North Alabama has become a hotspot of change and growth over the past year, attracting new homebuyers with its economic opportunity, quality education and beautiful scenery. This growth has homebuyers relying on knowledgeable, local REALTORS® to help them make informed decisions.

Bernie Tomkies' passion for people and dedication to the North Alabama community make him the best representative of North Alabama Realtors. The Huntsville realtor is known for his work with local organizations related to the Alabama Special Olympics and the Miracle League, but he also celebrates the people who do the work every day.

“Sometimes, families don't even know these programs exist,” she explains, “so it's just about us being able to go that extra mile and help them grow their programs. One good deed really begets another. It's not me, it's people like (Next Step Farms founder and CEO) Robin Kramer and the coaches who go out there every day and create these programs for the kids, and I'm blessed to be a part of it.”

Originally from Texas, Tomkies moved to Huntsville from the Houston suburb of Clear Lake about six years ago to get her real estate license and start a new career. A few years after moving, she fell in love with the Rocket City and eventually joined Engel & Völkers as a real estate advisor.

Her move came at a time when she was approaching a new phase in her life: She had recently sent her children off to college and was wondering what life in Huntsville would be like. “You wake up one day and you think, 'Now, what do I do?'” she said.

Her job in community relations at Engel & Völkers answered that question. She found herself immersed in a challenging job working on community projects with children with disabilities. After working for Tonya Thomas for a while, she also held the title of “Vice President of Community Relations” at Engel & Völkers.

“Huntsville is a big city in Alabama, but coming from Houston it feels so much smaller,” she says. “There are so many people to get to know. Thomas is very community-minded and has been in real estate for years. Engel & Völkers is a big supporter of the Special Olympics, so I asked them at the beginning, 'Can you be our liaison?' That helped me get to know a lot of other nonprofits.”

Earlier this year, Tomkeys was named the 2023 Mickey Phillips Realtors for Children Award recipient. The award was created to recognize the efforts of members who dedicate their time and resources to selflessly invest in children through projects and programs focused on the needs of children.

“It was an honor just to be nominated,” Tomkies said, “and an honor to win. I thought it was a very thoughtful thing to nominate me.”

Her passion for the community is always present in her work as she strives to give back to the community. Making these connections is like putting the pieces of a puzzle together, and it's essential for a community to thrive. “It's about finding all the different people who are dedicated to community work every day and connecting them,” she says.