Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Sando Komulainen.
Beth, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hello, my name is Beth Sando Komulainen and I have been living in San Diego for over ten years and have been in Title Insurance for seven of those years. I moved here from West Hollywood to be closer to my family. It was an excellent move as it got me to where I am today.
I was working at a restaurant called Davanti in Del Mar (it’s really good, definitely recommend it… they also have one in Little Italy) where I was a server. While I was working there, I was about to start studying for my real estate license when another opportunity presented itself to me. I was serving a group of four who came in one night. They stayed for about two hours and chatted with me while I was serving them drinks and food. Perhaps it was the fact I was up selling them on their food/drink choices, kept getting them to stay longer than they had anticipated or perhaps it was just my sense of humor, but as they were getting ready to leave they gave me their card and said to call them.
I was excited that they saw potential in me. However, I did not know much about Title Insurance and was a bit scared to contact them. Luckily, a week later a couple of them came back to the restaurant and asked me again to please call. So I did. I started off as one of their assistants and within a year I was a full-time account manager. I love my job. I love the people I work with and some of them have become family. I am currently at the number one title company in San Diego, First American Title, and loving it!
Has it been a smooth road?
It was not a smooth road to get to where I am today. It took a lot of time, dedication, decision making, starting over, hustling all hours of the day, working many events, and being fearless. Moving to a new title company brought questions, and all I continue to say to all of my clients is you are working with me, and if you can trust me then there is nothing else to worry about. The fact that I still work with my very first client who has stayed loyal since I met him seven years ago should tell you something!
In 2015 my mother was diagnosed with ALS. It was devastating to our entire family. At first, she started with a limp, and we thought she just pulled a muscle from working out or something. Shortly after, her limp became a dragged foot… this is when we knew something was wrong. After both legs began to collapse we prayed it might be MS or PALS, but then it reached her upper body and she was diagnosed with ALS. ALS takes away all of your motor functions until you can no longer talk, eat and breathe.
Mom still lived where we grew up in Northern California, so I made the decision to move in with her. I left my job and San Diego life to help her and spend as much time as possible with her. After reading that the lifespan of ALS patients is 2-5 years, there was no question in my mind this was the right decision.
After being there for eight months, my mother’s disease was progressing faster than lighting, therefore my sisters and I made the decision to move her to San Diego to be with all three of her daughters (myself, my sister Stacy and sister Aimee). Back in San Diego, I lived with her in a vacation rental on the ocean and would take care of her along with live-in caregivers.
During this time, work was on hold and my focus was my mom. Also, during this time, I met my incredible husband, Greg Komulainen. I am so fortunate he was able to meet my mom and I remember the night where we all sat around the fire pit on mission bay and had a great conversation. A couple days later my mom completely lost her vocals and could no longer talk. I am so fortunate they were able to have a conversation and were able to meet.
Shortly after, while on vacation in Europe with Greg, my mother received her wings and went to heaven. The moral of the story is, putting my mother before work was the best decision I could have made. I knew I would have to start over when I returned, yet in no time I was back to where I left off. It’s so important to look at the big picture, believe in yourself, and know you can do anything you set your mind to. Don’t be afraid to do something and never let fear hold you back.
My advice for any woman starting in this industry, or any industry, is that nothing is too big. It just takes perseverance, dedication, and to remember to take one step back to take two steps forward. It’s not a race, it is a marathon.
First American Title – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am an account manager for First American Title. I work on a team with three other ladies; my sister Stacy, and my two friends Nikki and Lexi. Stacy, Lexi and I joined forces with Nikki less than a year ago and we are called SoCalTitleGals. I love these ladies like family. (Well, one of them really is my sister!)
My team and I guarantee timely closing, and most importantly, client-focused service. We have orchestrated some of the most complex transactions, yet have never lost our personal touch and the attention to detail our clients deserve. First American Title represents the largest title insurance and escrow services company in the world. Backed by virtually every measure of financial strength from assets to title claims reserves, First American Title offers policyholders the safest, most secure real estate transaction possible. First American is the number one Title company in San Diego,
What sets my team and I apart from the other title reps out there is that we build relationships that turn into partnerships that last a lifetime. We do not just go after every deal out there, we go after agents we want to team up with to grow and become successful with. We add value by showing up, taking the extra steps to get what our clients need, and continuing to bring new ideas that will strengthen their business. It is amazing to be able to say we could get happy hour and hang out with our clients on the weekends because they have become more than business partners, they have become our lifelong friends.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
My mother and father raised us three ladies to work hard and stay humble. Both my parents worked in the hospital and would work crazy hours and still be able to take us to soccer, softball, basketball, travel sports, cook dinner, clean, etc. and I never remember them complaining about how hard things were. Seeing and remembering how hard my parents worked really is inspiring.
My father coached me in soccer for ten years and always pushed me the right amount. I am so thankful for that because I feel like I push myself with work to the best I can, but also know when it is ok to sit back and breathe (even though that is rare, as I LOVE the hustle!)
Contact Info:
- Phone: 760-828-5812
- Email: bsando@firstam.com
- Instagram: beth4title
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