A Topekan by fate, a familiar face in the city’s business community, a busy volunteer, wife, and mother…and now, a licensed realtor with Coldwell Banker American Home all describe Olga Avila Smith. Olga arrived in Topeka in 1972, attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Elementary School, Hayden Highschool and graduated from the University of Kansas with a chemistry degree in 1991. Along the way, Olga and h
er parents opened Pepe & Chela’s Mexican Restaurant, a favorite dining spot in downtown Topeka, and helped operate the successful restaurant for 28 years. Olga and her husband, Shawn, have been married since 1992 and are the proud parents of two sons, Nicholas and Nathan. In addition to working, running a busy household, and keeping up with family activities, Olga has volunteered for Our Lady of Guadalupe, Christ The King School and Church, Hayden Highschool, the American Red Cross, CASA, meals on wheels and El Centro. She also has shared her time and talent with several organizations by serving on their board, Community Bank, Kansas Historical Foundation, and Stormont-Vail Foundation to name a few. When Pepe & Chela’s Mexican Restaurant was sold in 2014, Olga was looking forward to retirement, but soon found out that with her Sons away at college she felt like she was missing a purpose in her daily life. She missed seeing her customers and keeping busy volunteering. The answer came to her when her parents asked for her help to sell some of their rentals. With the encouragement and guidance of her cousin, Rene Tinajero, at Coldwell Banker American Home, Olga obtained her license and was on her way in the real estate field. Her first sale came fast, when a friend asked her to list his house, it sold in 23 hours! Her success has continued from there. Olga loves this new opportunity to help old friends, assist new friends and do what she does best – TALK and help others find their dream home in Topeka or Lawrence.
