By: William Jones

Cathy LeSueur has spent more than four decades helping families buy and sell homes in Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, and the surrounding communities. She works with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, where she has consistently ranked among the company’s top producers.

Cathy is the oldest of five siblings. She grew up in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood during difficult years, raised in what she describes as a broken home with a largely absent mother. She left before finishing high school and later earned her GED. Those early experiences shaped the way she approaches her work today.

“I think leaving home at a young age and being on my own and learning to do things, I learned how to survive,” Cathy said. “Because of the lack of love in my own home and because I had to take care of my brothers and sisters, I have a very nurturing kind of background. I’m all about people.”

Shortly after high school, Cathy joined the local owner of 13 Naturalizer shoe stores in the Cleveland area. She was the office and business manager, handling accounting, inventory, and most buying functions. She quickly became instrumental to the success of the business. The business grew quickly. Unfortunately, the owner soon felt it was time to sell and move on. While initially a setback for Cathy, this led to her getting into real estate and opened up more possibilities for success.

Four Decades of Results

She started her real estate career in 1983 with Dolores C. Knowlton Realtors. That path eventually led her to the Smythe Cramer office in Shaker Heights in 1991, where she has remained ever since. Over the years, she has averaged $25 million a year in sales and has been the top seller in her office 25 times in the past 28 years.

She has received the Ohio Association of Realtors Pinnacle of Performance award for many consecutive years. She was also honored with the Marcus L. Smythe Award, which is given by Howard Hanna agents themselves and recognizes professionalism, integrity, and service. In 2019, the Shaker Historical Society presented Cathy and her husband Jim with the Shaker Heights Visionary Award.

But Cathy does not define her success by awards. “One of my biggest achievements is building a business rooted in trust and referrals,” she said. “A large portion of my clients come from past clients or word of mouth, and that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.”

Cathy is also unique in that she is very generous with training and in offering mentorships. It can be easy to get into real estate, not always so easy to make a good living. We place people on our team, and train them in the processes that have brought us success. Many have gone on to succeed. Cathy has taken considerable pride in this. Angel Krsacock joined the team in 2024. She has a similar philosophy and work ethic to the rest of the team, and has quickly become one of the strongest agents in our office. “She stays on top of details and her follow through is excellent,” said Cathy.

A Family Team

The LeSueur Team is also a family operation. Cathy’s husband Jim joined her in the business full time in 2003 after a career in advertising. Their daughter Kate is also part of the team. Together, they have completed more than 1,900 sales over the course of their careers.

Jim describes the foundation of their work in simple terms. “In my opinion, disrupting the industry can be as simple as being consistently truthful and ethical,” he said. “I believe truth and good ethics have been the basis of our success.”

Guiding People Through Transitions

Much of Cathy’s work as a real estate agent involves helping people through major life transitions. Whether it is a first-time homebuyer, a family moving up, someone downsizing after retirement, or a job relocation, the stakes are real and personal.

“Moving to a new market for a job change can be an overwhelming problem for some families,” Cathy explained. “The move is usually easier for the spouse whose job is the reason for the change. The other spouse may be left at home or left looking for a new job. If there are children involved, they may be facing a difficult challenge as well.”

“My clients always know what’s happening, what to expect next, and where we stand. Communication is key,” Cathy said. “I combine strong negotiation skills with a calm, steady approach so my clients feel confident, not pressured. I’m not here for one deal. I’m here to build long term trust.”

Rooted in Community

The LeSueurs have deep roots in the Shaker Heights community. Cathy and Jim recently celebrated their 46th  wedding anniversary. They moved to Shaker Heights in 1987 with their son Matthew, who started as a real estate agent but is now a music producer. Over the decades, they have volunteered for countless local causes, from coaching youth baseball and soccer to serving on school committees to doing missionary work in El Salvador through their church.

“How can you not do it? We are pretty passionate people,” Jim said. “When we have seen a problem or a need, we just kind of jump in. We are truly grateful for what we have.”

After 43 years in the business, Cathy is still driven by the same things that got her started: helping people, solving problems, and earning trust one client at a time. That is the kind of reputation you cannot manufacture. It can only be earned.