We had the good fortune of connecting with Helen Hicks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Helen, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important thing any successful professional can do is to build relationships with people in the community. This means everyone! Not just the people who can directly help, but all people. Those unrelated to the business can be great advertisers if they have been respected and valued.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have enjoyed my entire career because I have spent a lifetime serving others. I’ve helped to raise money to feed the hungry; serve those affected and effected with HIV/AIDS; assisted seniors who were mistreated i licensed long-term care facilities; paired youth with adult mentors; and brought families to the closing table as new and proud homeowners.

I
The lessons I have earned are:

Treat all people with respect.
Encourage diversity.
Listen first.
Act.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had a friend coming into the city for a week, I would make sure they did the following:

1. Visited the DIA, and Belle Isle.

2. Toured some of the great Detroit Historic churches and restaurants including Greektown spots.

3. Spent an afternoon at Frankenmuth enjoying the fried chicken and shopping.

4. Drove to one of the area cider mills to experience cider, donuts, and all of the hoopla that goes on!

5. Spend time at Greenfield Village.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out to all the Macomb County Habitat for Humanity partner families who have struggled so hard to learn better financial practices and have implemented them to improve their credit scores making homeownership a possibility. That process of self-learning and discipline was a journey taken by each family and I commend them so very much for achieving a successful outcome!

Website: www.macombhabitat.org

Facebook: Macomb County Habitat for Humanity

Image Credits
Christian Financial

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