REAL ESTATE
RESIDENTIAL FIRMS, RANKED BY NUMBER OF LICENSED AGENTS
Top 10 HOMESMART 8388 E. Hartford Drive, Suite 100, Scottsdale, 85255 // 602-230-7600 // homesmartinternational.com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 5,187 PRINCIPAL Matt Widdows, owner and CEO HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Ashley Bowers, chief operating officer REALTY ONE GROUP 3530 S. Val Vista Dr., Suite 114, Gilbert, 85297 // 480-321-8100 // realtyonegroup.com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 2,275 PRINCIPAL Pat Kelly, vice president of operations HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN KC Cyga, managing broker, Scottsdale WEST USA REALTY INC. 16807 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, 85032 // 602-942-4200 // westusa. com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 2,008 PRINCIPAL AND HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Debbie Quain, administrative officer COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE 10446 N. 74th St., Suite101, Scottsdale, 85258 // 480-481-8400 // coldwellbankerhomes.com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 1,457 PRINCIPAL Greg Hollman, president HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Martha Appel, vice president and designated broker
HIRE THE BEST, CLEAR OUT
CONNIE SWENSON VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF RELOCATION BY JOYCE HADLEY COPELAND
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Corporate employees are on the move, according to the 48th Annual Corporate Relocation Survey by Atlas Van Lines. In 2004, 49 percent of firms saw relocations increase, with the average company moving 50 to 99 employees. Before families arrive to make a new home in the Phoenix area, Connie Swenson and her staff smooth the way. As vice president and director of relocation for Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Swenson works closely with local corporations and national relocation management companies. “The thing I love most about it is it’s different every day,” Swenson says. “We’re working with all sorts of individual families and corporations, and all their needs and wants are different.” Multiply the requirements of one family by several hundred at one time and you have the relocation professional’s biggest challenge. “When a corporation is moving many, many families into or out of the area at once, it’s good news, bad news,” Swenson admits. “A lot of people don’t want to do the move. Or they’re excited about it, but maybe the kids are having problems leaving their schools. Group moves can also be great when they’re completed, because we’ve got everybody settled in, kids in school and people making new friends.” S w e n son follows a simple philosophy when it comes to building a top-performing team: Hire the best people and get out of their way. “Many of the people who work for
me have been with me for 10, 15 years,” she says. “The ultimate decisions are mine, but they’re extremely experienced… so it’s a lot of sharing and collaboration.” Of course, a key element is finding each family the right home—and, for Swenson, one of the true joys of the process is working with residential sales associates. “I find real estate sales people to be some of the most interesting, creative and hardworking people,” she says. “I learn from them every day.” Swenson started her career 35 years ago when corporate relocation was in its infancy. She has become an industry leader, garnering numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Award from the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council. She is a member of the Relocation Directors Council and the Arizona Relocation Alliance, and is often a featured speaker at local and national industry conferences. Thanks to its satisfied corporate clients, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty Relocation Division earned the distinction of becoming a principal broker for the greater Phoenix area in the Cartus Relocation Network. Not surprisingly, “I’m kind of a workaholic,” Swenson confesses. “On my off time, I like to hike. There are so many beautiful places to hike in Arizona. I’m a voracious reader. But a lot of my time is spent at a job I love.”
DPR REALTY LLC 8341 E. Gelding Drive, Scottsdale, 85260 // 480-994-0800 // dprrealty.com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 1,187 PRINCIPAL Dale Milton, owner HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Sharon Milton, owner; Heather Binder, managing broker REALTY EXECUTIVES LLC 7600 N. 16th St., Suite 100, Phoenix, 85020 // 602-957-0444 // realtyexecutivesphoenix.com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 1,000 PRINCIPAL Jeff Hawke, owner HIGHESTRANKING WOMAN Mary Frances Coleman, vice president, operations RUSS LYON SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY 17207 N. Perimeter Drive, Suite 120, Scottsdale, 85255 // 480-502-3500 // russlyon. com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 951 PRINCIPAL D. Deems Dickinson, president and designated broker HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Connie Swenson, vice president, Relocation Service KELLER WILLIAMS SONORAN LIVING 15905 S. 46th St., Phoenix, 85048 // 602-369-1085 // leadingluxuryexperts.com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 186 PRINCIPAL Barry Kramer, designated broker and owner HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Bonny Holland, real estate agent RE/MAX FINE PROPERTIES 21000 N. Pima Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, 85255 // 480-7929500 // fineprop.com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 147 PRINCIPAL Delbert Rounds, owner/agent HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN Laurie Cairns, commissions manager CAMBRIDGE PROPERTIES 14602 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, 85032 // 602-493-5100 // cambridgepropertiesaz.com AZ LICENSED AGENTS 75 PRINCIPAL Keith Mishkin, broker and owner HIGHEST-RANKING WOMAN No designee
WHO’S WHO IN BUSINESS // 2016
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