Dan Melman

Licensed Sales Agent in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

“I started a career in real estate for purely selfish reasons—I wanted a new home. Looking in the paper or on the Internet was not getting me where I needed to be. I made a big leap from the not-for-profit field into something completely new—and I have found my calling.”

Growing up, I felt my parents must have been nomads. We moved every few years based on my father’s job. I distinctly recall “helping” my parents pick houses although I always thought the process was rather inefficient. Agents didn’t seem to listen, and my room was never big enough. I’m actually quite surprised my mother didn’t go into real estate herself.

I left home to attend Tulane University in New Orleans – a great place to get a good education. While in college, I toyed with computer sciences and then communications before ending up in business school.

After four years, I was ready to leave New Orleans, but really was not sure where I wanted to go. I wanted to get away from New Orleans’ humidity, bad roads and crazy local politics. Needless to say, I feel right at home in Washington.

I parlayed my business degree into wonderful opportunities with one of the Big Eight (now Big Five) public accounting firms. The work was challenging, but I found that I wanted more contact with people. My second career was as chief financial officer for two organizations involved in public policy – how very Washington. I was able to really stretch the bounds of position and became involved in human resources, administration and technology.

Real estate interests me because it is an information business. It involves trying to find not only the obvious solutions but also other possibilities. With a business background and cutting-edge technological approach, I also felt I had a way to set myself apart from the many other real estate practitioners.

Needless to say, I got involved in real estate at the right time (Spring 1998). I had many friends who were ready to bust out of their homes, and I have been able to build on this base. I sold $3 million in my first 12 months, and I was just finding my way.

Technology is changing this business and has always been a cornerstone of my marketing efforts. Being new to the field, I was open to new approaches to the business. Starting and staying ahead of the curve has created great opportunities. The effort involved in maintaining a website and crafting an electronic newsletter is more than offset by the new email messages from far-off places.

In 1999, I formed a business partnership with my friend and real estate colleague, Mary Jane Molik. This has been a great decision. Both of us can spend more time with our clients, addressing their needs and finding solutions to their real estate activities, while utilizing the other’s efforts in the process.

Mary Jane Molik

Licensed Sales Agent in the District of Columbia and Virginia.

“I have always enjoyed touring homes and now it is my livelihood. Throughout my career, I’ve found great satisfaction in seeing projects through to their completion. Real estate is a great career choice for me.”

I am originally from Buffalo, New York. My first two years in Washington were at Catholic University of America where I studied International Relations. Then, New York City beckoned, and I transferred to the College of New Rochelle adding language and business majors.

After college I accepted a position with Sheraton Hotels. I soon met and married a West Pointer, taking me to Georgia and then Germany for three years (thank goodness I took German in high school and college). What an experience! I was not the typical officer’s wife.

To channel my energy, I went to work, first for an airline and then a German travel office where we developed a program to sell Eurail passes to the American military and defense communities.

Back in the States, I re-entered the hotel business. This industry later brought me back to D.C. Work-related travel, however, was taking its toll on me. When I was solicited by a commercial real estate firm specializing in the sale of hotels, I accepted a newly created position as the Director of Sales and Marketing.

I applied my hotel knowledge in operations and sales to the acquisition and disposition of properties. When the ‘80s boom went bust, I was recruited to turn around hotels that were taken back or about to be taken back by the lenders. This turned into a 24-hour a day undertaking. A six-week assignment in Norfolk, VA turned into 5 years!

As rewarding as it was personally and professionally, I was burning out. It was now time for a rest and family. The next months were spent with my widowed mother (I am an only child). I fortunately had this time with her before her untimely demise. This led me back into the real estate business to liquidate my own family’s assets. I’ve been going ever since.

I approach my efforts with great enthusiasm and a sense of what is possible. Colleagues have described my ability to remember the details of particular properties as “uncanny.” I chose to think of this as a great way to serve my clients.

In 1999, Dan Melman and I joined forces. Our partnership has worked out better than we could have hoped for. The Melman and Molik team is ready to address your real estate needs, be it condos, cooperatives, or homes.