Those who know Marilyn say she is a modern day entrepreneur, currently operating as Owner/Broker for her own real estate firm, Elam & Associates. With 31 years in the real estate business, Ms. Elam established the company in 2006 in order to fill a niche. She perceived a need for a small boutique firm to serve a high end clientele in the Santa Ynez Valley of California. The Santa Ynez Valley is 2 1/2 hours drive north of Los Angeles and is in high demand by those in the movie industry, corporate executives, horse aficionados, as well as vineyard and winery owners. The area is best known for the green rolling hills scattered with vineyards and horse farms. It takes a unique kind of marketing and creativity to be successful in this specialty niche.

Ms Elam was formerly an owner of a large real estate brokerage firm and a mortgage company, also based in the Santa Ynez Valley. As owner, she managed up to 27 employees, mostly real estate agents, but also advertising, mortgage personnel, accounting, etc. She grew the company from 2 agents in the beginning (1984) to becoming the largest and most successful real estate firm in the area.

With a longstanding history of being the top in the area, her company attracted the large corporate conglomerates that were purchasing top companies in every market across the nation. After 4 years of courtship by the big national firms, Ms. Elam sold her company in April of 2001.

Ms. Elam spent the following 5 years under contract with the corporate buyer as “just a salesperson”. When her contract ended in 2006, she established the independent boutique firm she runs today.

Along with running a company, Ms. Elam has served her industry, her community and her church in various positions including being elected President of the local Board of Realtors. She also served on committees for Young Life, Mission and Education Committees for her church as well as being elected an Elder in charge of the Prayer Ministry. Marilyn was an area Prayer Coordinator for Stonecroft Ministries. She and her husband have traveled to India, Africa and other places on mission trips. She is currently Prayer Coordinator for her church, Valley Harvest Church in Santa Ynez CA.

Additionally, Marilyn has enjoyed being a traveling companion and wife of Dr Jim Elam, an Animal Scientist/Consultant who travels the world in his profession. Although they were required to spend a week every three months in Hawaii, the favorite travels have been to Australia every year for the past 14 years. Both Jim and Marilyn are tennis buffs and take advantage of the business trips to Australia by attending the Australian Open Tournament in Melbourne AU.