Real Estate Agents

Athena is delighted to announce that Tanner Tafaro has joined the brokerage.

A New Orleans native, Tanner attended Archbishop Rummel High School and Tulane University, graduating with a degree in strategic business consulting and real estate development. Tanner has gone on to become the General Manager of his family’s construction company, in addition to acquiring and overseeing multiple rental properties across Louisiana.

Tanner was attracted to Athena because of the balance it strikes between maintaining a close-knit group of agents who work well together and offering them the resources and tools normally available only through larger brokerages.   “In fact,” said Tanner, “Athena’s approach is more refined than some of the large brokerages.  From the software it custom developed to its suite of forms drafted by Louisiana lawyers, the company really goes above and beyond to support its agents.”

Tanner is excited about the opportunity to use his skills and extensive network to promote the culture and success of Athena—while serving Tanner’s clients.  We’re proud to have him in our corner.

Joshua Hartdegen’s real estate roots run deep. From the time he was just a boy, helping his father with renovations, Joshua has been surrounded by everything real-estate-related. Learning from a family of contractors and carpenters, Joshua took his passion for home projects to the next level a few years ago when he rehabbed a dilapidated 1920s home. His licensure as a real estate agent is the natural next step in his burgeoning real estate career.

Joshua graduated Jesuit High School and LSU, with a major in psychology and a minor in history and sociology. He is an avid reader and has a long history of service to the communities where he has lived, including his continued volunteer work for the Louisiana SPCA and the Take Paws animal shelter. Joshua lives in Old Jefferson with his dog, Royal, an 8-year-old husky he rescued.

Joshua joined Athena because, in his own words, “they are very down to earth, very supportive, and feverishly focused on quality representation for their clients.”

Anyone buying or selling a home in New Orleans would be lucky to have Joshua Hartdegen in their corner. We are grateful he chose to join Athena.

Athena is delighted to welcome veteran agent Nicole Schlaudecker to our team!

From her grammar school days when she sold homemade jewelry, Nicole Schlaudecker has always had a gift for sales. Since 2013, she has applies those skills as a real estate professional, helping families buy and sell homes in Metairie, Kenner, and New Orleans.

Nicole regularly works with contractors on renovation and new-construction projects.  And she isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves to do what it takes to help her clients, even assisting with renovation projects.  Nicole’s clients benefit from her expertise in guiding them on sound repair and renovation decisions that yield the highest return on investment.

Born in Gretna and raised in Lakeview, Nicole attended Cabrini High School. She lives in Lakeview with her husband and their 9-year-old son. She also has a daughter who recently graduated from LSU with a finance degree and is now a loan officer.

Nicole volunteers for a local rescue shelter, and she regularly fosters dogs.  It’s not unusual to see 1-2 puppies in her home, sharing the couch with Prim, her black and grey Catahoula/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix.  Nicole is also deeply involved with her son’s school, St. Louis King of France.

Whether you’re interested in buying or selling a property, give Nicole a call. She’s as loyal as they come and can offer you a wealth of experience.

Marcel was a seasoned real estate investor long before he became a Realtor. He has bought homes, built houses on spec, and even renovated a few historical buildings. He knows the costs involved in renovations and flips, and he draws upon this knowledge to help his clients grasp what they’re getting into.

A native of New Orleans, Marcel was born in Gentilly and moved to Metairie when he was 14. He attended Brother Martin High School and went on to earn a degree in Petroleum Engineering from LSU.

In 2016 Marcel developed an interest in Real Estate. He has acquired properties in many ways, from Sheriff auction and tax sales to adjudicated properties. Given his growing activity in real estate, it made sense to get his real estate license.

Marcel understands the value of a property from a construction perspective, and he’s well versed in the permit process. His hands-on approach is a good fit for Athena’s boutique business model.

Today he lives in Lakeview with his wife, three children, and their dog Louie, a rescue spaniel/border collie mix.

A lifelong Saints fan and a family man at heart, Marcel enjoys cooking, barbecues, and playing soccer and baseball with his kids. Marcel Tullier is proud of his New Orleans heritage, and eager to help you get the most out of this great city.

With an eye for potential and a gift for math, Michelle knows how to spot value for her clients. Her father, a long-time investor in local real estate, taught her how to think beyond the short-term. She is passionate about helping every client gain long-term wins from the sale or purchase of their property.

“I’m not thinking about tomorrow,” she says, “I’m thinking about years to come.”

Michelle Centanni was born and raised in Kenner. She attended Archbishop Chapelle, where she held leadership positions and discovered her interest in education. These activities created a vibrant social life, and to this day she continues to make her relationships a cherished priority.

She majored in Elementary Education at LSU, and she continues to stay involved with her Kappa Delta sorority sisters.

Throughout her twenties, Michelle worked for American All-Star where she was a dance coach, choreographer, and role model for young dancers. She always sought to instill leadership, teamwork, and a positive mental attitude in her trainees. These values continue to guide her work as a REALTOR®.

