Michael Kenny: Realty Roots
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — Michael Kenny has always had roots in the real estate industry, so when he decided to pursue it as a career, it felt practically second nature. “My dad started Kenny Realty in 1967,” he explains. “Growing up with a father in real estate, I was always sort of immersed in it—I’d hear about it around the dinner table, and when I was in high school, I worked for him painting rentals. After college, I decided to give the family business a try, and I absolutely fell in love with it. I know it thrilled my dad to see the company stay in the family.”
Today, as president of Kenny Realty, Michael says his favorite part of his job is the opportunity to make a positive impact. “I’ve always considered myself a positive person, so real estate has provided a great way for me to live that out. At the end of the day, when I’m handing my clients a set of keys, I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I’ve helped them start a new chapter of their lives.”
A resident of Foster City, Michael spends his time outside of work on a variety of active pastimes. “My wife, Caryn, and I are very active and love spending time at Lake Tahoe,” he affirms. “Depending on the season, we might be skiing, water skiing, hiking or paddle boarding. We also enjoy following professional sports—Caryn is an avid basketball fan, so we have season tickets to the Warriors.” Additionally, Michael likes gardening and spending time with friends and family, including his and Caryn’s two daughters, Danielle and Christina.
In regard to his professional career, Michael espouses the importance of maintaining a good reputation. “My dad taught me to never compromise my reputation,” he says. “When I took over the business, I was really motivated to preserve the reputation my father had built for the company, which meant maintaining his high standards for quality and client satisfaction. To this day, I strive to maintain a level of professional excellence I know my father would be proud of.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Michael says he wouldn’t. “My dad worked until he was 90, so, like him, I don’t think I’ll ever fully retire. However, I definitely see myself taking more time off to travel. A few years ago, my wife and I took a three-week trip to Europe, and it made us realize how hard we’d been working for the last two decades and how little time off we’d taken. So, from now on, we plan to take a long vacation at least every couple of years so we can relax.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: When I find something I like, I tend to stick with it, so I’d probably go back to Europe—specifically, the town of Positano, which is on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. It’s right on the water, the food is great and it’s very relaxing.
Q: Reality TV or documentaries?
A: My wife and I are big reality TV people—we’ve always enjoyed shows like Survivor, Big Brother and American Idol.
Q: Music or talk radio?
A: I enjoy both. I listen to a lot of sports talk radio, but I love music as well.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Sit by the fire and watch sports.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Sports memorabilia. I have several autographed jerseys and about 40 bobbleheads.
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