Click here to see photos of award winners and other event highlights in the Global Symposium photo gallery, courtesy of AJ Canaria, MoxiWorks.

 

CHICAGO – (October 10, 2022) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® honored member achievement during its Global Symposium, which took place September 29 – October 1 in Cascais, Portugal. The Symposium attracted top real estate professionals from 30 countries who came together to network, discuss key trends in the real estate market, experience new cultures and explore global business practices.

Symposium participants are members of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE), an invitation-only network that connects the best local and regional independent real estate firms worldwide. Awards were presented by LeadingRE Chairman of the Board Mike Pappas, The Keyes Company and Illustrated Properties (Miami, Fla., U.S.).

International Property Agent (Tokyo, Japan) received the Platinum Award. Presented for the first time this year, the Platinum Award recognizes the company that has best demonstrated commitment and excellence through their LeadingRE membership.

Barfoot & Thompson (Auckland, New Zealand) was presented the Global Vanguard Award for exceptional achievements in technology, sales volume and agent recruitment and retention.

Berry Everitt, Chas Everitt International Property Group (Johannesburg, South Africa), earned the prestigious Global Leadership Award for his extreme generosity of time and commitment in supporting LeadingRE’s global strength and growth.

Kimberly Barkoff, Brown Harris Stevens (New York, N.Y., U.S.), James Puddle, One Global Group (Hong Kong) and Kevin Skipworth, Dexter Realty (Vancouver, BC Canada) received the Global Ambassador Award based on active participation in LeadingRE on many levels, their promotion of the network worldwide and their service as role models for other members.

Ginesta Immobilien (Kusnacht, Switzerland) was presented with the Global Referral Production Award in recognition of sending the most outgoing referrals this year among companies outside of North America, demonstrating worldwide service capabilities.

Maker Advisory (Sydney, Australia) and Groupe Immobilier Mercure France (Toulouse, France) earned the Long Distance Referral Award for collaborating on the referral that traveled the greatest distance for a transaction – 17,317 km from Sydney to Lourdes, France. Groupe Immobilier Mercure France also earned the Referral Service Excellence Award for above-and-beyond service and professionalism in handling a challenging cross-border referral.

Jones Lang LaSalle Residential Portugal (Lisbon, Portugal) was recognized with the Referral Innovator Award for their creativity in leveraging their LeadingRE relationships to generate referral business, incoming or outgoing.

DFH Real Estate (Victoria, BC Canada) won the Referral Accelerator Award for its commitment to increasing referral awareness and assisting clients outside their local market by making introductions to fellow members.

One Caribbean Estates (Holetown, Barbados) earned the Luxury Trendsetter Award for leadership in the affluent real estate space and exemplary engagement with Luxury Portfolio International^®, a Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s luxury marketing division.

According to LeadingRE President, Global Operations, “Celebrating the achievements of our members in such a beautiful setting with such a globally diverse audience was a highlight of the Global Symposium. This type of support, camaraderie and focus on excellence is a cornerstone of our community.”

For more information about LeadingRE, visit LeadingRE.com.

 

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About Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®

Chicago-based Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE.com) is a global network of top independent real estate firms, with 550 companies and 136,000 sales associates in over 70 countries. Network members participated in over 1.2 million global transactions. LeadingRE supports its members with powerful connections to other market leaders and access to innovative, performance-driven programs. Its online learning platform, LeadingRE Institute, was named to Training magazine’s Top 10 Hall of Fame. LeadingRE is also active in commercial real estate, with 200 firms in over 20 countries specializing in the commercial arena.

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– Virtuance & Diakrit provide visual content and integrations to brands that are serious about growing their business –

CHICAGO – (September 26, 2022) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® has selected Virtuance & Diakrit for its Solutions Group program of preferred business resources for its global network of 550 market-leading real estate firms. Virtuance & Diakrit provides high-quality marketing content including magazine-quality photography, 2D and 3D floor plans, virtual tours, digital renovating, decorating tools and video to over 2,000 leading brokerage brands worldwide.

