Christine DeHart Honored for Real Estate and Community Impact
By Danielle Wiseman, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
Christine DeHart, Broker and Owner of Salmon Real Estate, is a force to be reckoned with.
A native Staten Islander with deep family roots dating back to the 1600s, DeHart lives and breathes Staten Island. A graduate of Port Richmond High School, DeHart went on to continue her education at the College of Staten Island, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in business management. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, DeHart also received her New York State realtor license, intending to pursue real estate on the side.
Upon graduating, DeHart immediately began working for her father, who owned and managed multiple businesses on Staten Island, including a property management firm. DeHart gained experience in all four of the businesses, and she very quickly proved her worth. DeHart continued to climb the ranks until she was managing both ABC Sewer & Water Mains and Peakmont Apartments, a 52-unit rent stabilized building.
“My family has a lot of history on Staten Island, and it was only natural for me to go into the family businesses,” says Christine. “I got my real estate license as a side hustle and didn’t use it all that much in the beginning because I was so busy with ABC Sewer and Peakmont. I managed those two while my sister managed the other two businesses, and we were always working with each other. I learned so much in my time working with my family.”
DeHart continued to manage ABC Sewer & Water Mains and Peakmont Apartments for many years until her father passed away, leaving the DeHarts with a decision about all four of the family businesses. Closing both ABC Sewer & Water Mains and Ormonde McCarty Plumbing & Heating, DeHart continued to work for the property management firm for another eight years until she decided to pivot to real estate full-time.
DeHart made the shift to real estate in 2014, starting as an agent at Salmon Real Estate, Staten Island’s oldest independent real estate brokerage. Learning directly under Egon Salmon, the company’s founder and a prominent Staten Island leader, DeHart found her second home at Salmon Real Estate.
Salmon Real Estate was founded in 1956 by Egon Salmon and later passed on to his son, Jon. Already a trusted and beloved brokerage, Salmon Real Estate has been selling residential homes and commercial properties on Staten Island for nearly seven decades. The real estate company sets itself apart by exhibiting exemplary personal service, a legacy that has lived on since Salmon established the business back in 1956.
“I decided that I wanted to work at Salmon Real Estate because Egon Salmon set this incredible reputation for the company, and I wanted to work for the best,” reminisces DeHart. “I wanted to learn from Egon and his sons, Henry and Jon, and build upon the foundation that they set. There was no doubt about where I was going to practice real estate.”
Utilizing her background in property management, DeHart quickly demonstrated her value at Salmon Real Estate and moved up from an agent to a broker. Eventually DeHart also became a team leader, managing an entire team of agents and inspiring them with the Salmon Real Estate work ethic. DeHart’s dedication to Salmon Real Estate was unparalleled, gaining the attention of both Jon and Egon Salmon, who were looking for a successor for the business.
“Jon approached me about purchasing the business because he was looking to retire, and I was thrilled. I have such a great relationship with the Salmons, and I saw so much potential with Salmon Real Estate,” says DeHart. “Once I bought the business, Egon would come and sit with me for hours at a time and teach me everything that I needed to know to run a successful brokerage. He was absolutely instrumental in my success those first few years.”
DeHart officially purchased Salmon Real Estate on March 26th, 2020, and the company has only grown since then. Maintaining the legacy that the Salmons built, DeHart has managed to keep the Salmon Real Estate name and reputation alive while adding her own unique flair to the industry. Voracious, hard-working, and headstrong, DeHart is dedicated to helping people find homes that they love, and she is proud to work in Staten Island.
DeHart is also an ardent member of the Staten Island community, devoting much of her time to various organizations throughout the borough. DeHart is fully committed to the North Shore Rotary, currently as the President-Elect and twice previously as Past President.
“The North Shore Rotary has my heart entirely, and my fellow rotary members are my second family,” emphasizes DeHart. “What we are able to accomplish through that group is nothing short of amazing. To be able to impact people’s lives in the way that we do is so heart-warming, and it’s why I continue to show up every day for my community.”
In addition to her work with Rotary, DeHart also serves on the Board of Directors for the Staten Island Industrial Alliance and Community Board One. DeHart is also a member of the Advisory Board for On Your Mark, the Staten Island Board of Realtors, the Building Industry Association of NYC, and the Home Improvement Contractors of Staten Island. Additionally, DeHart is the co-Chair for the Building Awards Committee for the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
For her accomplishments, Christine DeHart is being honored with a Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award, which she will receive in the Established Businessperson category. The awards, which are presented by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance, honor the memory of Louis R. Miller, a businessman and West Brighton resident who was also a community leader.
“I want to be part of the change that I see in my community,” says DeHart. “There are so many important Staten Island leaders out there working toward a better good for all of us, and my goal is to support them the best that I can.”
Current occupation and title: Real Estate Broker/ Team Lead at Salmon Real Estate powered by Real.
Hometown: Westerleigh.
Community involvement: North Shore Rotary Club, Staten Island Industrial Alliance, Victory Boulevard Merchants’ Association, On Your Mark, Avenel Center for the Performing Arts, Community Board One, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
The best part of my job: Helping people.
The most difficult part of my job: Keeping everyone working together and navigating the phases of the deal and time management.
I am most proud of: Being an original Staten Islander.
Personal interests and hobbies: I love the Beach and Seaside Heights.
I laugh at: Everything.
I admire: People who have good time management skills.
Some important things I would like you to know about me: I work hard, and I love my family, especially my nieces and nephews and of course my great nieces and nephews.