Our leadership is comprised of our board of directors, executive team and a number of advisory boards and member councils that provide member input and feedback into programs, our operations and business plan.
Paul Boomsma, President/CEO, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®
With over 25 years of experience in real estate, Paul Boomsma serves as president and CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, a global real estate community of 550 real estate firms spanning six continents. He created the highly successful Luxury Portfolio International® division for LeadingRE, previously serving as its president. He also headed operations and strategic marketing for LeadingRE as COO. Paul began his career marketing luxury office towers and later joined a top residential firm, before becoming national marketing director for a major franchise. Today, he is a frequent industry speaker on topics that include consumer trends, global business practices, and innovation in real estate. Among his many distinctions, he has been recognized for his leadership on numerous prestigious industry rankings, including RISMedia’s Newsmakers Hall of Fame, the Swanepoel Power 200, REAL Trends’ Game Changers, and Inman News’ Real Estate Influencers.
Alan Cazzato, CPA, Vice President, Finance/CFO
Alan Cazzato is an experienced financial manager and CPA who manages the corporate service functions of the company, including technology, accounting, human resources, and company infrastructure. A Chicago native, he has previously been responsible for financial management of companies in various different industry sectors.
Bob Portale, SCRP, SGMS-T, President/CEO RELO Direct®
Bob Portale, President and CEO of RELO Direct, LeadingRE's premier relocation management firm, is a multifaceted leader boasting extensive experience in business development, operations, and executive management. His remarkable ability to seamlessly handle diverse roles stems from his profound understanding of the relocation industry, encompassing both its internal mechanics and external dynamics. Drawing upon over three decades of unwavering dedication to the field, Bob instills the RELO Direct® team with an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and professional advancement, a drive that has earned him prestigious industry certifications, including the exclusive SGMS-T for Talent Management certification by the Worldwide ERC®. Furthermore, his recognition in RISMedia's Real Estate Newsmakers not only pays tribute to his industry leadership but also underscores his influence and exceptional contributions to the real estate and relocation sectors.
Chris Dietz, President, Global Operations
Chris Dietz, President Global Operations, a German national, executes the LeadingRE's expansion plans by growing and managing its international footprint, including marketing efforts and brand awareness initiatives. Dietz has over 20 years of executive-level relocation management experience and possesses a deep insight into the global real estate industry and the diverse business practices. Before joining LeadingRE, Dietz managed the Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC) regions for a U.S.-based relocation management company out of their London office, and prior to that, he was in charge of developing relocation business in Europe under a large US real estate franchise brand.
Jessica Edgerton, Chief Legal Officer/Executive Vice President of Industry and Learning
Jessica Edgerton oversees the company’s legal affairs, including regulatory compliance, trademark protection, and contract management. She also provides timely insights for LeadingRE members on legal issues impacting the real estate industry through her popular Risky Minute video series. As EVP of Industry and Learning, she heads LeadingRE Institute, the network’s award-winning online learning platform, as well as other learning initiatives. Edgerton serves on the Board of Directors for Moderne Ventures and recently served on the boards of Upstream and RESO. Among her distinctions, she has also been named to RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers ranking of industry leaders and the Swanepoel Power 200 Watchlist. Prior to joining LeadingRE, Edgerton served as Associate Counsel for the National Association of REALTORS®, where she interfaced with NAR’s communications, conventions, and technology teams, as well as its membership.
Kate Reisinger, Chief Operating Officer
Kate Reisinger, CRP, guides the design and implementation of operations to help solidify the company’s position as the global authority on interrelated real estate services. Her responsibilities include overseeing the core member referral program, which generates over 30,000 member-to-member referrals annually. She also heads the company’s marketing and events, including LeadingRE’s flagship Conference Week. Reisinger is a seasoned real estate and relocation professional with more 17 years of experience. Prior to joining LeadingRE, she was Regional Director, Relocation and Client Development for a national franchise. Other experience includes serving as Vice President and Director of Relocation Services for a Chicago-area real estate firm and as a Regional Director of Business Development for a relocation management company. Among her distinctions, she has been named to RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers ranking of industry leaders.
Vandana Vohra, Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer
Vandana Vohra establishes the organization’s technology strategy, its vision, to bring value of technology to its domestic and global members with a vision towards future. She oversees all technology and data initiatives at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, Luxury Portfolio International, and RELO Direct, with a focus on developing modern business applications and technology-driven products that support corporate objectives. In addition to managing the strategic development of multiple public-facing websites, Vohra is responsible for quality, security, data integrity and integration, member- and client-facing and customer relation technologies. She brings 33 years of experience to the role, most recently serving as Chief Technology Officer for the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund, where she was responsible for the quality, security, and availability of information, software, and hardware.