Closeup: Mixing real estate in with theater, yoga and running

Sarah Schaeffer Bernard, 46, actress, marketing professional, product developer and real estate agent.

FAMILY • Married to Trent Bernard, 55, an electronics distributor with his own business in Clayton. Three children: Jack, 14, a freshman at Clayton High School; Alex (short for Alexandra), 12, a seventh-grader at Wydown Middle School; and Michael, 9, a fourth-grade student at Meramec Elementary School. Sarah is the second of five children born to Pam and Fritz Schaeffer of St. Louis. Pam is the editor of Health Progress, the journal of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, (she formerly was a reporter and editor for the Post-Dispatch); Fritz is retired from his work in sales and is now a fine arts photographer. Sarah's siblings are Evan Schaeffer, 47, a lawyer who lives in Ladue; Molly Schaeffer, 45, a publicist in Cleveland; Jon Schaeffer, 43, a contractor in Dallas, and Ellen Baird, 39, an artist in Webster Groves. Ten nieces and nephews.

EDUCATION • Visitation Academy, 1982; B.S., French and Music Composition, Kalamazoo College, 1986; MBA, Executive Program, Washington University, 1994. Sarah also studied French at the University of Strasbourg in France, 1984-85; and Italian at the University of Florence in Italy, 1985.

What brought you back to St. Louis?

My first job out of college was as general manager of Fox Event Services at the Fox Theatre. It was a great job — I produced corporate events for up to 5,000 people while I oversaw the Fox Club operations and sales.

How long were you with the Fox?

I was there from 1986 to 1990 and then I went to work for Ralston Purina, where I stayed until about 1998, when I had my second child.

What did you do at Ralston?

I was in a variety of marketing jobs. When I left, I was marketing manager for the customer development group. That meant I was responsible for customer marketing efforts within the Midwest region, and I worked closely with the managing director on major marketing initiatives and region administration.

What sorts of things have you done as an actress?

I love community theater, and I have done a few things with that — including performing with The Blue Man Group in Las Vegas. I was also in the films "Up in the Air," "Blue" and "Tradition!" I've done TV commercials for L'Ecole Culinaire, the Mercy Hospital System, SSM Health Care and Identigene. I've been in training and marketing videos for Helzberg Diamonds and Ralston Foods and I did an infomercial for Identigene/Rite Aid. I also sing regularly with "The Love Note Singers." We perform mostly Broadway tunes for people living in retirement centers.

And you're about to start a new venture with STL TV, which is the St. Louis-run channel that is available on cable. Can you tell us about that?

I'm starting next week and I will do feature interviews and be a fill-in host for "City Corner," a public affairs show.

How do you manage to squeeze in real estate work with that kind of schedule?

I rent out two vacation chalets at Innsbrook, which is my passion. We have a house there and spend a lot of time there as a family. I bought two chalets that I use to introduce people to Innsbrook, because I love it so much.

Do you have any other interests?

I'm a fitness fanatic. I start my days at 5:30 when the kids are still sleeping and I run. I'm an avid runner and I also love yoga, but I haven't been able to do much yoga lately. I do weight training, too. I also take piano lessons and go on a mission trip in the summer with my two older kids to Nicaragua.

Last best book you read?

"The Giver," by Lois Lowry. It was recommended by my 12-year-old, and I loved it. We're going to take the kids to see it be performed this weekend at the Edison Theatre at Wash. U.

Your vehicle?

What do you think? A minivan, of course! A 2007, silver Honda Odyssey.