| Not many people dream of being a commercial real estate journalist when they grow up—in fact, Chicago reporter Maureen Wilkey wanted to be a ballerina until she was five, when she realized that few people actually get to be a ballerina (never mind her lack of rhythm). She then decided she wanted to be a writer. But the entertainment bug never left her—she penned three plays in high school, planning to be a theater major. But her parents encouraged a back-up plan, so she opted for the next lowest-paying degree,journalism. |
| After launching the biz section at the University of Illinois' Daily Illini newspaper, she received four job offers, but only one in the big city—thus starting her career in real estate, as a staff writer and later editor at the Illinois Real Estate Journal. Her entertainment dream was finally realized when Bisnow came a-knockin' in '09, and she's been pounding the pavement in the Windy City ever since. Running around to meetings and events has been great training—she recently ran the Boston Marathon in April with a personal best time of 3:29:03, and seeks to beat her half-marathon PR of 1:34:02 in Des Moines Oct. 17. When she's not lacing up the running sneaks, you can find her volunteering at the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum's butterfly haven, where she pins cocoons and releases newly emerged butterflies. |
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