job highlight: Probably would be more of a job-related highlight of being elected president of the Commercial Industrial Division of Realtors in 1999, and being the current president of the Commercial Real Estate Council.

* Best business decision: Getting into the real estate industry.

* Worst business decision: Not following the advice of someone who had more experience in an area than I did.

* Philosophy: Every man owes a part of his time and energy to the business in which he is engaged.

* Favorite music or group: I admit I grew up making fun of it, but I've grown to like country music by the likes of Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn and Toby Keith.

* Pet peeves: People who are chronically late. It shows poor planning and a lack of respect on their part.

* Favorite vacation spot: One of my goals since my divorce was to travel and go out of the country at least once a year. I've been fortunate to do that, and I'd have to say Greece has been my favorite so far.

* Dream car: Not too into cars. Something fairly new, fairly luxurious, and fairly paid for.

* Top three passions: Getting my son raised to be a responsible and happy individual, having true friends (by that I mean real friends, not just social acquaintances) and being happy and content within myself.

* Favorite restaurant: I'm always up for Mexican food and can find it at several of our good OKC restaurants.