Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE) has been awarded the 9^th position on Training Magazine’s “Top 125” ranking of companies for employer-sponsored workforce training and development, across all industries. This represented a dramatic increase over last year’s LeadingRE ranking as #64 and was based on the aggregate of the company’s learning programs, including its ground-breaking new MAESTRO™ Leadership Certification program, its 24/7 online Institute learning platform for real estate sales associates, managers and staff, and its robust suite of conferences and workshops in the U.S. and around the world.

Other companies recognized in the top tier of the list include Jiffy Lube International,  Blue Cross Blue Shield, Vistage Worldwide, Tenaris, Best Buy, Nationwide Mutual Insurance, BNSF Railway, ABF Freight, Western Union, ADP, and Genentech. The only other real estate or relocation entities on the list were Keller Williams Realty, Century 21, and Cartus.

“We see ourselves as a learning organization,” comments LeadingRE CEO Pam O’Connor.  “Everything we do has some basis in continuous performance improvement, and this recognition reflects our commitment to raising the bar among our 500 real estate member brokerages and their 120,000 associates, as well as with our corporate team in our Chicago, London, Singapore and field offices around the world.” LeadingRE’s efforts in this area are led by Vice President of Talent Development Barbara Wichman, and the particular focus on the Top 125 competition was managed by Executive Director of Institute Content Cecelia Chott.

The Top 125 program focuses on companies that have demonstrated a strong focus on effective training and development tied to corporate strategic goals and business outcomes. This is the 16^th year in which Training has ranked such companies. Each company was measured on both quantitative and qualitative data by an outside research and statistical data company, under the guidance of the magazine’s management team.

This latest recognition is among many achievements of LeadingRE, which will be celebrated at the network’s annual Conference Week at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach February 20-26.

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CHICAGO – (February 16, 2016) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® has expanded its executive team with the addition of Barbara Wichman as vice president, talent development. In this role, Wichman will oversee learning policies and programs and the talent development strategy for Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE), the world’s largest community of high-quality, independent real estate companies.

With a focus on fostering a learning environment resulting in high performance, Wichman’s audience extends from the company’s 100+-person staff to its 525 member brokerages around the world. Programs include a full range of learning opportunities, including online education through LeadingRE Institute, which offers over 250 exclusive courses; in-person meetings like the upcoming Conference Week, which has attracted nearly 2,500 attendees from 25 countries; and robust programs like the MAESTRO™ Leadership Certification.

“In recent years, we have expanded our educational offerings considerably, with the goal of providing superior opportunities that lead the industry and compete with world-class programs from other businesses,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “We wanted to build on this momentum, and Barbara’s energy, expertise and focus on results make her the ideal person to lead the effort, working with the excellent team we have in place.”

With more than 20 years of learning and development experience in a cross-section of industries including telecommunications, consumer goods and retail, Barbara brings a deep understanding of global talent management through the building and implementation of integrated talent systems, change acceleration, succession planning and learning and development.

“I am thrilled to join a company as focused on developing its stakeholders as LeadingRE,” Wichman said, “and I look forward to accelerating our efforts to be a world-class learning organization that produces outstanding customer experiences and significant personal and professional growth opportunities for all of our constituents.”

Wichman is based in the company’s Chicago headquarters and can be reached at bwichman@LeadingRE.com or (312) 447-5929.  Learn more about LeadingRE at www.LeadingRE.com.

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® has introduced a new designation for relocation professionals affiliated with the international real estate network. The Global Relocation Professional (GRP) designation was created by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) to provide comprehensive professional development in the area of referrals and relocation, supporting the network’s 30,000+ affiliate-to-affiliate client referrals each year.

Nearly 100 people have earned the designation since it was introduced in August, after completing a series of online courses on topics including managing international referrals, implementing relocation guidelines, understanding referral policies and successfully serving relocating clients.

“We continually strive to help our members set the standard for excellence, whether they are assisting clients who are new to their area or those moving across the country or around the world. The GRP is yet another way to support our robust referral network,” said LeadingRE Director, Member Services Brent Williams.

In addition to its extensive referral network, LeadingRE member companies benefit from a full suite of business-enhancing services, including world-class conferences and networking events, web-based learning, global brand and marketing support, real estate industry advocacy, innovative technology solutions, and a comprehensive luxury marketing program, Luxury Portfolio International®.