“Virtuance & Diakrit gives real estate brokers a strategic advantage by ensuring all their listings are brand consistent and are widely advertised to everyone in the market. And, with technologies that highlight what it could be like to live in any given property – without even stepping foot inside – they help buyers feel more confident in their home buying decision,” said LeadingRE Vice President, Sales/Partnerships Jeff Kennedy.

With established networks of photography in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, Virtuance & Diakrit is well-positioned to serve LeadingRE’s membership.

“We’re excited to join LeadingRE’s prestigious Solutions Group. LeadingRE attracts some of the world’s top real estate firms, such as our clients John L. Scott in the US, Barfoot & Thompson in New Zealand and Belle Property in Australia. These firms have successfully won more business with the help of Virtuance & Diakrit’s high-quality marketing content. Our vision is to be the provider of choice in digital real estate marketing globally. By joining with LeadingRE, we look forward to establishing new relationships with leading firms in the U.S., Canada and central Europe to help them become a brand top-of-mind for anyone thinking of buying or selling in their market,” said Dick Karlsson, founder and Head of Global Sales & Marketing.

Learn more about Virtuance & Diakrit at experiences.diakrit.com/LRE22. Learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® at www.LeadingRE.com.

 

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About Virtuance & Diakrit

Virtuance & Diakrit are the leading providers of digital real estate marketing content in the United States, Europe, and Australasia. Virtuance & Diakrit work with 2,000+ leading brokerage brands worldwide and help them successfully win more business and grow their market share through industry-leading marketing content, including magazine-quality photography, 2D and 3D floorplans, virtual tours, digital renovating and decorating tools, and video.

Creators of HDReal^®, an industry-leading AI-powered image processing system, Virtuance & Diakrit automate key processes in real estate marketing, which enables real estate professionals to improve their marketing effectiveness, differentiate their brand, and drive consistent results for their clients.

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Since the easing of the lockdown, we have found ourselves in a new phase of the ever-evolving employment cycle: trying to readjust our office habits after working from home for nearly two years. Some companies have called their employees back to the office full-time; others fully adopted flexible working a la Silicon Valley and reimagined their business culture entirely. However, the majority of firms have gone with a hybrid model, allowing employees to work remotely some days of the week and come into the office on others.

We have all heard arguments for and against working from home, and the truth is there is no one way of ensuring employee satisfaction and productivity in a modern workplace. All offices and corporate cultures have their own best practices, which reflect their individual needs and the company’s ethos. As long as the needs of the business and clients are diverse, the work model can also be flexible, in order to accommodate ever-changing industries and the external factors that influence them.

It is clear many employees enjoyed the greater flexibility that came with the pandemic, and this is an element of work that has been adopted as businesses sought to reintroduce office life and face-to-face contact. The hybrid model is a great way to optimize productivity, in addition to being flexible and forward thinking. As exciting as this is, we are failing to come up with a unified standard for what that hybrid working model will entail across our industries. According to Forbes, 70% of workers prefer remote working, whilst over 65% of workers want opportunities to spend face-to-face time with their colleagues. Business owners and management, therefore, face a conundrum, and many have gone the extra mile to ensure offices are better equipped to offer flexible working within their infrastructure.

But how flexible can hybrid working really be? Do we all have the same understanding of what hybrid working means? What does it actually look like in practice? Recent studies show that employees and employers have no interest in going back to the office five days a week. Some companies, especially those in the tech sector, are proposing the reverse of most hybrid model working conditions, such as allowing employees to work from the office only a few weeks per year. It seems the most popular variation is going to the office for two or three days a week and working remotely on the others – which brings a new set of questions: do employees pick and choose which days they come into the office? Or, do we simply have set days when everybody comes in?

If the days are pre-determined by the company then the workspace will become a more social environment, which would help employees enjoy the benefits of face-to-face interactions and brainstorming, not to forget morale and team building. It would also give staff an opportunity to book client meetings on those days, which is a vital cog in the global real estate industry, for example. Considering the office would be empty during the rest of the week, it would also cut operational costs.

