Marina Karzhova grew up in Russia, outside of Moscow, and was going to college as a full-time student when she applied for a work and travel summer program. 

“I was 22,” Karzhova said. “I moved here about 12 years ago, in 2011. I applied for the visa and came to work in Aspen.”

Karzhova said she fell in love with the country and Colorado and she decided to stay. 

“I love Rifle,” she said. “I love living here, everyone is so friendly, and I feel very comfortable living here.”

Karzhova has always been in sales, she said, in Russia and now in the United States. 

“I got into real estate,” she said. “I applied for my license and here we are. I love to help people find their homes.” 

Karzhova has two children and said she realized it was impossible to keep a full time job while working for someone else, so now she works in the time she has. 

“It’s easier to have a work and life balance with this job,” Karzhova said. 

Karzhova has recently been appointed to the Planning Commission of Rifle, something she’s looking forward to.

“I’ve seen how much Rifle has changed since I moved here,” Karzhova said. “I want to be a part of that change. I feel, as a real estate agent, I can contribute my expertise to it. I also believe I can better serve my clients if I know the rules and regulations surrounding planning.”

The Planning Commission reviews applications for zoning changes, whether residential or subdivisions, among other things.

“I’m excited for my first meeting. It’s on Tuesday,” Karzhova said. 

Outside of being a real estate agent and part of the Planning Commission, Karzhova loves to go camping and hiking in Colorado. 

“We’ve been all over Colorado,” she said, referring to her fiance and children. “We go up to Rifle Gap to see the waterfalls a lot. There’s so many small places in Colorado to go to and I haven’t been able to find them all yet. You don’t have to go internationally to travel.”

They’ve traveled over to Utah recently, down south to Ridgeway, and are planning trips out to Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park. 

“My favorite is to spend time here,” Karzhova said. “I’m excited to see it developed.”