Michele, a New Jersey native, made her way to California during her enlistment in the United States Marine Corps, where she served as a C-130 aircraft mechanic at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. Post-enlistment, Michele pursued her education at Chapman University in Orange, CA, self-funding her academic journey.
Choosing not to reenlist, Michele transitioned into the real estate market. After obtaining her license, she quickly became a top producer at a local office and went on to earn her broker's license. Michele then ventured into real estate investment, owning over 100 units of apartments in Long Beach.
While actively managing her property portfolio, Michele had a broader vision - to guide and mentor other agents in building sustainable careers and wealth in real estate. This vision prompted her to open her Star Estates brokerage to hiring agents. Starting with 2 agents, the brokerage flourished to 130 agents with offices in Mission Viejo, San Clemente, Dana Point, and Aliso Viejo. In 2015, Star Estates was recognized as one of Orange County's Top Woman Owned businesses by The Orange County Business Journal.
After the merger of Star Estates with First Team Real Estate, Michele assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer. Her journey reached a significant milestone in October 2023 when she was promoted to Chief Executive Officer, steering First Team into the future.
Beyond her leadership role at First Team, Michele actively contributes to various real estate industry organizations. She serves as a Federal Political Coordinator for the National Association of REALTORS®, a director for the California Association of REALTORS®, and the Orange County Association of REALTORS®. Michele has also served as a past president for the Women's Council of REALTORS® South Orange County chapter. Recognized for her advocacy on small business issues and private property rights, Michele recently authored her first book, "From Zero to Hero, Achieve Your Dreams Through the Power of Self-discipline."
A U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and seasoned real estate professional, Harrington oversees FirstTeam®’s agent-first philosophy and is the principal custodian for FirstTeam®’s reputation as a market-leading brokerage firm. As the first female CEO in the company’s history, Harrington is dedicated to building high-performing teams and investing in the growth and success of over 1,800 agents who are the driving force behind FirstTeam®’s continued excellence.
With a focused and determined mindset, Harrington leverages her real estate prowess and military experience to steer FirstTeam® into the future. An esteemed author and speaker, Harrington has released her highly anticipated second book, Get Off Your Ass: Use Self Discipline to Have Everything You Want. This powerful guide offers readers strategic insights into mastering self-discipline and harnessing it to achieve their most ambitious goals.