To learn more, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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Luxury Portfolio International™ Executive Vice President Stephanie Pfeffer Anton has been named to the Inman Top 101, a list of industry leaders who are recognized for driving industry change through ingenuity, outspokenness, strength, conviction, power and persistence.

A frequent industry speaker and an authority on marketing to the affluent, Pfeffer Anton has been with Luxury Portfolio since its founding in 2005. She is responsible for the program’s day-to-day operations, including its award-winning website, www.LuxuryPortfolio.com, which markets over 35,000 homes to over three million high-net-worth visitors annually.  Luxury Portfolio is the luxury face of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (www.LeadingRE.com), a global real estate network comprised of the most powerful independent brokerages.

Previously, Pfeffer Anton served as the vice president of marketing for a large Chicagoland real estate brokerage and as the director of communications and internet for an international real estate franchise. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Boston University and a Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.

To see the complete Inman Top 101 List, visit http://www.inman.com/inman101.

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® concluded its inaugural MAESTRO™ Leadership Certification program last week, graduating 25 real estate branch sales managers from top brokerages around the country. The program was created to address the critical industry need to develop talented and highly effective real estate leaders for the future.

Based on proprietary and validated research conducted by LeadingRE with 300 sales managers, the rigorous MAESTRO™ program encompasses three pillars of great office leadership, as determined by the research. It is the first program of its kind in the industry, with the goal of using science and art to establish and practice leadership mastery.

Open only to members of LeadingRE, the program has been designed by a lead faculty comprised of Mike Staver of The Staver Group and practicing real estate leaders Rosey Koberlein, CEO of Long Realty, and Phyllis Brookshire, president of Allen Tate Realtors, along with a number of other subject matter experts from within the industry and beyond it.

Participants, who applied to be accepted into the program, attended three live sessions held at LeadingRE’s Chicago headquarters that included lectures and interactive workshops incorporating ‘real life’ exercises, role-play, case studies and group activities. Ongoing support from staff and fellow participants ensures continued engagement and measurable results from the program.

“We created MAESTRO to develop and enhance the leadership and coaching skills of managers within LeadingRE brokerages to further equip them to take their agents and offices to even higher performance levels with increased confidence and proven methodology,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “The response to our inaugural program was incredibly positive, and we look forward to offering it twice in 2016.”

Inaugural graduates include: Michele Early and Diane Wolfe, Allen Tate Realtors; Thomas Williams and Billy Rodgers, Crye-Leike Realtors; Judd Sampson, Edina Realty; Sara Rotter and Tony Oakley, Halstead Property; Brian Levine, Sandy Strohm, and David H. Haffenreffer, Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate; Julie Frank, Dave Conord and Jackie Sellers, Long & Foster Real Estate; Chris LeBlanc, Max Broock Realtors; Roger Morris, Debbie Judge and Linda Formella, Michael Saunders & Company; Gary DeGrandchamp, Real Estate One; Sha Fister, Rector Hayden Realtors; Barry Kreft and Rick Fedor, Shorewest Realtors; Ben Schreiber and Rob Mahoney, Sibcy Cline Realtors; and Robin Skaggs and Donna Overman, Watson Realty Corp.

Graduates will be recognized at the upcoming Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Sales Manager SUMMIT taking place February 22-24 at the Fountainebleau Miami Beach.

To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® is launching a new resource for military families, just in time for Veterans Day. Through a newly enhanced, socially-connected website (www.USMilitaryontheMove.com), military consumers can share useful content about relocating and the unique housing challenges and needs of military personnel and their families. The site features blogs from real estate professionals with military experience, as well as other experts in the military relocation field.

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® has distinguished itself by offering military personnel the best rebate program on the market through U.S. Military on the Move^®. The program was created to provide active duty, retired military and wounded warriors with special benefits on real estate services, including a real estate credit at closing in states where allowed by law.

“We created U.S. Military on the Move^® to make it easy for those who serve our country to connect with market-leading real estate professionals committed to delivering premier service to military personnel, while also allowing these service men and women to benefit financially from special rebates and pricing on other value-added services,” notes Pam O’Connor, LeadingRE president/CEO. “Now, with our new site, we make this expertise even more acceptable to those we aim to serve.”

Members offering U.S. Military on the Move^® are experts in working with military consumers and can assist home buyers and sellers worldwide through Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s global network of more than 500+ real estate firms.

