Gwen Appelquist is a true pillar of the community
BY VICI PAPAJOHN Gulf Breeze News vici@gulfbreezenews.com

During the 2007 Studer Group Halloween Contest, Gwen (far right) joined her suitemates for the costume and skit competition. Appropriately, they were dressed as pillars. Debbie Ritchie, Jackie Neese, Carmen White, Lacey Mann and Kat Davis join Gwen Appelquist above, left to right.

Gifted with a profound sense of commitment and a unique ability to see humor in many situations, Gwen Appelquist resolutely made wearing white face makeup and donning a modified mattress cover look really, really good last month during the Studer Group Halloween contest. She and her suitemates were dressed as pillars representing the goals and standards of their business. Yet, for Appelquist, being a pillar of the community is not just a costume.

Appelquist has been a civic and business leader in the Greater Pensacola area for over 40 years and currently works with the Studer Group. Appelquist, 83, defies the limits that age or culture could place on her. After dutifully performing the duties of "Navy Wife" and stayat home-mom for many years, she began working full time after her late husband retired from the Navy in the late 1960s. She channeled all the resolve, creativity and organizational skills she'd applied to her "first job" and went to work as a real estate agent.

Appelquist peppers her words with positive statements like "fascinated," "challenged," "improve," and "love." It is clear her profession has long been an extension of her love for her family and community fueled by an amazing reserve of positivity.

"When I was a Navy wife, it was grand. I enjoyed every duty station including our two tours to Panama. Retiring to Pensacola gave me a whole new opportunity," Appelquist says with a slight shrug. "I thought it'd be fun to sell Real Estate and help people. And I knew a lot about moving around. I used all my contacts and experiences as a Navy wife and went to work."

It did not take long for her to succeed.

She successfully focused on selling real estate to military families for years, co-founded Old Colony Realty and then formed her own Appelquist and Associates in 1976.

"I have never worried much about the competition," she says. "I compete with myself and do not compete with others. I want to improve and grow."

Appelquist even mentored her own son, Rick, when he decided to work in real estate. He lived and worked with her for one year, learning the ropes and is now a real estate developer in Orlando. Her son, David, is an Optometrist in central Florida.

She served as President of both the Pensacola Board of Realtors and the Women's Council of Realtors of the Florida Association of Realtors. She has served in numerous leadership roles for the Florida Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. She served the community as well all those years through the Council on Aging, United Way, Escambia County boards and committees, and for her church, First Presbyterian Church of Pensacola. It was through her work on the board at Baptist Health Care Foundation that she met Quint Studer and began her "third career" at Studer Group.

Appelquist is the Director of Charitable Giving of the Studer Foundation where she works full time.

"I was so impressed with what Quint did at Baptist, and I marveled at his corporate and personal mission. He became a mentor to me and one day I said, 'I am ready for a new challenge and I have no idea what I am going to do as an 80 year old woman changing careers.' It was so exciting because he offered me a JOB!"

Appelquist has worked at Studer Group for over two years. She dresses impeccably and professionally, and makes an impression much larger than her feminine 5'4" frame.

"I have always thought it was very important to dress and present myself professionally and present myself with confidence. All those years I was in real estate, and was one of a very few women on boards and at meetings, people would ask me, 'how do you work with all those men? How do they treat you?' And i would simply tell them, 'I respected them and I expected them to respect me.' And it works."

Appelquist credits her mother with giving her an inner drive and a desire to make her life count when she lost her mother at the tender age of five.

"When I look back over my life now, all I would want is to encourage myself and others to take a step back and do a better job balancing my life, family, work and play. I've been told I'm a workaholic all my life. And I have truly loved every job I've done."

Sounds like a full life doesn't it? But don't make the mistake of thinking that she does not have plans for her future.

"I already know what my next career is going to be," she says, leaning forward in great interest. " I want to work with Covenant Hospice working with end-of-life patients."

She credits the ability to say good bye to her own mother and a recent life-altering near-death experience as motivation. "I do not fear death, and it would be a privilege to be with those patients. When I slipped away after blood pressures complications from my surgery, I felt so wonderful and nice. I clearly called to God twice, asking him 'Dear Lord, are you taking me home?' And I clearly heard him answer me, 'I'm not ready for you yet; I want you to work through me to others.' I felt a nearness to God that was just incredible."

Married for 28 years to retired Maj. Gen. Joseph G. May, she credits him with supporting her and allowing her the freedom to be her 'busy and committed self.' In her 80s, Appelquist remains one of the busiest women in the area. And you can bet she makes every moment count.