During Women’s History Month, we’re reminded that the story of Rainey Allen Shaw is, at its heart, a story about women building opportunity — for themselves, their clients, and their community.
Long before conversations about women entrepreneurs became common, Lucia Rainey and Susan Shaw Treibly were building a real estate brokerage rooted in independence, professionalism, and relationships.
In a Courier Journal profile (photo above), Rainey described the work of running a brokerage with honesty and pride. “Owning and operating her own real estate company is a satisfying, challenging and profitable profession,” she said. She also understood the reality of the business — that real estate is deeply personal work, shaped by the needs of clients:
“Real estate isn't for everyone. You have to be selfless.”
For Rainey and Treibly, success wasn’t just about transactions. It was about creating a firm where agents could build meaningful careers while serving families across Louisville.
That vision continues today.
Women in Real Estate — Then and Now
Real estate has long offered women a unique path to entrepreneurship and professional independence. Today, women make up roughly 62% of REALTORS® nationwide, making real estate one of the few industries where women represent the majority of the workforce.
But behind that statistic are real stories — agents balancing careers, families, and community commitments while helping clients navigate some of life’s biggest decisions.
At Rainey Allen Shaw, that balance is part of everyday life.
Our agents are parents, volunteers, community leaders, and neighbors — women who manage school schedules, client showings, negotiations, and weekend open houses, often all in the same day.
The flexibility of real estate allows them to build careers while staying present for their families. At the same time, the work demands expertise, dedication, and a deep understanding of the Louisville housing market.
It’s a balance that requires both professionalism and resilience.
A Legacy That Continues
Today, Shaw Solomon, managing broker of Rainey Allen Shaw and daughter of Susan Shaw Treibly, continues the legacy of strong female leadership within the firm. Together with the many talented agents at the brokerage— including Lucia's granddaughter, Susan Maguire— she carries forward the same philosophy that shaped the company from the beginning — that real estate is about relationships, trust, and helping people find a place to call home. During Women’s History Month, we celebrate not just the founders who helped build Rainey Allen Shaw, but the women agents working every day to continue that legacy. Because the story of this brokerage is still being written — one client, one home, and one family at a time.