For more information on U.S. Military on the Move^®, visit www.USMilitaryontheMove.com or call 312-424-0400.

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® continues to expand its footprint, with 37 firms joining the global real estate network year-to-date. New members include market-leading firms in 18 countries.

U.S. expansion includes key markets ranging from Boston and Wellesley, Massachusetts to Honolulu, Hawaii. Of the 14 new U.S. firms, all are leaders in their markets, including some former franchisees that opted to go independent and align with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) for national/global connections and resources.

The top independent brokerages in the UK, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa – Strutt & Parker, Von Poll Immobilien GmbH, Barfoot & Thompson, and Chas Everitt International Property Group, respectively – lead the worldwide growth that has taken place in these countries, as well as Australia, Austria, China, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Montenegro, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turks and Caicos, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay, extending the network’s global membership to over 50 countries and more than 500 firms.

“We continue to grow extensively but selectively, declining nearly 80% of the companies that inquire about affiliation because they do not meet our requirements for market position, brand reputation, service excellence and more,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “By offering a truly compelling business model, we attract top companies that want to combine their local success with a global reach.”

LeadingRE member companies benefit from a full suite of business-enhancing services, including world-class conferences and networking events, web-based learning resources, global brand and marketing support, real estate industry advocacy, innovative technology solutions, robust affiliate-to-affiliate referral network, and a comprehensive luxury marketing program, Luxury Portfolio International®.

New U.S. members include: ARC Realty, Birmingham, AL; Benoit Mizner Simon, Wellesley, MA; Carriage Properties, Charleston, SC; Fisher Provence Realtors, Stillwater, OK; Freewheeler Realty Inc., Islamorada, FL; Greenwood Realty, Greenwood, SC; Locations, LLC, Honolulu, HI; Mike Thomas Associates, Fort Wayne, IN; Otis & Ahearn Real Estate, Boston, MA; Park Co. Realtors, Fargo, ND; Stumbaugh Realty Advisors, Vacaville, CA; The Premier Property Group, Seacrest, FL; Weichert, Realtors – Southern Coast, Myrtle Beach, SC; and Wright Bros. Real Estate, Nyack, NY.

New members from the Caribbean and Latin American include: La Cite Real Estate, Maldonado, Uruguay; Select Caribbean Properties, Cabarete, Dominican Republic; Roguez Real Estate, Quintana Roo, Mexico; and Turks & Caicos Property, Turks and Caicos Islands.

New European members include: Adria Stone, Petrovac, Montenegro; Atlante Properties S.r.l., Venice, Italy; Atlantic Homes Portugal, Porto, Portugal; Francesco Papurello Luxury Real Estate, Stresa, Italy; Immobiliare Tamagnini, Sarteano, Italy; Leonard Properties SA, Geneve, Switzerland; Meani Real Estate and Business, Arcore, Italy; Phoenix Vauban SA, Meyrin, Switzerland; Portugal Luxury Property, Estombar, Portugal; Strutt & Parker, London, United Kingdom; Von Poll Immobilien GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany/Spain/Austria; and WARNHOLZ Immobilien GmbH, Hamburg, Germany.

From the Middle East and Africa, new members include: Chas Everitt International Property Group, Johannesburg, South Africa; Elysian Real Estate, Dubai, U.A.E.; and Novitag, Beirut, Lebanon.

New firms in the Asia Pacific region include: Ark Properties, Shanghai, China; Ken Jacobs, New South Wales, Australia; Barfoot & Thompson, Auckland, New Zealand; and Philip Webb Real Estate, VIC, Australia.

To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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Real estate professionals from 17 countries are meeting October 11-13 in Berlin, Germany for the 2015 International Symposium of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® and Luxury Portfolio International^®. Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE) is an invitation-only real estate network comprised of more than 500 market-leading real estate firms in more than 50 countries. Luxury Portfolio is the network’s award-winning marketing program for high-end properties.

Representatives from Canada, Cayman Islands, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mexico, Panama, Portugal, Qatar, South Africa, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States are in attendance to participate in an educational program focused on global real estate trends and the delivery of exceptional real estate services.

