Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Martinez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Susan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
On the streets, I’m known as Susi Marz, or on occasion, Susana La Cubana. I was born in Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables on March 15th to two Cuban parents. Growing up, I’ve always had a passion for the arts and hospitality, and fortunately, now, I work in both of those industries. My mom was a rockstar and always encouraged my love for the arts in which I was able to pursue through dance, musical instruments (that I no longer know how to play), and even take a couple of vocal lessons. Furthermore, although I was involved in dance for the majority of my childhood, at the early age of nine I discovered my passion for the hospitality industry. I never grew up as, the kid that knew what they wanted to be when they’d “grow up.” My mom and abuela use to be fashion designers and sample makers in New York and my dad worked in the medical industry (far from anything I ever wanted to pursue). Naturally, I thought I’d follow in my mom’s footsteps but I was highly mistaken.
After pursuing an internship and working in Time Square over the span of three months during my freshman year of college, it clicked – I wanted to be in the people industry; hospitality.
Excited to find my “niche”, I came back to Miami and jumped straight into the industry, participating in all of the events that Miami-Dade College had to offer. I continued my studies at the Chaplin School of Hospitality in which I graduated with my Bachelors in Hospitality Management. Events are the oxygen to my brain, the air in my lungs. I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of working on productions such as SoBe Wine and Food Festival, NYC Wine and Food Festival, Meadows Music Festival, and Life Is Beautiful Music Festival to name a few. To this present day, I am able to tie in my passion & knowledge of events to work amongst an incredible team that produces local visual and performing arts showcases, in the Magic City, by the name of Backroom Sessions MIA. Backroom Sessions is a passion project for about the 10+ staff members that make the events happen, with the backbone of Angelina Rivero and Bause Mason. We all work our nine to five, that pays the bills, and this is our five to nine that lets us express and cultivate our creativity and passion for this Magic City of Miami.
Nowadays, my nine to five, Monday to Monday is serving my community as a Realtor. I’ve been involved in the industry for the past two years in learning about various aspects such as: purchasing foreclosure properties in an auction, full gut rehabs, being an acquisition agent, to working with residential sellers and buyers. My passion for helping people, hospitality background, and entrepreneurial spirit made it an easy choice to pursue real estate full time. The more I learn about it, the more I enjoy different facets of the industry. By far, what I enjoy the most is that I am able to assist families throughout some of the most pivotal seasons in their lives. I am there to be a confident, fierce negotiator, and make sure that everything is smooth from beginning to end. What was once a business transaction, later on, turns into a life long friendship. I look forward to many more years in serving my community as a friend and resource of this Magic City.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth: Shattering My Own Obstacles To asHes. The road has been far from ‘smooth’, but I honestly wouldn’t want it any other way. I know, that sounds crazy, right? My experiences have made me be the woman I am today. I went through a lot at a relatively young age and was faced with what I call a, do or die situation. I’m going to make this concise, because I want you to walk away with the struggle and solution – knowing that, you too, can overcome.
If you know me, you might know about my story, because it’s where I find my strength. Funny how the more you share the less weight it holds in your life. Well, at the age of 18 yrs., a month before graduation, I lost my dad to suicide. My dad had what is called neurofibromatosis; a genetic disorder of the nervous system. It mainly affects how nerve cells form and grow. It causes tumors to grow on nerves. You can get neurofibromatosis from your parents, or it can happen because of a mutation (change) in your genes. His tumor was in his brain, and after surgery, he had some complications. He loses lots of weight, and being that, he had already dealt with depression in the past, this didn’t make things any better. It rocked my world when I lost him, but I knew that I was to make a decision: 1. graduate, go to college, make something of myself and live for my mom because she still needed me or 2. wallow in my depression, find alternative routes to numb the pain, and struggle in life. I held on to God, seeked community, and knew that there was more to life and went with the first choice. Depression and suicide are very real and not something I take lightly, so I want to take this moment and share with you the suicide lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ – 1-800-273-8255. If you find yourself suffering and need someone to talk to, know that you have a community that loves you.
