Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Roberts.
Hi Natalie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Where to begin, where to begin! My passion for service to others truly started at a very young age. My parents taught us that a life well-lived begins in service of others by taking us to weekly visits at the local nursing homes to spend time sitting with the generations before us and learning their stories, providing space for the lonely times when they were without loved ones. At the age of 13, I was announced as the winner of an International Conversation contest where USA Today asked young adults to identify an environmental problem in their hometown and come up with a solution. Initially, my passion for marine life is what piqued my interest in the contest as the winning prize was a trip to Washington D.C. to meet with Senators Bob Graham (FL), Connie Mack (FL) and Daniel Inouye (HI) and a week spent with the DolphinQuest program on the big island in Hawaii. What was born of the project became far more than I dreamed of. The state of Florida was experiencing a moratorium on all building due to water supply issues. My idea was to build retention ponds on school properties with two solutions being addressed. One, the retention ponds would resupply the aquifer and two, provide a living science lab for students. The Fl. Dept. of Wildlife and Game quickly jumped on board with an offer of providing all plant and fish life and the School Board unanimously approved the project, all before I won the contest. To do this is one of my top five accomplishments in life.
I spent many years working for the government and with the NC Tourism & Development Authority in advertising and marketing, providing immeasurable contacts that would later go on to prove fruitful in understanding how to communicate and collaborate with high-profile clients for the goal of serving our communities.
Upon moving to Texas, I decided to change careers and dive into the world of Real Estate, in particular homebuilding. With little to no knowledge, I accepted a position with Streetman Homes with Randy Streetman becoming one my greatest mentors. Having no experience within the industry, I requested to spend time working with each department in order to understand not only how a home is built but what goes into building a home including land development, purchasing, design, sales and ultimately marketing. We hold a great responsibility to our communities as homebuilders in providing attainable housing for all to experience the American Dream.
Taking a year break from homebuilding when my son, Carter was born gave me the opportunity to consult and plant the seed for what was to later become Social Strategies.
I rejoined the homebuilding world representing Mercedes Homes of Central Texas and intimately learning the housing needs for most large metros in the state of Texas. While there, the Topfer family whom I had worked closely with on several of their residential projects reached out with an introduction to Garrett Martin of MileStone Community Builders. The company was in its infancy and the perfect opportunity to join Garrett in building his dream. With five employees and as the head of Marketing, we built the company to the 6th fastest growing company in America (Inc. 500) in just a short 2.5 years span.
Throughout 2013 – current, I have worked alongside some of the most beautiful organizations in service to others, such as CommunityFirst! Village, and eventually started several podcasts that address homelessness in the Austin Community and education within the home building industry.
For eight years, I volunteered my time with the Greater Austin Homebuilders Association serving as the head of the HBA Sales & Marketing Council and Vice President of Communications.
In 2013 I experienced one of the most difficult times in my life,via divorce and finding myself at the age of 33 single, with a child and living alone for the first time in my life. Holding the weight and responsibility for my then three years old son, I knew I had to be an example for not only my son but for other women who were facing a similar challenge in life.
A full-circle moment back to service of others, I felt the call to leave Corporate America with a mere $200 to my name and start my company, Social Strategies. My desire to create real conversations between homebuilders and the communities they serve is what the foundation of the company is built from.
I am also an avid traveler and adrenaline junkie, living for the thrill of life’s most exciting adventures such as sky diving, bunjee jumping and hiking!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I firmly believe that life throws us curve balls to expand us. My life certainly has never been a smooth road but rather a road less traveled and filled with both strife and joy. At the age of 16, I was violently raped by three men and struggled for many years to regain my trust of people and ultimately, myself. An advocate of rape survivors now, I understand and work with men and women who have experienced rape in the hopes of bringing awareness to this atrocity and providing the services so desperately needed when a rape occurs.
As you know, we’re big fans of Social Strategies. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Created in 2014 Social Strategies is about creating moments and each of those moments truly matter. We are passionate about developing successful brands and using our diverse perspectives and expertise to help developers and homebuilders achieve their goals. Most importantly, our values live in the spirit of collaboration, integrity and going beyond expectations. We embrace the power that every single interaction has for your brand. That’s our promise to you, as we work together as proven experts to maximize the impact of your marketing. We strategically scale developers, single-family and manufactured homebuilders throughout North America with strategies that engage and deepen relationships with their brand.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Hands down, my time with DolphinQuest in Hawaii. Having the ability to research and interact with a program that is built upon education in hopes of bringing awareness to our oceans and the responsibility we hold to marine life has always been close to my soul. From a young age and having grown up in Sarasota, FL with some of the world’s most beautiful beaches (Siesta Key is known globally as a healing beach with flourishing marine life in the bays) I was exposed to some of the world’s top marine biologist and allowed to participate with projects such as the Jason Project, the Pelican Man Sanctuary. At the young age of 11, I was able to observe and work with marine biologist attempting to identify why dolphins in Sarasota Bay were dying, even assisting in autopsies of dolphins that has passed! My parents believed in supporting all of our crazy dreams and without them, I would not be the open-minded, passionate human being I believe I am!
Contact Info:
- Email: natalie@socialstrategiesatx.com
- Website: http://socialstrategiesatx.com/
- Instagram: @socialstrategiesatx
- Facebook: @socialstrategiesatx
