Column: Suzanne Pennink honored with Realtor’s Cup by Greater Fayetteville Chamber

Suzanne Pennink is one of a kind. 

You won’t find anyone in this community quite like Pennink, who doesn’t have a pretentious bone in her body. She’s a straight shooter with her tell-it-like-it-is personality and genuine way.

Suzanne Pennink, those who know who her best, will tell you Suzanne Pennink is the real deal. 

“I’m looking around this room, and I’ve sold you houses, been in book clubs with you and been on committees with you,” Pennink, 78, said Monday evening to a standing ovation when receiving the Realtor’s Cup honor at the Greater Fayetteville Chamber Annual Awards ceremony at the Center for Medical Education and Neuroscience Institute. “There are so many in this room I love.” 

She is the 58^th recipient of the prestigious award that dates back to 1962 in recognition of community leaders present and past, who have made a difference in Cumberland County. From developers, health care leaders, educators, the arts and anywhere where they have left indelible fingerprints and footprints on this community, you will find their names. 

Among past recipients are Mary Lynn McCree Bryan (2016); Gen. James J. Lindsey (2013); Ralph Huff (2010); Olga “Bo” Thorpe (2009); William T. Brown (2006); Tony Chavonne (2001); N.C. Sen. Tony Rand (1999); Mayor J.L. Dawkins (1998); James D. “Brownie” McLeod (1997); Ramon Yarborough (1994); J.P. Riddle (1993); Albert McCauley (1992); Dr. Lucile W. Hutaff (1989); John “Bill” Hurley (1988); John W. Hinsdale (1983); Dohn Broadwell (1979); J. Bernard Stein (1968); Edwin N. Brower (1964); and I.B. Julian (1962).

“When you get an award from your peers, it means something,” Pennink, a self-made realtor, told the audience of more than 400 people who attended the 126^th annual awards evening.

Other awards included Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Business Beautification award; 219 Group, Best in Communications award; the Fayetteville State University — Business HUB, Excellence in Innovation award; Charles Bossert of Gray’s Creek High and Middle Schools, Educator of the Year award; Lori’s Ace Home & Hardware, Local Franchise of the Year award; Mission BBQ, Public Service award; sisters Cheyanne and CaliRai Campos of Fizzy Friends; Young Professional of the Year award; United Way of Cumberland County, Non-Profit of the Year award; Haymount Truckstop, New Business of the Year award; Raywest Designbuild, Small Business of the Year award; Cape Fear Valley Health, Large Business of the Year award; Mike’s Plumbing, Business of the Year award; Katie Smith of U.S. Congressman David Rouzer’s office, Government Service award; Ron Patton, Military Affairs Council Service award; Ryan Sands, Ambassador of the Year award; Freddy Johnson, Chairman’s Service award; and Johnny Wilson, Grace McGrath and Chris Bostock, all recipients of the chamber’s third annual Breece Legacy award. 

The awards ceremony was the chamber’s largest in its history, according to Nat Robertson, the chamber’s chief executive officer and president, who is a former two-term Fayetteville mayor. And Suzanne Pennink almost missed it because of her husband Dr. Menno Pennink’s 89^th birthday. 

“When I saw the banquet was tonight,” Suzanne Pennink said, “I said I wasn’t going.”

But Menno Pennink had a feeling that Monday could possibly be a night of honor for his wife.

“He said, ‘There is nothing I would rather do on my birthday than to see you get this award,’” she looked toward her husband, the retired neurosurgeon and a 2014 recipient of the Realtor’s Cup when honored for his tireless efforts in downtown revitalization.

He was insistent she be there. 

“‘We should go,’” she later said of her husband’s encouragement. “‘If you win, you should be there. No matter what, we’re gonna go.’”

Menno Pennink shared in Suzanne Pennink’s celebration. 

“I’m very proud of my wife,” he said. 

Business partner Ralph Huff presented the cup on behalf of the Longleaf Pine Realtors.

“I’ve known Suzanne 43 years,” the real estate tycoon told the audience. “We’ve been real estate partners 23 years. Suzanne epitomizes everything this award is about. She is a driving force in the real estate industry.”

Vision and ambition

Suzanne Parkinson Pennink arrived on Fort Bragg from Germany with her late parents, Lt. Col. Thomas Parkinson and Blanche Parkinson, in 1960. She grew up on the military base, today known as Fort Liberty, and later the Cottonade subdivision. 

A 1964 graduate of old Fayetteville High School, she found herself working at Carolina Telephone on Hay Street for $56.50 a week before working with Smithboro Furniture after earning a degree from the New York School of Interior Design.

“I was selling drapes and bedspreads,” she says. “I always loved furnishings and decorating.” 

But she was a woman with a vision, and ambition. 

And selling homes was on her mind. 

She worked with Betty and Chuck Weber briefly before venturing out on her own in 1975 with Suzanne Barlow Realtors on Yadkin Road.

Today, Suzanne Pennink and Ralph Huff are the majority owners of Coldwell Banker Realtors, circa 2005, the real estate company that encompasses Harnett, Lee and Moore counties. 

Pennink and Huff, she says, don’t just sell homes and properties. 

They sell the Fayetteville community.  

“A couple of years ago we were in a pretty nice restaurant at Myrtle Beach,” Pennink was telling CityView on Friday. Somehow Fayetteville came up, and someone at another table said, ‘You mean Fayettnam.’ They wanted to think of Fayetteville as second class.”

Not so, Pennink says. Not so at all. 

She points to amenities, including the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Cape Fear Regional Theatre and the downtown Airborne & Special Operation Museum.

“We may be blue-collar, but there are so many good things about Fayetteville,” Pennink said. “And Menno has put his money and heart into bringing Fayetteville back. He takes up for it.” If anyone says anything critical of this city “ They are going to hear from him. He is passionate about it.”

Epilogue

She said as much when accepting the Realtor’s Cup. 

“We need to keep fighting,” Suzanne Pennink told the chamber audience, “to see Fayetteville gets what it deserves.”

The audience arose again in applause. 

“We are blessed to have Suzanne Pennink in our community,” Nat Robertson says. “Her enthusiasm along with her competitiveness makes Coldwell Banker Advantage a force for her competitors to keep up with. Suzanne is definitely a giver who recognizes how great this community is. Fayetteville and Cumberland County are a better place because we have Suzanne here.”

Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.

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