Carol Pooley and Kristi Stevens' paths began in the same place long before they ever crossed.
Both born and raised in Gainesville, Florida, they left their hometown to build careers and lives that would eventually bring them, by very different routes, to Tampa Bay and to each other.
After graduating from the University of Florida, Carol moved to Tampa, beginning a career that would span advertising, marketing, sales and, ultimately, real estate. Aside from a brief chapter in New Jersey, Tampa Bay has been home ever since. Over two decades in real estate have given Carol an intimate understanding of the market, an incredible network, and a reputation built on relationships, instinct and results.
Kristi's path took her first into critical care nursing, where she learned to remain calm in high-stakes moments, advocate fiercely and guide people through some of life's most consequential decisions. A move to Washington, D.C. eventually led her to real estate and Sotheby's International Realty before she returned home to Florida, settling in St. Petersburg and bringing her experience to the Tampa Bay market.
Their paths finally converged at Premier Sotheby's International Realty.
What began as a shared appreciation for mid-century modern architecture and Florida history, quickly revealed something bigger: a similar way of looking at homes, at people and at the business of real estate. They both believed luxury could be highly sophisticated without feeling overly serious at any price point, that exceptional service should still feel personal, and that the best homes are rarely the ones that look like everything else.
Together, Carol and Kristi bring 25 years of combined real estate experience, a history of consistent multimillion-dollar production, and recognition as members of Sotheby's prestigious Club 1744. But their strengths extend well beyond what they have accomplished individually.
Carol brings deep Tampa roots, decades of market knowledge and an instinct for people and property honed over years in sales, marketing and real estate. Kristi brings a fresh editorial perspective, a passion for architecture and design, and the composure and advocacy shaped by her first career in critical care. Together, they offer the perspective of two generations, two distinct personalities and one shared standard for how real estate should be done.
This philosophy became Pooley Stevens Collection: a real estate partnership built around exceptional homes, thoughtful representation and the belief that where and how you live should be anything but ordinary.
Rooted in Tampa Bay. Backed by the global reach of Sotheby's International Realty. And always delivered with a little personality.
Pooley Stevens Collection. Luxury with a twist.