The three professionals who lead Wise Moves each bring a distinctive set of skills to their clients. Together, it’s an unbeatable combination to serve the diverse needs of homeowners and their families in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Managing Director Erin Martinko came to Wise Moves in 2011 with more than 20 years’ experience in the senior housing industry, beginning as a social worker and moving on to marketing and sales positions.

“In my role as the sales director at a large senior living center in Maryland, I knew that when a resident’s new home was set up quickly, they adjusted quickly.” Erin said.

Having a professional senior move manager to facilitate the work made a big difference in the transition.

“It also helped families navigate some of the dynamics surrounding the role reversal that takes place sometimes — when the child is helping the parent with the move, instead of the other way around,” Erin said. “To have an objective, neutral professional leading the client through the process of downsizing and transitioning usually serves the family pretty well because it defuses what can be an extremely stressful situation.”

It’s also invaluable support when that family doesn’t live in the area, she said.

And when clients hired Wise Moves Managing Partner Tracy Niro for the job, it was especially rewarding — and intriguing: Not only did she and Tracy immediately hit if off, but it became clear that the move from senior housing to senior move management was the next logical step in her career, Erin found.

“I really wanted to do something creative. I wanted to have an impact using my experience that I had gained over the years and my insights and knowledge about the issues and dynamics that go on in a transition,” she said.

Erin joined Wise Moves in 2011 — and is delighted to use her skills to make an important difference in her clients’ lives. “When we have a client who is very doubtful or really unsure about how they are going to feel about this kind of transition, they may feel as if they are giving up their independence when they leave their home,” she said.

“Through Wise Moves, when we can create a new environment and a new home for them, it’s very gratifying. They walk in, and it’s like an HGTV moment: You can see their fear falling away. You can almost hear them think, ‘This is going to be okay, this feels like home.’ We take that fear and stress away from them.”