I’ve worked since the age of 16, opening up Hollister in Dadeland as being one of my first jobs to then going to college and working at Smoothie King, followed by being a nanny for 8 years. All while going to school and working, a short four years after my dad’s passing, life decided to throw me another curve ball. This time it took a hit at my mom. In March of 2015, she was diagnosed with stage 4 appendiceal carcinoma (cancer). This time, I looked up at God and said: “bring it.” I had lost one parent, and I wasn’t going to risk losing another. I remember thinking that I had lost my dad to one day prepare me for this diagnosis. How did I overcome the next years of chemotherapy, rushing to the ER, scheduling surgeries, and relapses you ask? Well, first off I held on to God and knew that He was with me, that He wasn’t going to abandon nor forsake me. Then, I looked at life and I punched back, with every blow I shattered my obstacles to ashes. I shattered the voice in my head that wanted to instill fear, weakness took a blow, and doubt dissipated. It was a war zone and I was reigning champ. But not alone, I had my family and friends there, every step of the way. We lose too many lives to cancer. So I want to take this time to encourage you to get cancer screenings. Here’s a link to the Miami Cancer Institute to learn some more: https://baptisthealth.net/cancer-care/~/link.aspx?_id=E931319939224B34B98FE8CD26F30D62&_z=z
Moreover, life has thrown some other punches here and there, but nothing I can’t handle. Mom is in remission and I couldn’t be happier. I wanted to share this with you because you might see a girl on social media that has it “all together” but I don’t have it all figured out. I will say, what I do have is: a will for living life, experiencing its beauty, and loving others. I love my life and I know that the future is bright. I look at my cup half full, and sometimes it’s overflowing. So, I encourage you to face any current struggles or obstacles with victory in mind. I’m always here to be a friend, shoulder to cry on, or ear to listen. We are not perfect, but we are all walking on this journey of life, together.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Realtor & Backroom Sessions MIA – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Truthfully, real estate wasn’t in my trajectory of what I saw myself doing growing up, but I have truly
grown a passion for the industry and am an active agent in the market. Nowadays, you can find me either behind a computer screen sifting thru properties that fit my client’s needs and drawing up listing agreements. I am a full-time Realtor serving my community of Miami, alongside Banna Fakhoury, at a boutique real estate management company. We service everyone in our community and predominantly work with sellers. Real estate is truly an, all in, kind of industry if you want to make it a career, and I couldn’t be happier that I’ve chosen this path. With my background in hospitality, I specialize in providing my clients with a warm and educated experience from beginning to end. It’s important that they feel like they are being taken care of – I think this truly stems not only from my hospitality background but has been that I was a nanny for eight years. Selling, buying, and investing real estate is a large transaction, and I truly am grateful that my clients have chosen me to represent them in such transactions. And, no matter what kind of transaction, big or small, at the end of the day – my favorite part of all, is connecting with my clients on a personal level. Being a friend and confidant for many years to come.
Furthermore, when I’m not at the office, I’m most likely sitting in a meeting with Angie Rivero, Bause Mason and the rest of our incredible Backroom team discussing what needs to get done for upcoming events, tours, and larger productions. My role on the team is Event Manager & Sponsorship Sales. Although you might catch me jumping and dancing from time to time, I am mainly behind the scenes making sure things run smoothly and putting out fires. Backroom is the passion project of my dreams. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of such a focused project and look forward to what the future holds. Personally, it sets my heart on fire to witness artists live out their creative pursuit, and being the puzzle piece that gives them the platform to do so, has never been so rewarding.
What are you striving for, what criteria or markers have you set as indicators of success?
Success to me is living in my purpose and having an all-encompassing peace of mind. Although I’m not in a point in my life that I have a clearly defined purpose, there are always opportunities that guide me in the right direction. It’s about manifesting the gift that’s inside of us and living it out. Not only are financial markers important parts of my criteria in being successful, so is reflecting back on my life and seeing that I’ve only been climbing up (with a few hiccups, here and there). I look forward to the day that I am able to give back to my mom and grandma, tenfold what they sacrificed for me.
My vision is to be a real estate investor, continue to build up my community, and throw the first ever music festival in Kendall, all thru living in my purpose. No matter the milestones of success that I personally meet, there will never be a time where I don’t strive to be better.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://susimarz.com/
- Email: hello@susimarz.com
- Instagram: @susimarz
Image Credit:
Walterixiusphotos, Donna Irene Weddings
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