On the other hand, giving employees the responsibility to choose days most suitable to them could have a positive impact on promoting a healthy work-life balance. However, this could present obstacles with effective diary management, as employee schedules would be independent to their colleagues, therefore limiting collaboration time.

There are endless options when it comes to the hybrid model, and the truth is a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. Giant corporations and start-ups have different staff requirements – tech and creative businesses might prefer full flexibility, as much of the work is desk-based while architects may need more time in the office to work on drawings and design plans. If we did all switch to remote working entirely, we could see offices close down across the globe and town centers become ghost towns. There can be structure within hybrid work, as long as we see this shift as an opportunity.

The property industry has always been considered more traditional than others, as it requires in-person interactions, and most buyers would prefer to see properties before making a decision. However, the great benefits of technology during the pandemic illustrated a hybrid approach on VR viewings and virtual meetings as well.

Companies can maximize the effects of hybrid working by committing to current technological advancements and set a new standard for themselves. Investing in team building, increasing the use of internal organizational tools such as Asana, Teams and Slack and doing research in order to create the best hybrid model for them. Setting rules and boundaries that align with the company culture and the demands of the employees can foster a highly positive work ecosystem. Let’s be innovative, bold and explore the most efficient ways of building a new workforce culture.

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE), the global network of top independent real estate firms, has announced the promotion of Chris Dietz to president of global operations.

Chris joined LeadingRE in March 2011 as European director and quickly progressed to executive vice president of global operations in 2016. Before joining LeadingRE, Chris held executive positions at US and European relocation-focused businesses.

In his new role, Chris will be responsible for overseeing LeadingRE’s expanding global business strategy for several of its brands. While being responsible for all regions outside the US, including Canada and Latin America/Caribbean, he will focus on continued growth in the Asia Pacific (APAC) and Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) regions to increase the network’s business opportunities worldwide across all industry segments, including residential and luxury real estate, commercial real estate, international project marketing and corporate relocation.

Paul Boomsma, CEO of LeadingRE, commented: “We are delighted to announce Chris’ new role as president of global operations at LeadingRE. Since joining the business over 11 years ago, he has been integral to our global growth, in terms of service offerings and coverage, helping us expand our international footprint to over 70 countries. We are looking forward to seeing Chris continue to be an exemplary leader for our team and valued advisor to our global members on the next phase of his journey.”

Dietz said, “As part of the LeadingRE executive leadership team over five years, I’ve really enjoyed building new relationships with our fantastic network of members around the world. I understand the challenges and, more so, the opportunities in the ever-evolving property industry. Over the past decade, we have seen first-hand how connecting like-minded professionals around the globe can benefit independent agents and leaders. Especially in the current global business climate, I see a bright future for our community of the best real estate brands worldwide, which grow even stronger through our flexible business model and unique value proposition.”

LeadingRE currently represents 550 member companies with 4,700 offices and 136,000 sales associates in more than 70 countries. Network members participated in over 1.2 million global transactions last year.

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– Over 1.1 million votes cast in annual online search for the most incredible real estate listings. –

 CHICAGO – August 8, 2022 – The winners of the HGTV Ultimate House Hunt 2022 have been named, based on over 1.1 million votes cast. The annual promotion held on HGTV.com features extraordinary real estate listings, with all 77 finalists represented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® and Luxury Portfolio International^®members.

The overall winner is an elegant Florida estate on the Atlantic Ocean represented by William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance, which also earned top honors in the Beachfront Homes category. The artfully crafted Bermuda-style home stands 17 feet above sea level and features stunning panoramic ocean views; a modern swimming pool with a stone deck; and a stunning interior with vaulted ceilings, oversized windows, and a contemporary open plan.

Category winners include Brown Harris Stevens – NYC, Curb Appeal; Chase International, Countryside Retreats; Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate, Amazing Kitchens; Harry Norman, Realtors, Downtown Dwellings; Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers, Outdoor Escapes and Waterside Homes; and john greene Realtor, Homes With a History.

