Peak Performance: Agent and Athlete Allison Cameron Parry Plays to Win on Martha’s Vineyard

By Grace Cassidy From “being a team player” to getting a deal “over the goal line,” there’s no scarcity of sports metaphors in the business world. For Allison Cameron Parry , the similarities between athletic performance and real estate sales are more than metaphorical. A lifelong elite athlete who swam for Bentley University before going on to become a personal trainer, Zhineng Qigong teacher and competitive natural bodybuilder, the Douglas Elliman agent and member of the Boston-based Gendreau Group approaches real estate with the same intensity and dedication. “I desire to perform my best, achieve my client’s goal, always improve and close the deal,” she said. “Shifting my focus to real estate was a natural choice for me, as I love helping people reach their goals. And like sports, the rush of real estate is a bit addictive.” Originally from Middleboro, Massachusetts, Cameron Parry got her start in real estate in 2008 on Martha’s Vineyard, where she lives full-time. After joining Douglas Elliman in 2020 as part of the brokerage’s expansion from Boston to Cape Cod and the islands, she went on to win the Rookie of the Year award in 2022. “I always wanted to work for Elliman, even before they were here,” she said. “I appreciated the brand recognition, reach and technology that Douglas Elliman prides itself on.” Since moving to Martha’s Vineyard in the summer of 2002 and becoming a full-time resident in 2008, Cameron Parry has immersed herself in the local community. “By studying the history, walking the trails, knowing the neighbors, volunteering on multiple town committees,” she said, “I have an intimate knowledge of the community fervors, movements and foreseeable implications.” As the spring market on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket beginning to show signs of activity, with people getting ready to move into seasonal properties, she expects to see the median listing price continue to rise, along with demand for move-in-ready homes. Given the many professional athletes and celebrities who are drawn to the “country club lifestyle,” Cameron Parry said that sports have provided a natural avenue for cultivating them as clients. “I lean on my athletic and pro-bodybuilder background, which opens the door to connecting with athletes and celebrities,” she said. But the real benefits of her athletic career, she said, are the character traits that have enabled her success in real estate: “I’ve learned perseverance, mental fortitude, and taking on endeavors that you can only conceptualize as a dream.”