Michelle eventually became a teacher and a math tutor at St. Dominic in Lakeview, where she built strong relationships with the students and their families. As many of her friends are first-time home buyers, she came to realize that she could better serve her community as a REALTOR®.

The high value she places on community led Michelle to join the Athena team.

“I chose Athena,” she says, “because they understand that less is more. It’s a very close-knit group. Instead of signing as many agents as possible, they focus on quality over quantity.”

Michelle is a newlywed who lives right on the border of Kenner and Metairie with her husband, a golden retriever named Luna, and a rescue cat named Roux. Today, she continues to draw upon her teaching experience to network and build relationships. She helps her clients make big choices that will benefit them over the long term.

Alaine Wehlen is a natural-born educator. The skills she’s gained in eight years of teaching have carried over to her real estate career, where she acts as a trusted guide and wealth of information for a small group of loyal clients.

Buying or selling real estate is rarely a simple process, but Alaine stands by her clients, providing critical guidance and working behind the scenes to ensure success. Because she only works with a few clients at a time, she can provide a much more thoughtful, personalized experience.

Alaine is passionate about the many neighborhoods of New Orleans and well educated on their differences. She’s also a staging expert, with a keen eye for the subtle changes that make a big difference to potential buyers. She enjoys the process of working with a seller to make their home show as well as possible and ultimately sell for a high price.

Alaine was raised in New Orleans and attended LSU. She is a teacher at St. Dominic, where her three daughters also attend. She’s been married to her husband, Nick, for 15 years, and in the spring of 2020, they added a new member to their family — a rescue dog named Trooper.

Corynne started her real estate career working for a local title company and quickly learned about the industry as she began meeting agents. She soon realized her passion was on the other side of the table–representing families buying and selling their homes.  With a strong background in marketing and relevant experience in the industry, Corynne has all it takes to be a top real estate agent in the Greater New Orleans area.

An LSU graduate and North Shore native, Corynne has ten years of experience in the South Shore, both professionally and as a homeowner. She enjoys taking her kids to City Park for beignets. She loves outdoor festivals, live music, and almost any outdoor activity New Orleans has to offer.

Corynne chose to work with Athena because she felt there was a good fit. “When I worked in the title world, I was exposed to a lot of different brokerages and I could see where I felt I fit the most. A lot of my clientele are in Lakeview and Metairie, and that’s where Athena thrives. I also knew a lot of the agents, so I had a community already. I feel like Athena really is a family more than a brokerage.”

Although Corynne has made the South Shore her home, she hasn’t forgotten her North Shore roots, and this means she can offer her clients the best of both worlds.

“I’m able to speak to the North Shore side because I’m very familiar with the neighborhoods and the schools over there. If a client wants to buy on the North Shore, I can quickly give them intel and find exactly what they need but can speak to the South Shore side as well.”

We are pleased to announce that Stacie Carubba has been named an Athena 2020 Top Producer!

Stacie grew up in Metairie and attended Mt. Carmel Academy then Louisiana State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science with a minor in Business Administration. Having garnered an admirable reputation as a realtor with Athena Real Estate since 2015, Stacie has remained a top producing agent in the city year after year.

With the support of her brokerage and her colleagues, coupled with her unstoppable “Results, not Excuses” motto, Stacie has risen to the status of mega-agent. She consistently closes multi-millions each year and has topped $10 million in sales volume for the past two years.

In a whirlwind finale to 2020, when Stacie was married, she also achieved her associate broker status in December.  She has since been made a partner of Athena, where her talents, ambition, and spirit will always be cherished.

Congratulations to Katie O’Leary, one of our four Top Producers for 2020!

Katie helps her clients buy and sell in the greater New Orleans area.  As an attorney, Katie offers her clients an informed understanding of the finer points of homeownership. And as a ballet instructor, she has an eye for elegance.

Athena is proud of all our New Orleans realtors, and Katie O’Leary is one of the best in the business.

Congratulations to Claudine Christiansen on being one of our four Top Producers for 2020!

An intrepid New Orleans Realtor, Claudine fights to get her clients into the right house. She is especially enthusiastic about young couples and first-time buyers.

“I try to get my clients into a home that feels like a home, not just a house,” Claudine says, and she aligns her work with the hashtag #LoveWhereYouLive.  Claudine Christiansen was born and grew up in Lakeview. She is fond of selling Lakeview homes to newlyweds and couples who are ready to expand their families.

Claudine attributes her success this year to the patience and support she has received from her family, friends, and colleagues. She considers Athena Real Estate to be a part of this network.  “It’s nice when you’re working for a brokerage that’s so supportive.”

Whether dealing in Lakeview homes or any New Orleans real estate, Claudine plans to build on her momentum in 2021. “I really care about my clients. I want to build more connections.”