In addition to these categories, a special Global Homes gallery featured exceptional homes from nine countries or territories around the world.

“This is our eleventh year collaborating with HGTV.com on the Ultimate House Hunt, and we are always delighted to see the enthusiastic response to our members’ listings. This year’s winners include a truly impressive collection of homes, representing a wide range of architectural styles. We congratulate the winners and look forward to our continued work with HGTV.com to showcase some of the most stunning real estate listings in the world,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Paul Boomsma.

To view the Ultimate House Hunt winners, visit hgtv.com/ultimatehousehuntwinners.

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CHICAGO – July 19, 2022 – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE), the global network of top independent real estate firms, has announced 21 new members have joined its professional community since the start of the year. The firm now boasts more than 550 members worldwide representing more than 136,000 agents in over 70 different countries.

The newest member firms in LeadingRE’s network include property businesses from North America, Latin America & The Caribbean, Asia Pacific and Europe. The company also welcomes a new affiliate from Antigua & Barbuda for the first time.

Chris Dietz, Executive Vice President, Global Operations at LeadingRE comments: ‘‘We are thrilled to significantly expand our global network of real estate businesses this year, welcoming 21 new property companies from across the globe in H1 2022. We strongly believe those in the global real estate sector can learn valuable lessons from one another, no matter which corner of the world they are based. We have seen brokers and experts support fellow members in many ways, from knowledge and experience sharing to referrals and new business leads. We offer international members a platform of training, support and advice, as well as the relevant tools to help grow and evolve their business with the help of our extensive affiliate network.”

Selected companies in the LeadingRE network are recognized for their expertise and superior knowledge of both local and global markets. All members are vetted, not just for performance, but also for a continued commitment to quality customer experience.

Chris Dietz concluded: “Our networking events draw a truly global audience, and our members consistently introduce clients across borders, which is why we’re so thrilled to have the opportunity to grow and work in existing and new international territories this year.”

Full list of new LeadingRE member firms below.

United States: 

• @properties Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Capstone Realty, Huntsville, Ala.
• Dahlquist Realtors, Great Falls, Mont.
• Houlihan Lawrence Wareck D’Ostilio, Milford, Conn.
• The Moore Group – A Division of the Litchfield Company, Orangeburg, S.C.
• Village Real Estate Services, Nashville, Tenn.

Asia Pacific Region: 

• Arcadia Consulting, Singapore
• HOPPLER INC., Philippines
• INTEREALTOR SDN BHD, Malaysia

Canada: 

• Boyes Group Realty Inc.
• Creativ Realty
• Lake City Realty LTD.
• Revel Realty Inc Brokerage

Europe: 

• Baumann Estate AG, Switzerland
• Burnier & Cie SA, Switzerland
• M.E. Estates – Private Brokerage, Spain
• Modern, Portugal
• One Global Property Services (UK) Limited, United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean:

• Caribbean Luxury Villas, Antigua & Barbuda
• Homes in Paradise By Grace Bay Realty, Turks and Caicos Islands
• WhereInRio Luxury Real Estate, Brazil

 

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– Skyways creates customized print and digital guides. –

CHICAGO – (July 13, 2022) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® has added Skyways Media Inc. to its Solutions Group program of preferred business resources for its global network of 550 market-leading real estate firms. Skyways is a vertical print and digital publishing company supplying customized luxury guides, apps, and e-books to leading realty brokerages.

Skyways’ publications are individually designed and written for each brokerage. An expansive in-house team covers every element of digital and print media, from concept and design to production and delivery, with a wide range of print and digital products. Skyways provides their services at zero cost to the brokerage, with Skyways’ dedicated marketing team securing local advertisers for the published guide.

“Skyways blends traditional forms of communication with digital, using innovative methods to create customized publications,” said LeadingRE Vice President, Sales/Partnerships Jeff Kennedy. “Skyways’ services are completely free to brokers, with third party advertising revenue subsidizing all the associated design and production costs. Brokers can even include their mortgage, title, and insurance companies, providing added exposure for ancillary services.”

