Women Leading in Central Mass: Broker/Activist Anna Ling Pierce

Monday, July 15, 2013

Susan Wagner, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Anna Ling Pierce is President of Property Consultants, and advocate for pediatric medical research, treatment, and pain relief therapies.

Anna Ling Pierce is the president and broker of record for Pierce Property Consultants with offices in Shrewsbury and Worcester. The agency focuses on properties with in a 20-mile radius of Worcester. A full service agency, Pierce Property Consultants’ agents handle a variety of real estate services while Ling Pierce specializes in relocation services for UMass Memorial Medical Center personnel. Her dedication, to supporting pediatric research, treatment, and pain relief therapies at UMass Memorial, has been a driving force for almost two decades. In October, 1997, Ling Pierce’s husband John Pierce died from a heart attack just 10 feet from the finish line of his first half-marathon. He was running in tribute of their 14-year-old daughter Ali who had lost her life to liver cancer less than a year before.

A conversation with Anna Ling Pierce

SW: Let's talk about a typical day in the life of Anna Ling Pierce.

AP: Some are definitely crazier than others, as I am on goal all day. For instance today, I took out a potential UMass candidate to see the area, purchased a dehumidifier for a home I was selling and then spent way too long trying to assemble it with instructions in Spanish, picked up a contract, negotiated for a client, set up a contract signing and stopped long enough to do this interview!

SW: How did your career begin and where?

AP: I began my career at First National Bank of Boston as an AVP in the investment department. I was in the trading room and sold municipal bonds and government securities to large southern banks for their own investment portfolios. I was one of very few women in the field at that time. I remember attending a conference in Birmingham and there were only two women and 73 men. I have seen a lot of changes since then. After that, John and I bought a corporate travel agency together and I worked as part-owner and an account executive.

SW: What led you to your current career path?

AP: I have had my brokers license for over 30 years. I returned to the field once I became a mother of three. I worked for Heisler and Mattson. I had done so much fundraising for UMass since the death of my daughter that I decided it was time to serve in a different way. I began my specialty working with UMass personnel who were considering relocating to Central Massachusetts. I felt that we were losing out on some important candidates due to the relatively high cost of living in the area. I show them alternatives to the typical areas shown by brokers and work closely and extensively with them to find the perfect community and home for their needs. I spend a lot of time getting to know them. I still feel like I am helping people through a difficult time but without it being a life or death situation.

SW: What do you attribute your success to?

AP: I am fortunate enough to be able to focus my time and attention to what I love about real estate. I love creating friendships and helping clients new to the area to feel at home. A purchase of a house and making such a major investment is so stressful and it is just part of the equation. It is so important to find the right community that meets the needs of all family members as well. This decision will affect my client’s home life and family for years to come.

SW: What is the something that few people know about you?

AP: I just love to fish. Whenever I have down time, you will find me in my boat with my pole for hours in the pond beside my home. I also hate to admit it but I love the Ultimate Fighting Championships and tune in frequently.

SW: We met when our children were in elementary school in Princeton over 20 years ago. It was my pleasure to take a volunteer leadership role in Ali & Dad’s Army to raise funds for UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center in memory of Ali and John. What are you the most proud of and what are you working on now?

AP: I think the funds that we raised for The John & Ali Pierce Labs and Ali’s Gift. The labs located in the Lazare Research Building focus on pediatric cancer research and treatment. Ali’s Gift provides alternatives to pain management without additional cost. For some children the cure will not come in time and it is so important to help them to be as pain free and happy as possible. If our efforts give a child even one-minute pain free then it is all worth it. The Children’s Medical Center at UMass Memorial is the only tertiary care hospital in Central Massachusetts. We can get the same care as Boston in our own back yard.

SW: Any special plans for the future?

AP: As you know we received 10 numbers for the Boston Marathon back in 2001 and my niece Lisa Ling ran it. We would like to get a group of runners together again next year and we are hoping to get some numbers. We want to build an endowment for Ali’s Gift. I am always so amazed that I am able to get up and still enjoy life and so thankful for these blessings. My focus will always be those children who can still be saved.

"There is nothing so powerful as a new idea in the hands of a first class entrepreneur.” With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Susan Wagner has been known for driving events, initiatives, launches, and openings through her company Susan Wagner PR. In this challenging economy, she has begun a new division to offer affordable start-up packages to new and emerging small businesses and non-profit organizations that include professional writing services, websites, collateral, marketing, social media grassroots outreach and regional PR campaigns.