Steve Vavrek recently sold my late mother’s home in Monroe. As a first-time seller, Steve made the process very easy and painless. Steve was quick to respond to my many questions. If he did not know the answer, he would find out and get back to me immediately. As this was Steve’s first residential sale, we both learned a lot! Thank you, Steve, and the BHGRE Gaetano Marra Homes team, for making an emotional transaction go so smoothly.
Susan Waters
The first time I met Stephen Vavrek was when he showed up on my doorstep. He was running for First Selectman, the highest elected office in Monroe, Connecticut. He was campaigning door-to-door, and as thoughtful candidates often do, he got out to meet constituents. He did more then outline his quote unquote vision for our town. He listened to the electorate, and what concerns, varied as they might be, voters had. Stephen was a great first selectman because he treated everyone with thoughtfulness, respect and caring. He served in office during some difficult times that included Hurricane Irene, Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy (in which parts of Monroe were without power for several weeks) and during the Sandy Hook Massacre, which touched many residents in our community directly. Stephen was and is adept at working well in a bipartisan manner with people — and not just in good times, but in incredibly difficult times too. The example (one of many that comes to mind) is how fast he marshaled the Monroe town council, the Monroe Board of Finance to free up a shuttered school building so that Newtown’s Sandy Hook survivors could resume their education without having to return to the scene of some much pain and bloodshed. He oversaw the move — and recreation of those classrooms — with every desk and chair and accoutrement put in the same place (albeit in a new building) over the town live from Newtown. Obviously, that move took organizational skills and collaboration with many others. Stephen did not seek out any personal attention or thanks for this effort. Yet it was amazing to watch him get so many diverse interests together for this. During Stephen’s tenure as first selectman, he also oversaw the town’s efforts to get paramedic service (in addition to its volunteer ambulance corps), and the creation of the first STEM middle school in Connecticut. Stephen would be a credit to any business that manages a large pool of employees and seeks a forward thinking and creative hands-on executive. As a constituent who sometimes brought community and social service concerns to him, I can say, I may not have always gotten what I wanted, but I certainly felt that here was a CEO who listened, asked meaningful questions and acted in the best interest of the entire community.
George Ferguson
Member Legislative Council
Town of Newtown
President
Ferguson Development Group
As a resident of a neighboring town, who watched as Monroe floundered and lost business as well as the confidence of its residents, I have seen first hand the difference made by First Selectman Vavrek.
a resident of a neighboring town, who watched as Monroe floundered and lost business as well as the confidence of its residents, I have seen first hand the difference made by First Selectman Vavrek. We have worked together on several different projects and you can’t help but like him and more importantly trust him from the beginning. He is a straight talking, strong, tireless leader that only wants the best for his town and the people he represents. He is not afraid to take the road less traveled, because he knows that the payoff could be exactly what his town needs. He is not afraid to take on the unpopular subjects, because he knows ignoring them will not make them go away; and he is willing to work with any town leader, within his own town or in surrounding towns, to help solidify the foundation of Monroe, because that is his job. He has no hidden agendas, he has no ego; what he does have is pride, strength and a duty that he never forgets. The taxpayers of Monroe are lucky to have him. I feel lucky to know him.
Cindy Penkoff
I have known Steve Vavrek since we were both young adults. There are few finer human beings that I have ever come in contact with. I admire his unmatched integrity, his dedication to public service and his uncompromising belief that in the end things will always come out positive. Many people talk that way, Steve lives it.
Mitch Beck
