Ascent Real Estate, Lee Mather Co. merger is grounded in a shared spirit of hospitality
Just in time for summer, Coronado’s oldest real estate firm, Lee Mather Company Realtors, Inc., has merged with Ascent Real Estate, becoming the eighth office of Ascent Real Estate, serving home buyers and sellers throughout San Diego and beyond.
The merger was announced jointly on June 17 by Debbie Riddle, president and managing broker at Lee Mather, and Penny Nathan, president and CEO of Ascent Real Estate. A celebration party at Candela’s followed that evening, allowing agents from all Ascent offices to “meet, mix and mingle.”
The iconic Lee Mather office, which has long operated from 944 Orange Ave., was founded by Lee Mather, a World War II veteran, in 1953. Mather passed away on March 20 this year, just three weeks shy of his 97th birthday.
Nathan noted that Lee Mather Co. has long been known for its culture of friendly, outgoing service, as noted by its pineapple logo, an international symbol of hospitality, which meshes well with Ascent’s motto of “Going Above and Beyond.”
Several months ago, Nathan had turned to Riddle to help her locate space in Coronado for an Ascent office; other offices are in Bankers Hill, North Park, Kensington, Mission Hills, Point Loma, Downtown San Diego and La Jolla. “We were finding little availability,” Nathan said, “And then I broached a question to Debbie: ‘I hope I’m not being presumptuous, but would Lee Mather Company Realtors possibly entertain the idea of a merger?’ Debbie got back to me a few days later and things just fell into place.”
Ascent Real Estate was founded 10 years ago. Nathan, who co-founded the firm with Coronado native Ken Pecus, said she is thrilled and feels very fortunate to welcome the talented Realtors of Lee Mather Co. into the Ascent Real Estate family. “Debbie and I feel that our companies’ similar philosophies of relationship-oriented business will be the basis of an extremely harmonious union, and more importantly, will benefit all the clients we serve.”
Riddle added, “We are ecstatic to be joining forces with Ascent Real Estate, a young company with innovative ideas, a stellar reputation, and a shared spirit of hospitality.”
With the addition of Lee Mather Co.’s Coronado office, Ascent Real Estate’s full-time sales force numbers nearly 200 agents.
