­ anniversary in businessRonkonkoma, NY Marie Zere, president and CEO, Zere Real Estate Services first summer job was in 1958, when Elvis was king, grease was the word, and the sock hop was the way to spend a Friday evening. Zere's job was a clerical job for a company quite a walking distance from her home in Massapequa Park. But she didn't care. She was excited to be part of the grown-up world, and excited to be making her own money. In Massapequa High School, Zere's talents really began to shine. She was a champion typist at over 80 words per minute, and she also excelled at shorthand (a whirlwind of speed, listening, and retaining information). Zere's clerical skills were outstanding for a teenager, and she still uses these skills on a daily basis. She was also highly artistic. When she was thirteen, in junior high school she entered an art contest to design the official seal for Massapequa Park. She won the contest, and the seal she designed is still being used today at town hall, all village vehicles and parks. All of these skills and creativity have enabled Zere to run an office, to build a commercial real estate company, and to construct a distinguished career with unparalleled business acumen. When it comes to long-term knowledge of a property's background, she possesses an encyclopedic comprehension and runs circles around her competitors. Now, celebrating the 35th anniversary of her business, she knows how to structure a deal that is beneficial to all parties involved, and constructive to the beloved Long Island that she serves. And she does it with her unique blend of style, efficiency, and creativity still while "dotting her I's and crossing her T's."