About Jill Hensel
Born and raised in Bay Village, Jill has great love for the home market in her local community. As Bay Village’s number one agent in units sold, she applies her vast expertise to deliver outstanding service to clients.
Jill is able to leverage valuable resources and tap into a strong network as part of the J. Hensel Homes and Howard Hanna team to help sellers and buyers alike reach success.
After graduating from Bowling Green State University, she spent time in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles before coming home to Cleveland. She now lives in Bay Village with her husband and two sons.
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How do you define home? Being with my boys and husband always feels like home to me.
What’s the best part of your job? The people! I love collaborating with my team and building relationships with our clients.
What do you love most about living in Cleveland? After graduating college, I lived in Chicago and Newport Beach before moving back to Bay Village. While I loved living in a big city and enjoyed the year-round sunshine in California, it only made me appreciate living near family and having four distinct seasons even more! I've loved being back in Cleveland!
What’s your favorite place in Cleveland? It’s exciting to see the dining scene takeoff here. Zhug and Ginko are two of my favorite spots.
What’s your favorite place on the west side? In Bay, I love grabbing coffee at Mojo’s Café and walking with my boys at Huntington Beach. And The Print Shop is a hidden gem with a beautiful curation of home décor.
“I love my job and this community. It’s an honor to support clients through such a pivotal time in their lives and be a partner they can depend on throughout their real estate journey.” —Jill Hensel
About Cate Pfaff
As a Cleveland native and long-time resident of Bay Village, Cate is passionate about local real estate. Her broad experience and deep market knowledge ensures clients receive the highest standard of service and representation.
Partnering with J. Hensel Homes and Howard Hanna allows Cate to maximize exposure for sellers. Likewise, she taps into her and the team’s strong network and strategic expertise to help buyers find and secure the home of their dreams.
Cate studied at The Ohio State University and she lived in Chicago before returning home to Cleveland. She now lives in Bay Village with her husband and two sons.
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How do you define home? Home is wherever my boys are!
What’s the best part of your job? Working with my clients. It’s a joy to help them succeed and reach the milestone of finding their perfect home or selling it for the best offer possible.
What do you love most about living in Cleveland? The people—everyone is down to earth and has so much pride in the city.
What’s your favorite place in Cleveland? Clifton Beach is where I’ve made some of my best memories. I also love Severance Hall and the art museum is world-class.
What’s your favorite place on the west side? I love the cocktails at Thyme Table in Bay. Lovely and Babycakes in Rocky River are my go-to spots for thoughtful gifts and adorable kids clothes.
“Whether hiring a contractor, rearranging furniture or being available at a moment’s notice, I always strive to exceed clients’ expectations. It’s an honor to work hard on their behalf and create lasting, meaningful relationships.” —Cate Pfaff
About Lisa Ropelewski
Lisa is a passionate realtor whose client-focused approach and love for Cleveland allow her to make home buying and selling a rewarding and seamless process for every client.
With nearly five years of real estate experience, Lisa has established herself as a trusted expert in her hometown of Bay Village and the greater west side market.
Prior to real estate, Lisa worked in early childhood education where she cultivated her strengths in active listening and empathy. Leveraging these invaluable qualities, she delivers unparalleled support to clients, ensuring their needs are met with exceptional care and understanding.
A proud alumna of Ohio University, Lisa now resides in Bay Village with her husband, children and beloved dog.
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How do you define home? Home is wherever my husband, kids and dog are! In the summer, that usually means a baseball field, as both my sons play and the whole family loves to cheer them on.
What’s the best part of your job? I love connecting with people and helping them feel comfortable in taking the big leap of buying or selling their home.
What do you love most about living in Cleveland? I’m a big fan of all the Cleveland sports teams. If we’re not at the game, we love to have watch parties with our neighbors!
What’s your favorite place in Cleveland? I love exploring new neighborhoods and coffee shops around the city.
What’s your favorite place on the west side? Bay Village has so much to offer! I love biking to the lake, dining at local spots, like Thyme Table, and walking my dog down the street knowing I’ll see friendly faces along the way. Best of all, everything is so accessible—my kids bike to school, friends’ homes and even the ice cream shop!
“I thrive on understanding my clients’ aspirations and guiding them through the journey of finding a house that will be their dream home.” —Lisa Ropelewski
About Nick Durkalski
With nearly 15 years of sales experience, Nick is a valuable addition to the J. Hensel Homes Team.
Nick’s enduring enthusiasm for real estate and personal experience in home buying and selling in Cleveland compelled him to pursue a license in real estate.
Prior to obtaining his license, Nick honed his skills in sales and business development. Nick’s diverse background and unique perspective enable him to effortlessly guide clients through the home buying and selling process. Clients can rest assured that Nick will work diligently to secure the best possible outcome for their homes.
Nick is an alumnus of Miami University of Ohio. After graduating, he launched his career in Cleveland, initially residing in Tremont. For the past 13 years, he has proudly made Bay Village his home, where he continues to live with his family.
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How do you define home? It’s the place where I can create memories and nurture relationships with loved ones. From Tremont to Bay Village, Cleveland has been that place for me for nearly two decades!
What’s the best part of your job? The people—getting to know my clients and learning from my colleagues has been rewarding.
What do you love most about living in Cleveland? There’s nothing better than living by the lake and the summers here are unmatched.
What’s your favorite place in Cleveland? I love checking out new restaurants—jaja and Cordelia are my favorite spots right now.
What’s your favorite place on the west side? My favorite thing to do close to home is grabbing a pie from Chatty’s and taking it to eat at Huntington Beach while looking out at the lake—a perfect night!
“I’m excited to share my passion for real estate with clients and provide them with an exceptional experience and results that they can proudly celebrate.” —Nick Durkalski
Alex Kusak
Sales Coordinator
