THE SPECS: Company: Black Diamond Realty LLC Location: Morgantown, WV Property Type:Office Specialist Year Built with SIOR: 2023

OVERVIEW - Why She’s the Real Deal

Kim Licciardi, SIOR, is a Partner at Black Diamond Realty, a boutique commercial real estate brokerage based in Morgantown, West Virginia, with operations in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and Hagerstown, Maryland. As one of the only SIORs in the state, Kim connects buyers and sellers with a focus on maximizing value and uncovering market potential. When she’s not closing deals, she’s training to climb Mount Everest and spending time with her family.She's more than just an SIOR.

HIGHLIGHTS - Get to Know Kim

SR: What was the first job you ever had?
KL: My first job was as a lifeguard in Northern Virginia, where I grew up. I spent every summer on the lifeguard stand keeping swimmers safe and catching a little sun until I left to attend West Virginia University.

SR: What inspires you?
KL: Being bold and different. Someone once told me, “Kim, you’re different, you don’t live inside a box, and you see the world in color.” I’ve carried those words with me. I approach every challenge with creativity, whether it’s bridging divides to close a tough deal or lending a hand to a fellow trekker climbing difficult terrain.
Through my daily actions, I hope to show my children and those around me that anything is possible and that you can make a difference by pushing boundaries, taking that leap of faith, embracing your adventurous spirit, and leaving no door closed. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal; we only get one chance at this journey.

SR: What are three things you want to achieve in the next 20 years?
KL: Adventurers like me are often called “Awe Hunters,” always chasing the extraordinary. These are the three dreams that stay with me, the ones that fuel my spirit and set my soul on fire:

1. Everest
   In the spring of 2025, I hiked to Everest Base Camp and ice-climbed through the Khumbu Icefall. The experience was breathtaking; each step felt like walking through the pages of National Geographic. I reached roughly 18,500 feet, the highest I’ve ever been (so far), and coined the journey Rebirth by Elevation. The mountain still calls me higher, and my ultimate goal is to summit Mount Everest and become the first woman from West Virginia to stand on its peak. I’d be curious to know if any other SIORs have made the trek; perhaps one day we’ll plant our flag at the top together.
2. Islands
   In college, I was captivated by a book on expats and the process of dual citizenship. Since then, I’ve been drawn to the ocean as an avid scuba diver, I’ve been exploring islands throughout the Caribbean and Central America, searching for the perfect place to call my own. My heart keeps bringing me back to the Bahamas, where I’ve spent countless adventures island-hopping and narrowing my search. With a clear path to citizenship through property ownership, my goal is to purchase a home within the next five years and live there part time.
   So, if I’m not climbing the highest mountain in the world, you’ll likely find me swimming in turquoise waters, diving beneath coral reefs, or stretching out on a white sandy beach, savoring the rhythm of island life; I truly am an “Island Girl.
3. Legacy
   My greatest achievement is the legacy I hope to one day leave for my children. More than anything, I want them to look back one day and feel proud of who their mom was and what I was able to overcome. Life doesn’t always unfold the way we plan. Learning to find beauty in the unknown and even in life’s “unanswered prayers” has carried my family through difficult times.
   We may never fully understand the “why” behind certain challenges, but what defines us is how we rise to meet them. For me, perseverance and an unwaveringly optimistic spirit have been my guiding forces. They’ve not only carried me forward but also shaped the example I set as a role model and cheerleader for my children and for those around me.

SR: What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
KL: I’ve been lucky enough to sail through the Exuma Cays more than once, and each time feels like slipping into a dream. The waters here are impossibly clear, teeming with life in what’s often called a “living aquarium,” protected and untouched. Days blur into nights on a sailboat ~ no cell service, no deadlines, just the rhythm of the tide and the deserted islands on the horizon.
There’s something intoxicating about the simplicity of it all; sun-kissed skin, salt tangled hair, and the quiet freedom of being completely untethered. Out there, nothing but an endless sky and crystal blue waters; you can’t help but feel alive.

SR: What song would we hear if we hooked up your ‘Recently Played’ list on office speakers?
KL: Madonna “Like a Prayer”

SR: How did your passion for real estate start?
KL: I always knew I wanted to work in a business environment. Growing up in the NOVA/DMV area, I was surrounded by a strong professional community. My parents often took me into DC where they worked, and I was fascinated by the city’s architecture and massive buildings. I couldn’t help but wonder who worked inside them and how people could possibly come to own such incredible structures.
It wasn’t until I completed my master’s degree and began my career with BB&T that I discovered my natural affinity for numbers and for structuring creative deals. Developing strategies that allow my clients to achieve economic success is truly invigorating. I take pride in being both an advocate and a cheerleader for my clients and pushing to see every deal through to the finish line.

SR: How do you celebrate after closing a big deal or project?
KL: I usually celebrate with a “reward” trip. I love to travel, so you never know where I’ll pop up next. It’s a perpetual game of “Where in the World is Kim?” and the answer is always somewhere unexpected and unforgettable.

SR: What was the most unexpected challenge you faced while climbing Mount Everest, and how did you overcome it?
KL: The book titled Into Thin Air captures the experience perfectly. At night, when you’re lying in -20°F temperatures, everything around you frozen, and every breath is a struggle, the intensity is overwhelming. High-altitude sickness can set in quickly ~ splitting headaches, nausea and even your breath crystallizes at night, and you wake surrounded by a frozen shell like an igloo.
I slept with water bottles for warmth, but eventually, everything freezes. The cold never lets up, and the air never feels enough, avalanches rumble nearby; a chilling reminder that if one comes your way, there’s no outrunning it.
My personality tends to shine like the sun, I offered others who were struggling a positive attitude, camaraderie, and a relentless spirit when it was needed most. For myself, I just kept pushing forward. The group nicknamed me “Secretariat” for my relentless pace. I had only one goal: keep pushing to the finish line. And in many ways, this was just the beginning of my journey.

SR: What does your training regimen look like as you prepare for Everest, and how do you stay motivated through the most grueling parts of it?
KL: The physical workouts and conditioning aren’t the most demanding part of my training, largely because I work with a specialized high-altitude team. When you’re training with experts, survival depends on following their guidance without question. The real challenge lies in the treks required long before you ever attempt to summit Mount Everest.
Nepal will not grant a permit to climb Everest unless you can prove your experience with extensive documentation including a successful climb of another 7,000-meter peak, which requires supplemental oxygen. For me, the toughest part of preparation is completing all these challenging climbs along the way.
I understand the necessity of the process, but over the next two years I face several of the hardest expeditions of my life before I can finally stand before the giant itself ~ Sagarmāthā, Goddess of the Sky. A dear friend has nicknamed me the “Queen of West Virginia,” but when my journey is complete, I hope to also be known as the Queen of Mount Everest.
Next on the horizon is Mount Kilimanjaro, the “Roof of Africa.” I’m honored to have been invited to join an inaugural trek to its summit and to enjoy the experience with a close friend. The chance to chart new territory and create bold new adventures excites me to my core.

SR: What are you happiest doing when you’re not working??
KL: Spending time with my children is my greatest joy; they are my “why” and true gifts from God, and I am incredibly proud to be their mom. But when I’m not with them, my bag is packed, the wind is in my sails, and I’m off to chase daylight on my next adventure.

SR: What’s a piece of advice that sounded wild at the time, but turned out to be true?
MA: “Never send emails in anger.” It felt so basic, but when you actually follow it, it saves you from so many headaches and regrets.