Judy Hatfield, who has owned and operated Equity Realty, Inc. since 1981, has sold a half interest in the business to associate Eric Fleske.

"When I was planning Equity 25 years ago, I knew I wanted to be in real estate development at this stage of my life," Hatfield said. A Certified Public Accountant who was chairman of the Oklahoma State Chamber Board of Directors in 2004, Hatfield said Equity Realty has grown to operate in other areas the state.

Hatfield has worked with real estate developer Hunter Miller and country singer Toby Keith to develop East Village, an upscale condo and retail community being built on the former site of the Kingsgate apartments in east Norman. She and three partners also are working with Kerr-McGee's corporate redevelopment group to renovate three Kerr-McGee buildings in Oklahoma City into luxury condos.

Equity maintains 120 to 130 listings in Norman and several others in downtown Oklahoma City, she said. The company carries more than $50 million in listings a month.

"Equity Realty started as a family business," Hatfield said. "When I met Eric eight years ago, I saw in him an entrepreneurial spirit, loud and clear ... When he graduated from OU, he could have done anything. I'm glad he believed in me rather than going to a big corporation."

Like Hatfield, Fleske has a degree in finance from OU. He began as an intern at Equity and now is responsible for many of the company's listings throughout the state.

"We are at a point it's time to grow in knowledge, services, staff and operating area," Fleske said. "Our first big step is to build a new headquarters for the company." Thursday, ground was broken for the new Equity Realty Building on the northeast corner of Boardwalk and Wall Streets.

"Our market is Oklahoma," Fleske said. "The fact we're heavily invested in Norman makes it home for us. But we see opportunities in the state. Lawton is growing and we have the ability to go down there. There are opportunities in areas like Blanchard and Newcastle. There are Norman businesses that do business outside Norman. Relationships we build here spread elsewhere."

Equity also has extensive business in Shawnee, Woodward, Sapulpa and Tahlequah, Hatfield said. "I enjoy my small town roots. Small towns have a different way of doing business. Loyalties are common to small towns because they're so intergenerational."

Over the years, Equity has grown to become a secure employer for about a dozen associates and staff. "We know we'll have to bring on a full-time marketing-Web site person and another associate in Oklahoma City," Hatfield said.

Fleske, newly married, is active in civic affairs, including a current term as president of Norman Sooner Rotary Club. He said his goals for Norman will include his family. "My goal is to help make this town so great that when my kids are grown they'll stay here," he said.

Hatfield has received many honors and awards for service to Norman, the state and the real estate industry. "We think success is not about money, but the legacy we leave the community," she said. "Do really good things and the money comes later."

For more information, please contact Randall Turk at (405) 366-3547 or email at rturk@normantranscript.com

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