It's fitting that Merry ("like Christmas") Whyman would wear such a cheery disposition; it's a name that serves her well.

When the industry was in a dim and dreary state 20 years ago, Whyman's bright outlook kept her going. The 1980s were no holiday but Whyman says she was blissfully clueless.

"I entered real estate very naively," she says. "I didn't realize how dismal the real estate market really was. It was good training for me. When things are hard, it can be a really good learning experience."

Trained as an accountant, Whyman turned to real estate and found a good fit.

"It was a natural progression," she says. "I really enjoyed working with numbers and all the little details."

Whyman has made her professional home at Re/Max Alliance in Westminster, where she specializes in relocation and residential sales throughout metro-Denver.

"The $80,000 condo gets the same attention as the $475,000 family home," she says. "I really like real estate. It's a very important profession. Every person could be, or should be, a homeowner. I like counseling people on how to make a good investment."

Though the economy has seen its twists and turns over the last 20 years, real estate continues to offer new challenges.

"The non-regulated lending industry has become increasingly challenging," she says. "There's so much emphasis on refinancing and not on purchasing that you are competing for the lender's attention."

Elected in September to the JCAR Board of Directors for a three-year-term, Whyman will serve on the fundraising committee.

"I have a heart for service, where asked, when asked, and do my part," she says. "I would like to see our board become more social, like the South Metro Board that has a lot of events and a lot of fun. I'd like to bring that spirit of joy back to our profession."

Whyman and her husband, David, have been married 27 years and have a 10-year-old son, Chance. In addition, she is actively involved with the women's group at Arvada Covenant Church, where she has attended for 11 years.

Unrehearsed:
Favorite Restaurant (in Jefferson County):
Hilltop Cafe in Golden - "I love to eat out and I'm a big supporter of individual business that is local to our economy. I try to support the local enterprises," she says.

Favorite Books: - I Know This Much is True, by Wally Lamb; The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle.
An avid reader, Whyman keeps a running list of her favorite books. "I've been part of a monthly book club for 10 years, Right now we are reading the Da Vinci Code, which is new for us, to be so current, so vogue," she says, laughing.

The Secret to Everlasting Youth: Whyman's ten-year-old Chance, keeps her, at 49, and her husband, 58, young. "He keeps us running," she says. "and we're still going to Disney movies!"