About the Founders
About Heather Shields
Maine's coastline stretches further than California's, and its seascape is dotted with over 3,000 islands. It's a place unlike any other, and it requires a real estate agent with a deep understanding of its unique charm and challenges. My name is Heather Shields, and while I specialize in Maine's luxury real estate market, my dedication extends to helping clients at every price point. Recognized as one of Maine's top agents for the past two years and ranked in the top 1.5% of agents nationwide, my commitment is a testament to the heartfelt connection I have with the Maine communities that have shaped me.
Born and raised on North Haven—one of Maine's 15 year-round inhabited islands—community and resilience have been my life's cornerstones. My father served as the island’s ferryboat captain for 30 years, instilling in me an innate respect for Maine’s natural wonders and close-knit communities. These early experiences guide my real estate work from Camden to Cape Elizabeth, and Penobscot Bay to Casco Bay.
With 19 years in the real estate sector, my professional success goes beyond the numbers; it’s about fostering enduring relationships. I prioritize clear communication and transparency in all transactions. My commitment to community involvement is underscored by active roles in several esteemed local organizations, including as a board member of the Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute. Most recently, I started the Maine Women's Project, a venture dedicated to highlighting the women of Maine and their significant contributions to our state.
Off the clock, you'll often find me absorbing all that Maine has to offer. Whether it's the ocean's call luring me and my dogs for a walk, the rustic trails of the Littlejohn Island Preserve, or a family beach outing complete with fresh-off-the-boat lobster, I embrace Maine's lifestyle to its fullest.
Whether your real estate aspirations are set on a luxury estate or a charming starter home, you can expect the same level of dedication and local expertise from me. In Maine, real estate is more than a transaction—it’s a way to share and enjoy the lifestyle and values that make this state truly unique.
About Kari Herer
After receiving her BFA from the University of Idaho, Kari spent the summer of 2004 as an intern at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena, Montana. There she met Rebecca Hutchinson, the award-winning sculptor, who invited her to do an artist residency at UMass Dartmouth the following year. Kari spent her residency creating the series “Skin and Bone,” which explored the anatomy of the human body through porcelain and photography.
Kari then went on to become Director of Photography at William Arthur, a high-end stationery company focusing on custom design. Here she was in charge of all product shoots, including the company’s marketing materials for print and web as well as images for several national advertising campaigns across three brands.
The springboard for her career as a full-time photographer came in 2009, when Kari spent seven weeks in Rockport, Maine at the Maine Media Workshops. In the 11 years since then, Kari has traveled the world and worked with some of the largest retail sales groups as a full-time photographer. Her vivid portrayals of botanical specimens have landed her collaborations with Anthropologie, IKEA, Land of Nod, and Restoration Hardware and her photo appeared on iPhone billboards from Monterrey, Mexico to Mumbai and Bangalore in India to New York. She has conducted more than a dozen photography workshops and has been a featured speaker at conferences throughout the world.
More recently she has worked closer to home. In her community of Yarmouth, Maine, and along with two other local women, their guided journal, Take Two: A Journal for New Beginnings, was published by Chronicle Books in 2021, and debuted in the latest issue of Stanford Magazine. Kari has photographed for renowned businesses like Maine Health, nonprofits like The Dempsey Center and The Harold Alfond Foundation, and celebrated local restaurants like Duckfat and Maine Craft Distilling.
“Over my career I’ve photographed my best friend giving birth, NFL players holding babies, a little boy’s surgery, and a doctor turning on his “ears” to hear for the first time. I assisted photographer Sam Abell in Texas on a five-day photoshoot with Cindy Crawford. Cindy was just as beautiful in person as I remember her drinking Pepsi when I was fifteen years old.
I’m proud and grateful for this career and the life I’m able to provide for my children. One thing will always be true: I would never have been given so many opportunities or traveled as far as I have without my camera in hand.” - Kari Herer
A Special Thanks To Our Contributors
Leah Atwood
Leah Atwood is a Maine native with a passion for the arts. Raised in East Millinocket, she pursued a Business Degree with a Communications focus at the New England School of Communications at Husson College in Bangor. After nearly a decade in property management in Washington D.C., Leah returned to Maine and continued her career in property management which eventually transitioned into real estate.
Currently, as the Administrator at Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty in Portland, and a licensed Real Estate Agent, Leah combines her extensive industry knowledge with her love for Maine. Outside of real estate, she is an avid videographer and supporter of the local music and arts scene throughout New England.
Jenny Palmer
Jenny Palmer is the founder and leader of Four Leaf Advocacy, a boutique marketing and communications firm that works with high-performing real estate professionals and special interest organizations nationwide. Prior to launching Four Leaf, she worked in public policy and led communications for one of the largest trade associations in the state of Virginia. Jenny is deeply committed to furthering opportunity for women across every layer of private enterprise and public service. As a working mom, she’s particularly passionate about seeking authentic solutions to the imbalance between access to childcare and career advancement for women.
Jenny is a native and resident of Richmond, Virginia, with an ardent love of travel, true crime documentaries, and table manners. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) with a master’s degree in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University and an abiding belief that a full life is the best education.