Cindy Morrison
COVER STORY
PHOTOS BY JJHOMES PHOTOGRAPHY | STORY BY LALEY FREEMAN
Opportunities of a Lifetime
As the saying goes, “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” While many people get caught up in fear and let life pass them by, Cindy Morrison, REALTOR® with Chinowth & Cohen REALTORS®, is a woman who is not afraid to live in the moment. Before getting her license in real estate, it’s as if she had already lived many lifetimes of fulfilling career work, passion projects, prominent recognition, and unexpected opportunities – things that many people only dream of, but never achieve.
A Defining Moment in Time
After obtaining her degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma, her first major career opportunity came in the form of investigative reporting for TV news. This new chapter would go on to shape the next 20 years of her life, becoming a pivotal and defining moment in her life that brought her great success.
As a TV Anchor and Emmy-winning Investigative Reporter, Cindy learned a lot during her time in journalism. She spent eight years working at KOCO in Oklahoma City, and the next 12 years as one of the main anchors at KTUL in Tulsa. As an investigative reporter, there were many times that the job required her to report on local tragedies and witness things that most people couldn’t bear to see. While this reality may have been too much for some, her experiences nurtured deeper and wider compassion for the world around her than ever before.
Ground Zero Emergency Training Center
Founded by legendary coach Barry Switzer and his wife, Becky, Ground Zero Emergency Training Center breeds, raises, and trains search dogs to save lives during man-made and natural disasters.
“This [organization] is so near to my heart because I worked in Oklahoma City television during the Murrah bombing,” Cindy told us. “One vivid memory from reporting at the scene was firefighters hiding in the building at the end of each shift so the search dogs would always find someone alive and would want to go back the next day to search. That philosophy kept me going back to the station day after day; we couldn't lose hope and had to keep showing up to help our viewers deal with such a terrible tragedy.
“Following the bombing, I was shocked to find out the closest search dogs were in Tulsa and Wichita. About six months later, I helped found Oklahoma City’s first search dog group. Todd and I didn’t have kids at the time, so I spent every spare moment training with the team and Mischa, our German Shepherd. I worked with Mischa on many searches until I got my job in Tulsa and we started a family.
“When our precious friends Becky and Barry established this nonprofit after the Moore tornado, I was 100 percent in because I could support the effort of which I was passionate and help protect the people of our state (and beyond)! Oklahoma is in the top three disaster states.”
In addition to serving on the board, Cindy is the co-chair of the upcoming Ground Zero fundraiser, Dinner on the 50. The event will take place on June 18th, 2022, on the 50-yard line of the University of Oklahoma’s football stadium, also known as the Palace on the Prairie. Donors will have cocktails in the Switzer Center and be able to watch the dogs show off their skills with trainers on the football field during dinner.
“The Switzers and the Stoops are our honorary chairs. It's a true experience of a lifetime – all so we can provide trained search dogs to certified handlers for free, and save lives. We’re even working on cancer and COVID sniffing dogs now, too. There is much more to come!”
Becoming a REALTOR® and The Power of Social Media
After a long stint in news television, Cindy spent the next decade running her own marketing firm in both Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Nashville, Tennessee; her firm specialized in social media and online strategy. Through each new endeavor, social media easily became one of Cindy Morrison’s greatest superpowers. As a REALTOR®, she puts this superpower to work each and every day, which has become a major advantage for her business.
“While running my marketing firm, I had the pleasure of working as a social media influencer with Vanity Fair, Entertainment Tonight, and Access Hollywood. I also worked with reality stars and the ever-amazing Priscilla Presley! That was definitely a check on my bucket list,” she told us.
It was about four years ago that Cindy felt a desire to spend more time at home. “One of my dearest friends at the time talked to me about real estate, and then a weekend with some girlfriends confirmed it. My mother was a REALTOR® in Texas, but I hadn’t thought of it for myself before! I got my license and immediately fell in love with helping people,” she recalled. As a REALTOR®, she has been able to merge her “former lives” – camerawork, journalism, her knowledge of Tulsa, and social media savvy – to help her clients find the perfect home.
Cindy’s clients appreciate her social media skillset and often choose to do business with her because of it. Not only does she have around 70,000 followers, she uses social media advertising to be able to show her clients hard numbers and results. ”Virtual open houses have become my signature offering since the pandemic began,” she told us. “I utilized a wide range of online strategies before COVID-19, but clients really began to appreciate it even more during the shutdown. Marketing a home while keeping the family safe is so important.”
Becoming an Author: A Shift in Perspective
Over the years, Cindy’s perspective on success has changed drastically. When she was in television news, her success was measured with awards and ratings. After leaving the industry, she began to realize that her career wasn’t her identity or a true way to measure her personal success in life. This revelation caused her to spend some time getting to know herself and re-prioritizing her life.
“Yes, success to me is still providing for my family, but I now realize that it's so much more than that. It's about having a happy, healthy family and helping others; whether it’s serving clients, mentoring people in our industry, or volunteering to make our world a better place,” she said.
In 2010, she wrote a book about the value of supportive women that launched with a book tour in New York City. “My girlfriends are very important to me, and I am very passionate about the fact that we, as women, are so much stronger together. There is enough space for everyone and there is no need for drama, jealousy, or gossip,” she said passionately.
As it was for many people around the world, 2021 was a big year of reflection for Cindy. “I now feel that I’m crystal clear about the women who I want in my inner circle. I try to surround myself with the best, and my current girlfriends inspire and support each other so much.”
A Life That’s Good
Cindy has been the proud wife to her husband, Todd Morrison, for over 30 years. Together they have two children, Peyton and Marlowe. Peyton majored in Industrial Engineering and is currently finishing up his MBA at the University of Oklahoma, from which he will soon depart to his new job in Dallas, Texas. Their daughter, Marlowe, is currently a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma. After a cancer scare when she was 12 years old, she has been on the path to a profession in medicine. “As a journalism major, I can’t help either of them with their homework!” Cindy laughed. Together the family has a beautiful yellow lab, Paisley, who always finds a way to make them smile, even on the hardest days.
