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The City of Kissimmee recognized Linda Goodwin in December for her contributions to the community. PHOTO/CITY OF KISSIMMEE -
Kissimmee Goodwin Realty & Associates celebrated its 50th year in business with a community open house in December. SUBMITTED PHOTOS -
Former Kissimmee City Commissioner and Mayor, and longtime Realtor Linda Goodwin.
While the start of a new year can mean a new start for all of us, when you’ve been around Kissimmee for multiple generations, you can still say it will bring something new.
For Linda Goodwin and Goodwin Realty & Associates, 2024 marks a start — a start of the next 50 years in business.
The City of Kissimmee’s Economic Development Department recognized Goodwin Realty & Associates, founded in 1973, at a December City Commission meeting, and marked the remarkable achievement of serving the community for half a century with an honor that was once called the Ruby Award. The company hosted a community open house that same week, and some 200 well-wishers dropped in over the course of the day.
“It is longstanding businesses like this that add to the character and charm of our city and cause our abundantly diverse community to thrive.” said City of Kissimmee Director of Economic Development Tom Tomerlin. “We are thrilled to honor this business for five decades of success and for their lasting legacy in the City of Kissimmee.”
And, while being a successful local business owner, Goodwin served two terms on the City Commission (1996-2004) and was appointed the interim mayor in 2005, showing her commitment to giving back to a community that has kept Goodwin Realty & Associates thriving —in large part to repeat business.
“Our motto has always been the ‘Golden Rule’ — treat people the way you’d want to be treated,” Goodwin said. “We’ve always believed in giving back and serving the community.”
In all, she’s served on the boards of some two-dozen community organizations, including the early days of the Osceola Chamber. She still sits on its Board of Directors and is one of very few people to have chaired it two separate times. The Linda Goodwin Nichols Service Award is named after her.
“The Chamber has always been my best business partner,” Goodwin said. “What makes my heart happy is that I’ve known everyone whose won that (service) award.”
Over 50 years, Goodwin and her staff, which includes daughters Carolee and Kim, have weathered the ups and downs of the housing market — the firm started in 1973 in the midst of the oil and gas crisis that sent the economy into a tailspin.
“Have I seen everything? Well, if I haven’t then I don’t know about it, do I?” Goodwin answered when asked if she’s ‘seen it all’ in the housing market. “I know people are still looking to come to communities with a small-town feel.
“Never in 50 years have the downtown areas in both Kissimmee and St. Cloud looked so good, and so full of life at night. That’s what you call a small-town feel. Where else can you go out to eat and run into somebody from a pioneer family. You don’t find that somewhere like Orlando. You just can’t beat that.”
Other longtime Kissimmee residents, like City Commission Angela Eady, recognize what her and the company mean to the city.
“Linda is a humble woman of great stature whose heart is as big as her whole body,” Eady said. “Being able to honor her at our meeting was an honor itself and a blessing to be part of.
“To thrive in real estate for five decades in markets that have been all over the place is really surreal.”
Goodwin said she still lives in the same home she moved into in 1972 when arriving in Kissimmee from her native Lakeland. And, while technology and the “e-world” has made the home-buying process easier and faster, Goodwin & Realty and Associates has remained a “boutique office” with just a handful of agents.
“I never wanted to be the biggest, but I wanted to be the best,” she said.