Operating in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe, Skyways is well-positioned to serve LeadingRE’s membership domestically and globally.

“As a world leader in supplying informative and creative publications, we are delighted to have secured an ongoing working relationship with such a globally respected brand. LeadingRE has also built its reputation on trust and superb customer service – priorities we share. We are excited to provide LeadingRE brokerages with zero-cost guides that their customers will highly value,” said Jack Helm, COO of Skyways Media Inc.

Learn more about Skyways at www.skyways.info. Learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® at www.LeadingRE.com.

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About Skyways Media Inc.

Skyways Media is a globally known producer of beautifully designed and well written publications, that connect businesses to their customers from first point of contact. These physical and digital guides are created at zero cost to commissioning companies, as they are supported by carefully selected and relevant advertisers.

Media Contact:
Robin Lasure
Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®
(312) 424-0436

rlasure@LeadingRE.com

 

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– Annual online awards spotlight extraordinary real estate listings –

 

CHICAGO – June 28, 2022 – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® and Luxury Portfolio International^® announce the launch of the HGTV Ultimate House Hunt 2022. This is the eleventh consecutive year HGTV has aligned exclusively with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® and Luxury Portfolio International^® for the popular online promotion, which generated more than 1.5 million votes last year.

This year’s Ultimate House Hunt runs from June 28 through August 2 on HGTV.com, featuring stunning homes for sale in eight categories: Amazing Kitchens, Beachfront Homes, Countryside Retreats, Curb Appeal, Downtown Dwellings, Homes With a History, Outdoor Escapes, and Waterside Homes. A special Global Homes gallery spotlights beautiful properties from outside of the U.S. All featured homes are represented by members of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® and Luxury Portfolio International^®.

Consumers can tour the 77 homes selected as finalists by viewing photo galleries on HGTV.com before casting a vote for their favorite properties. A winner will be chosen in each category based on the highest number of votes received, and an overall favorite will be awarded for the listing receiving the most votes.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with HGTV again this year for the Ultimate House Hunt. This year’s finalists include some truly exceptional listings represented by our members around the world, and we are confident HGTV’s audience of home enthusiasts will enjoy getting an inside look at these beautiful homes,” said Paul Boomsma, President/CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®.

This year’s finalists include 77 homes represented by 35 real estate companies: @properties; Amherst Madison Real Estate Advisors; Baird & Warner; Beverly-Hanks, Realtors; Brown Harris Stevens; Chase International; Colorado Group Realty, LLC; Dale Sorensen Real Estate; Dave Perry Miller Real Estate; Deasy Penner Podley; Dickson Realty; Ebby Halliday Realtors; First Team Real Estate; Greenwood King Properties; Harry Norman, Realtors; Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers; Illustrated Properties Real Estate, Inc.; John Greene Realtor; John R. Wood Properties; Latter & Blum; Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc.; Long Realty Company; Premier Estate Properties, Inc.; PureWest Real Estate; Residential Properties Ltd.; Seven Gables Real Estate; Shorewest, Realtors®; Smith & Associates Real Estate; Strand Hill Properties; Turpin Real Estate, Inc.; Village Properties; Village Real Estate Services; and William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance.

Each winning home will receive editorial exposure on HGTV.com, as well as the prestige of being selected as a fan favorite.

Additional properties featured in the Global Homes gallery come from 9 different countries or territories around the world and are represented by CDR Bienes Raices San Miguel; Harvey Kalles Real Estate; Island Living Collective; Jawitz Properties Ltd.; LX Costa Rica; M Immobilier; Park Lane Properties; Sibarth Real Estate; Smiths Gore Limited; and Stresa Luxury Real Estate.

