Rosemary “Ro” Rukavena

Rosemary "Ro" Rukavena has been in real estate for twenty-two years and is part owner of Tompkins Cortland Real Estate.  Prior to her real estate career, she was the Business and Human Resource Manager for a local optics company.

Ro puts her client's interests first and she carefully listens to their specific needs and desires and matches them with the best possible home to meet their criteria.  She takes pride in knowing that each of her sellers and buyers have received her expertise, care and undivided attention.  Ro understands that buying or selling a home can be a trying experience and one of her key goals is to make the experience as enjoyable and problem free, as possible.

Ro has lived in the beautiful Ellis Hollow area for twenty-five years and in her free time, she is an avid gardener who enjoys her two greenhouses, her perennial gardens, and organic vegetable and herb gardens.  Having grown up on a dairy farm in Madison, NY, she has great respect and appreciation for the environment.  Ro and her husband, Pete, enjoy cooking, baking, pickling and canning and making their own wine, which has won numerous medals at the Amateur Winemaker's Competition at the New York State Fair.  Ro is also a 1980 SUNY Morrisville graduate.  Ro loves animals and her best buddy is a Golden Retriever, named Yogi.

Ro was the President of the Ithaca Board of Realtors in 2011 and was awarded Realtor of the Year. In addition, she was awarded the Housing Opportunities Award in both 2010 and 2013. She has also served on several local charity boards over the years. Ro has several designations: Realtor® Institute,  Accredited Buyer Representative and e-Pro.