A distinguished group of speakers includes Rasmus Ankersen, performance specialist and author of The Gold Mine Effect; Matthew Ferrara, speaker and philosopher; Simon Henry, Co-CEO for Juwai.com; Eric Mendez, director of investment research for Vernal Point; John E. Featherston, president and CEO of RISMedia, Inc.; and Paul Morelli, founder and managing partner for Vernal Point. Participating member speakers will also address the group, highlighting real estate practices in various markets around the world.

Additional speakers include Jeff Corbett, BoomTown; David Friedman, Boston Logic Technology Partners; Georg Gerstenfeld, DocuSign; Rick Goodwin, Unique Homes; Lorne C. Wallace, Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies; and Christian Sauer, Webtrekk, Berlin, Germany.

Sessions offer in-depth discussions on the preferences of today’s real estate consumers, including luxury market insights and understanding the global affluent. Technology trends will be examined, focusing on how digital and mobile solutions are essential for the contemporary real estate consumer. Best practices in wealth management will also be reviewed, relating to the investment potential of real estate.

“Each year, we choose a dynamic city where some of the most successful and forward-thinking real estate professionals gather to build productive relationships and engage in a thought-provoking educational program,” comments LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “By coming together, we strengthen our network in ways that solidify our position as a global real estate leader.”

Past International Symposium events have been held in Dubrovnik, Venice, Lisbon, Madrid, Rome, Valencia and Dublin. Network affiliates will convene again February 20-26, 2016 in Miami for the LeadingRE Conference Week.

To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®, visit www.LeadingRE.com.  For more information on Luxury Portfolio International^®, visit www.LuxuryPortfolio.com.

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Heritage Texas Properties of Houston, Texas, has been awarded the prestigious RELO^® Quality Certification by the Chicago-based Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® network. The RELO^® Quality Certification (RQC) was the first program in the relocation industry to quantify and qualify what true relocation service excellence means. Modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige national quality award, it was created by the network to provide measurable standards for the pursuit of relocation excellence.

Heritage Texas Properties earned the certification only after its relocation department met stringent standards and completed a rigorous and lengthy application process, overseen by a committee of leading industry professionals.  Virtually every aspect of the company’s relocation operation was reviewed thoroughly, using specific criteria to evaluate performance and production, staffing, training and continuing education, quality and scope of relocation service, program marketing, customer satisfaction, technology resources, office facilities, and more.

“We are incredibly honored to be counted among such an elite group of real estate companies that hold this certification,” said Heritage Texas Senior Vice President Kirsten Abney, CRP, RCC, WRS, who heads the company’s relocation department. “Our primary goal is and always has been to provide an outstanding experience for our clients – a goal that guides us every day. What we have achieved would not have been possible without the enthusiastic support of our entire company, including that of Robin Mueck, our CEO. Our team is truly humbled and will use the knowledge we gained through this rigorous process,” Abney said.

According to Pam O’Connor, president and CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®, Heritage Texas Properties exemplifies the quality standards on which the RQC is based. “The RQC is awarded only to the industry’s most highly respected relocation departments,” O’Connor commented. “RQC firms have distinguished themselves by demonstrating real expertise in addressing employee mobility needs, and it is a great pleasure to welcome Heritage Texas Properties to this elite group of companies.”

In operation for almost four decades, Heritage Texas Properties is a market leader, operating offices from the Gulf Coast to Central Texas.

To see a full list of RQC companies, visit LeadingRE.com/MemberCredentials/RELOQualityCertification.

For more information about Heritage Texas Properties’ relocation services, contact Kirsten Abney: Kirsten Abney: Kabney@heritagetexas.com or (281) 582-3952

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® has announced that Erin Koops, CRP, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Member Services. In this role, Koops oversees the company’s Business Solutions consultants, broker-to-broker referral program, member education for core programs and services, white-glove international referral liaison program, and U.S. Military on the Move affinity program. These services are offered to the network’s 500+ market-leading residential real estate companies in more than 50 countries around the world.

“Erin is a highly-valued asset of our company, with responsibility for key operational areas generating significant revenue,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “We are grateful for her efforts and commitment to always going above and beyond.”

Koops, who joined the company in 2006, started her career as a financial analyst on Wall Street and later worked in corporate finance and operations for Marvel Entertainment and Sara Lee Corporation. She holds Worldwide ERC’s Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) designation and has served on its YP40 (Young Professionals) Board. She is an avid cyclist and enjoys competing in triathlons across the country.

Koops is based in the company’s Chicago headquarters.

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