To view all homes and cast your vote, visit: HGTV.com/HouseHunt

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About Luxury Portfolio International® (LPI)

Luxury Portfolio International (luxuryportfolio.com) is the leading network of the world’s premier luxury real estate brokerages and their top agents, offering unparalleled marketing and intelligence services across the globe. It is the luxury arm of Leading Real Estate Companies of the Worl^® the global network of top independent real estate firms, with 550 companies and 136,000 sales associates in over 70 countries. Last year, network members participated in over 1.2 million global transactions. LPI attracts a global audience of visitors from over 200 countries/territories every month and markets more than 50,000 luxury homes annually. Well Connected.™

About Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®

Chicago-based Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE.com) is a global network of top independent real estate firms, with 550 companies and 136,000 sales associates in over 70 countries. Network members participated in over 1.2 million global transactions. LeadingRE supports its members with powerful connections to other market leaders and access to innovative, performance-driven programs. Its online learning platform, LeadingRE Institute, was named to Training magazine’s Top 10 Hall of Fame. LeadingRE is also active in commercial real estate, with 200 firms in over 20 countries specializing in the commercial arena.

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– Hemlane offers leasing and property management tools with 24/7 repair coordination. –

CHICAGO – (June 22, 2022) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® has added Hemlane to its Solutions Group program of preferred business resources for its global network of 550 market-leading real estate firms. Hemlane’s property management platform allows real estate brokers and teams to offer full rental lifecycle services, avoiding traditional barriers and risks.

In addition to automating the day-to-day administration, from screening tenants to collecting rent and late fees, Hemlane serves as a brokerage’s backend office. Hemlane reduces agent liability by offering an alternative to trust accounts and provides 24/7 repair coordinators, including for emergency support.

“Hemlane provides real estate brokers with a flexible property management solution for their clients. Brokers can refer landlord clients to earn referral commission, offer leasing services with Hemlane’s leasing tools or provide full property management using their platform,” said LeadingRE Vice President, Sales/Partnerships Jeff Kennedy. “By offering property management as an ancillary service, Hemlane can help our members build a new revenue stream and grow their operations.”

Operating in all 50 states, Hemlane is well-positioned to serve LeadingRE’s membership.

“We align with the LeadingRE team and their affiliated brokerages on providing a certain standard of excellence for real estate. Our goal is to empower brokers and agents to offer more value to their clients, leveraging Hemlane to facilitate in the mundane property management tasks and administration. We look forward to the synergies that we know this relationship will bring to the real estate industry,” said Dana Dunford, CEO and Co-Founder of Hemlane.

Learn more about Hemlane at www.hemlane.com. Learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® at www.LeadingRE.com.

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About Hemlane

Hemlane is an all-in-one property management solution. Hemlane’s technology enables brokerages to support their clients with the full rental lifecycle while reducing liability and increasing client satisfaction. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, California and operates in all 50 states.

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CHICAGO – (May 19, 2022) – Chicago-based Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) recently promoted Effie Atsaves to Vice President, Marketing. In this role, she will continue to lead the marketing team, while developing strategies for enhancing LeadingRE’s branding opportunities, delivering valuable member tools and resources, and elevating network communications.

Atsaves joined LeadingRE in 2010, most recently serving as Executive Director, Marketing. Her accomplishments include expanding the company’s marketing capabilities with the addition of a video production team, executing the company’s re-branding, delivering innovative marketing campaigns, and growing the annual MarTech event.

Prior to joining LeadingRE, she was the digital marketing manager for a website development company, where she devised digital marketing and web strategies for some of the largest real estate brokerages in the US. Additional real estate marketing experience includes over a decade serving as director of advertising for a prominent Chicago-based brokerage.

“Effie does an impressive job leading our marketing team, driving our branding and marketing initiatives, overseeing our member communications, serving as the liaison for our Marketing and Technology Advisory Council, and directing our MarTech event. We are pleased to recognize her achievements with this promotion,” said LeadingRE Executive Vice President, Member Services Kate Reisinger.

Atsaves is a licensed Illinois real estate broker and a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago. She is based in the company’s Chicago headquarters and can be reached at eatsaves@LeadingRE.com.

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