A career in Real Estate
During the onset of the recession in 1989 through 1994, some of the worst years in recent real estate history, Cindy Stys, established a career as a Realtor at Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate in Stroudsburg, PA. During that time Cindy was the recipient of several company marketing awards and had secured her presence in the local market place as the horse property specialist. After getting married she moved to Switzerland teaming up with another Realtor in the office. During month long visits back to the US, she would secure listings and develop marketing strategies once back in Europe while her partner would service the listings stateside. Her broker used to laugh and say that Cindy was earning more commissions living in Switzerland than some of her full time agents on site.
International Equestrian Federation, Lausanne, Switzerland
In 1995, Cindy secured a job at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) in Lausanne, Switzerland working for the Olympic and Eventing Departments. Working there for over 2 years provided her with the knowledge of the inner workings of horse sport at the highest level. After moving back to the US, Cindy resumed selling real estate for several years.
(Left to right) Lisa Wilcox, Olympic Dressage Team Medalist, Chris Stafford, from Horse TV & Cindy Stys at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, (GER) 2006 during eventing cross-country day.
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
In 1998 her employment with the FEI had led to a high profile job with the US Equestrian Federation in Gladstone, NJ, headquarters of the United States Equestrian Team. Her work experience in international horse sport with the FEI and fluency in French made her the perfect candidate to serve as "ambassador" for the Federation acting as liaison between foreign organizing committees and US competitors. She played a key role in the long battle for national governing body status between the United States Equestrian Team and the Federation. In October of 2001 she testified before the United States Olympic Committee as the only staff member. During her career in horse sports Cindy has built rapport with a wealth of riders, trainers and officials throughout the US and overseas. She has worked with legends like George Morris, Frank Chapot, Mark Philips and Klaus Balkenhol. She assisted the foreign organizing committees at the World Equestrian Games 1998 in Italy and in 2002 in Spain and at the 2005 inaugural combined World Cup Dressage/Jumping Final in Las Vegas as the International Relations Person.
Aside from her career in horse sport and college degree in equine studies, she has been an active rider since age 11 and is currently training her horse in dressage. Cindy’s extensive administrative involvement with horse sports at the director level, real estate experience, broker studies and legal background have well prepared her for the creation of a niche brokerage firm focusing exclusively on equestrian and
country properties.