Chequita Hawkins
INSPIRATIONAL AGENT
PHOTOS BY SHAWNA MCDUFFIE, PEAK RES | PHOTOS BY ZACH COHEN
“The choice to become a REALTOR® was divine intervention.”
Chequita Hawkins spent 20 years working in corporate America as a supervisor for Hertz Corporation, but when the economic recession of 2008 gripped the economy, she was offered an opportunity to reassess her professional path. Hertz began downsizing, and Chequita was offered a generous 12-month severance package. During this time, she revisited family finances with her husband and prayed for her next career to align with her dreams.
“I asked God for my next career to be one that I was passionate about, allowing a flexible schedule for me to be present with my family,” Chequita remembers.
Chequita also considered her skills and personality. She recognized she had a love for building relationships and serving others. She not only enjoys hearing the stories of others but helping them navigate their life stresses. Chequita also found she had a passion for decorating — a trait that she believes she inherited from her mother and grandmother.
“All of these attributes gave me confirmation that I would be walking in my purpose by becoming a REALTOR®.”
In February 2009, Chequita officially began her real estate sales career.
Being a Blessing
Today, Chequita’s team, The Purpose Driven Team, includes Chequita, a transaction coordinator and part-time marketing representative. In 2021, The Purpose Driven Team closed 37 units for $8.2 million. Chequita finds the opportunity to give back to be the most fulfilling part of her career.
Giving back takes many forms for Chequita — educating the public to make the right choices in the home buying and selling process, supporting peers and colleagues through mentoring and coaching, and donating time and money to community organizations and charities.
“I'm a firm believer that your blessings come from your giving,” Chequita says. “Doing this makes me feel fulfilled and that I'm walking in my purpose.”
Family First
Chequita has always been family-driven. Her son, Marcellous Jr., is 26, and her daughter, Mariah, is 19. Her two children are perhaps her greatest source of pride.
As Chequita looks into her past, she remembers the lessons taught to her by her mother and grandmother.
“I've always considered myself to be an observer. My dear late grandmother was the same way. I learned from her that the smartest people in the room are the ones that are the most observant and not talking because they are listening. I've seen and heard so much in my past, but by listening and observing, I learned what I did and didn't want for my future and watched how to position myself to get where I wanted to be in life. You can avoid so many pitfalls and mistakes if people would just listen to what others are saying and doing around them.”
As Chequita looks into the future, she also holds family in focus.
“My family is my world and my ‘big why,’” Chequita beams. “We enjoy traveling, watching movies, worshiping, and cruising is our annual thing… We use this time to reflect on our blessings, laugh a lot, and love on one another, and of course enjoy cultural cuisine.”
On the Horizon
Over the past 12-plus years, Chequita has received numerous blessings from her real estate career. In return, she’s been a blessing in the lives of countless others. Yet, as she peers around the corner, she senses another transition on the distant horizon; she has one eye on her retirement. Over the next six or seven years, Chequita hopes to implement a plan to support her own retirement and build generational wealth for her family. In the meantime, she continues to follow her passion, heart, and dreams.
“Finally, when I end this chapter in real estate and retire, I want to have opened a non-profit to teach other minority youth and young adults how to build wealth through real estate and how to invest because this conversation doesn't happen in the average African American home. It's time to change that!”
