CLAUDIA PARRILLO was raised in a close-knit Italian family where her parents instilled in their children the core values of a strong work ethic, the importance of doing things well, and the joy of following your passion. So, when she found herself the divorced mother of four, she needed work that was flexible enough to allow her to care for her children while meeting the high demands of a career. Now a seasoned real estate broker with @properties, she lives by the adage, “If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.” Her degree in psychology from Texas Christian University also serves her well. “It’s incredible how my work as a real estate agent incorporates so much of what I learned in school,” she says. “I am a strong negotiator because I stay calm under pressure.” Parrillo sums up her business style by four cornerstones: Listen and learn what is most important to clients; Integrate what she’s learned into a customized plan for each client; Serve her clients, their families and the community; and develop and earn Trust and confidentiality. Her mother and father are still her role models “My father is 87 and he still goes to work every day,” she says.

Claudia Parrillo is a broker with @properties located at 30 S. Lincoln Street in Hinsdale, 630-816-5927, atproperties.com/agents/claudiaparrillo.