Windward Real Estate

Mary Ellen Vanaken & Lynne Connor : “Real Estate by Design”

Owning a home is one of the most significant investments of your life, and you need an expert who combines the best investment knowledge with extensive real estate experience. Mary Ellen is the ideal combination of these two aspects, with a background in investing and a four-year successful career in real estate!

Mary Ellen started out working on Wall Street for JP Morgan, gaining valuable insight into the world of finance. She is currently partnered with Keller Williams Realty and has broadened her knowledge of personal finance to include all aspects of buying, selling and investing in homes. Today, Mary Ellen is a dedicated real estate consultant, acting as her clients’ personal advisor and connecting them with the best real estate situation for their needs. She asks a lot of questions throughout her client interactions in order to understand exactly what area and type of home is a good fit. She also takes time to analyze the specific advantages and disadvantages of each home to help her clients meet their goals in a fiscally responsible way.

To understand the trends of the local market, Mary Ellen draws upon her 15 years of residency in the area and stays abreast of any changes in the community. In addition to her industry experience and local knowledge, Mary Ellen has her E-Pro certification and is a Certified Luxury Marketing Specialist. She enjoys staying active in different charities, as well as playing tennis, golf and running. She also loves to travel with her husband Daniel and daughter Megan. An animal lover, Mary Ellen has two African Grey Parrots named Jack and Jill, a Golden Retriever named Lucky, and three freshwater fish tanks in her home.


Lynne Connor: Since becoming a Realtor in 1999, Lynne has successfully helped many clients achieve their real estate goals and she strives to exceed expectations. As a result, over 95% of her business comes from referrals and repeat business. Lynne works with local Buyers and Sellers and also with clients relocating to the area. She is well versed in the new construction market and utilizes her interior design skills by helping clients customize their new homes and by staging her listings for faster sales. Lynne's market area covers the northern suburbs of Atlanta, including North Fulton (Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton), East Cobb, South Forsyth and Cherokee counties. She is a Life Member of The Million Dollar Club and holds the ABR designation, Accredited Buyer Representative.

Lynne came to real estate with over twenty years experience in corporate sales and sales management. Her real estate clients are able to benefit from her business background and negotiating skills. She has worked for several Fortune 500 companies where she held such esteemed positions as Southern Regional Manager and National Sales Manager. Lynne has been a resident of the north metro Atlanta area since 1984, when she relocated from Princeton, NJ.

Lynne loves travel and adventure, whether she's sailing the Greek Islands, snorkeling in the Caymans, or touring a vineyard in Italy! She also enjoys walking, cooking and wine tasting. When she isn't helping clients buy or sell properties, you can find her living in Roswell with her golden retriever, Jack.