Juli Zook is a pillar in the Silver Valley community. Whether it's serving on any committee, board, or other organization that needs volunteers, or organizing a fundraiser for unhoused cats – she can almost always be found lending a helping hand and doing it with a smile on her face. 

A multi-time past president with the Silver Valley Chamber, she was also part of the original volunteer and organizing committee that started the annual SilverHoops 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. 

Zook's one-of-a-kind legacy spans multiple eras in Silver Valley history, and even today, at 75 years young, she continues to write new chapters.  

Currently, you'll find Zook as one of the faces of the valley's real estate world, where she works as a realtor for Silver Legacy Realty in Kellogg. Before that, she was an ace at slinging cars for Dave Smith Motors.  

We can go back even further to when she started her family and kept them here during one of the Silver Valley's darkest times, or when she was named Mullan High School's Junior Miss in 1969. Zook has cemented herself as a Silver Valley icon. 

How did you end up changing careers and trying your hand at real estate?  

ZOOK: After 35 years in sales, it was a natural progression. I'm well known in the area and have always loved interior design. Interior design in the Silver Valley wasn't exactly an option, so I thought, I could help people envision what their homes could look like on the inside after they bought it.  I'm also naturally inquisitive (Zook's nice way of saying she's nosy) and I like to know people when they move into our community.  

Why have you made it your mission to promote the Silver Valley?  

ZOOK: I was born and raised here. I love it here. We have the best lifestyle and friendliest people of anywhere I've ever been. These are people who have stuck together through good times and bad and have really worked to create a safe, healthy, and thriving community.  

Being involved is the key to that. It doesn't matter if it's time, money, or work – be generous with those things and good things will come back to you. The more generous and together we are, the stronger we are.  

What came first, your love of the Silver Valley – or – helping people in the Silver Valley? 

ZOOK: Oh, definitely helping people in the Silver Valley. Things got really dark after the Bunker shut down in the 80s. People were depressed, businesses folded, and families were literally fleeing the area – it was just such a crazy negative time. It was hard to love this place and we thought we would never rebound, but, after decades of hard work, we are back in a big way and moving back toward that thriving level we were at before.  

I would be remiss if I didn't highlight and credit those other folks, especially in the business world, who didn't leave when all that happened. The Silver Valley of today owes a lot to them because of their dedication.  

When it comes to real estate, what's your favorite part of the job?  

ZOOK: I just love meeting new people and introducing them to our community. When I take new people into the community, I usually start at Lookout Pass and then drive through each town and give them as many facts as I can. Mining, EPA work, tourism - I can tailor my tours to any person's interest.  

I also love helping people in a big moment of their life. Communication has always been a big part of my skill set, so I enjoy helping people through one of the more complex purchases they'll ever make.  

Where do you see the Silver Valley in 10 years?  

ZOOK: Bigger and better than ever. We're seeing things, especially mining, returning to the Silver Valley. This is only going to help us continue to grow and offer more opportunities for families looking for a fresh start in a wonderful community. I think our two greatest assets are I-90 and the surrounding natural resources. We offer people the ability to pop in and out with ease, and we continue to find new ways to get them outside. Whether it's skiing, biking, camping or floating the river, people are seeking us out, and I think we're getting bigger and stronger because of it. I just hope I'm here to see it.