Wendy Maitland, Town Residential’s president of sales, has settled into her well-lit office at the 39th Street corporate headquarters the brokerage moved to in August. While she sticks to an open door policy, and waves at most passersby through her glass walls, she reserves about 20 minutes alone every day to meditate. “It’s like a 20-minute vacation every day,” she said. Maitland joined Town at its inception in December 2010 from Brown Harris Stevens, where she was a senior vice president. Prior to that, Maitland worked at the Corcoran Group. Real estate, however, is not Maitland’s first career. She worked as a psychotherapist for 10 years before catching “the real estate bug.” As a mother of two, she said, she was always growing out of her apartment and looking for more space. “I started buying, selling and renovating my own places,” she said. “I found that I loved the process.” Last month, Maitland showed The Real Deal around her office.
“Manhattan” photo
This print of the shot used for the poster of the movie “Manhattan” was a gift for the opening of Town in January 2011 from Brian Hamill, a friend who was Woody Allen’s photographer for 30 years. “He’s one of my big influences,” Maitland said, “especially when it comes to all things New York City.” Hamill introduced her to a particular culture of Brooklyn writers, photojournalists, firefighters and cops. Coincidentally, Allen is a client of Maitland’s. As a broker, she found the famed director his house in 2006.
Muhammad Ali
A black-and-white shot of the boxing champ, also taken by Hamill, serves as inspiration. As a child, Maitland was steeped in the boxing world after her family moved to Rhinebeck, New York, and her father struck up a friendship with legendary trainer Cus D’Amato. For her 16th birthday, her father, who died when Maitland was 27, took her to a heavyweight championship fight. In September, Maitland continued the tradition with her son and took him to the Floyd Mayweather-Marcos Maidana match in Las Vegas. “It was electric,” she said.
Jazz Fest
Maitland says she loves live music and spends a weekend each year at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, better known as JazzFest. Trombone Shorty is her favorite Big Easy performer.
Statue of Liberty
Maitland’s favorite structure in the city (tied with the Woolworth Building) is the Statute of Liberty. “Because she’s strong and she’s beautiful and she inspires people,” she said. In Maitland’s office, Lady Liberty is represented in the form of a portrait made out of old MetroCards. The piece of art was a present from one of her agents, who commissioned it for Maitland.
Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews
Maitland is never without a stash of Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews, her favorite candy. “They’re made in New York and the chocolate is dark,” she said. “They can almost substitute as a meal in leaner times, when I am working so hard that I don’t have time to get out for lunch.” When people stop by her office for a piece of candy, “we end up talking business and life and all sorts of things. You never know what’s going to come up over a couple of peanut chews.”
Hermès tea set
Maitland purchased this six-piece tea set for the launch of The Charles in the Upper East Side in October 2008. Since it was “not such a wonderful time” to be selling high-end condos, Maitland decided the sales office needed something nice. “Ownership said they thought I was crazy,” Maitland said, so she paid for it herself. Until recently it remained in the Charles, which is now 75 percent sold. Today, it has a permanent place in Maitland’s office.
LeBron James jersey
On the wall above the couch hangs a framed Cleveland Cavaliers jersey signed by LeBron James. CEO Andrew Heiberger presented it as a result of an inside joke stemming from the negotiations for Maitland’s Town contract, which took place around the time that the basketball superstar famously announced he was “bringing his talents” to Miami. The plaque on the frame reads, “To the queen of the court, you’re the best. With respect, LeBron.”
Kids’ pictures
Above Maitland’s desk, held up by one simple pin, hangs a collage of pictures of her children given to her for Mother’s Day. Not framed, just “something my kids threw together.” Maitland’s son is a student at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, and her daughter recently closed a $1.9 million deal as a broker.