A Passion for Fashion, Real Estate and Giving Back to the Community

To say that Stacey Pinkas is used to working under pressure is an understatement. With only six years in the business, the Douglas Elliman Real Estate agent was well-prepared for stress on the job after spending many years in the fashion industry, working countless hours behind the scenes at various events, including the iconic Fashion Week in New York City.

Armed with degrees from the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising and Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, Pinkas began her career in marketing and public relations, traveling through the ranks of some very prestigious brands like Nike, Adidas, Cody and others.

“Yes, it was all very exciting,” she admitted. “But Fashion Week could be very stressful being behind the scenes and making sure everything went according to plan.” Pinkas also found herself working with “a lot of different personalities,” when it comes to fashion models and designers.

Her last corporate position was with Swatch, where she was again involved with marketing and events. However, after her second child was born, she decided it was time for a change. “I had been commuting from White Plains to Weehawken, New Jersey and I wanted something closer to home to be near my children,” she recalled.

Since her husband is a real estate attorney, she was attracted to the business, so Pinkas earned her license and began her real estate career in the Armonk office of Douglas Elliman. “I had been working in marketing and social media for about a year and then someone there asked me why I wasn’t selling real estate,” she said. “I had never thought about that!”

She eventually moved to the sales side and later became part of the Oliveira-Pinkas Team in the firm’s Scarsdale office. A Staten Island native, Pinkas earlier lived in Manhattan and spent time touring Westchester’s many towns and villages to get a sense of suburban life. “We were able to find a home here, so I knew I could help others do the same—especially those moving up from New York City,” she said.

After getting her feet wet in her new career, Pinkas eventually gravitated to the Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation. “I always enjoyed volunteer work with local churches or other organizations,” she said. “Both my husband and I fell into different charities here in Westchester.”

Some of her favorite charities include 914 Cares, which offers clothing and personal care items for those in need, and Feeding Westchester, which provides groceries to food pantries throughout the county. Pinkas also serves on the Board of Directors for 914 Cares.

What began as volunteer work for HGRF events culminated in her first year as a HG Realtor Foundation Trustee. “It’s been so great, and I love to continue working with these charities and more,” she shared. “Being a Trustee has really opened my eyes to so many other organizations throughout our region that do so many amazing things for our communities.”

With two pre-teen children—Alexander, 12 and Max 10—Pinkas is just as busy at home. “They play a lot of sports so we’re always out and about, plus we love to hike and enjoy being out in nature,” she added. Trying out new restaurants and visiting New York City also occupies their time.

When the boys were younger, Pinkas got them involved in modeling for various commercials, shows and magazine shoots. “It was a lot of work, and I don’t know how I did it,” she admitted. “It started a nice college fund for them, but it did become just too much of a commitment to continue.”

As far as her real estate career is concerned, Pinkas has never looked back to her former days in the hectic fashion industry. “Real estate is very rewarding, and I’m pleased to see that more single-family houses are coming onto the market. I love helping people find a place to call home.”