Gallo Realty earns company award at Berkshire Hathaway convention
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices hosted its annual Sales Convention March 22-24 in Las Vegas. The real estate franchise honored its most successful professionals during the convention, recognizing Gallo Realty on stage during the awards ceremony for winning the Berkshire Elite Circle Award as one of the Top 50 companies in the network.
“Our firm ranked No. 41 in 2014. We are proud to have received this honor and be recognized alongside some of North America’s most prestigious real estate brokerages. Our company is committed to service excellence and client satisfaction, as well as being innovators in our industry,” said Andrew Ratner, vice president/broker of BHHS Gallo Realty.
More than 3,500 network professionals and guests attended the three-day event to gain insight from motivational speakers, hear market observations, attend panel discussions, preview the network’s latest tools and resources, and catch State of Rhythm at the Sunshine Kids’ Benefit event.
Gino Blefari, HSF Affiliates CEO, said the energy was high in Vegas. “The dynamic setting, standout performers, insightful speakers and world-class affiliates in attendance made this year’s Sales Convention one of the best yet,” he said. “We truly REvolutionized Vegas.”
This year’s theme - REvolution - describes the way Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices exploded on the real estate industry landscape with a world-renowned name, deep value proposition and new perspective on the business. The brand is fresh and exciting - not part of the old guard - and it’s single-handedly changing the complexion of real estate in America. Attendees enjoyed Monday’s keynote speaker Mark Thompson on leadership and Tuesday’s Eric Greitens on serving communities.
Thompson is a senior executive leadership coach, a successful business leader, New York Times bestselling author, venture capitalist and Tony-nominated Broadway producer, bringing real-time solutions to today’s leadership challenges. The CEO and cofounder of Virgin Unite Mentors, Sir Richard Branson’s network for executive coaching and entrepreneurial innovation, Thompson was fittingly a former real estate agent specializing in luxury and investment properties. Simply put, Forbes magazine called Thompson one of “America’s top investors with the ‘Midas’ touch.”
Greitens served as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer and deployed four times during the Global War on Terrorism to Afghanistan, Southeast Asia, the Horn of Africa, and Iraq. After returning from Iraq, Greitens donated his combat pay to found The Mission Continues, a national nonprofit organization that challenges veterans to serve in communities across America. As CEO, Greitens has been recognized as one of the most effective leaders in America.
In 2013, TIME magazine named Greitens as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World, and most recently, Fortune magazine recognized him as one of the 50 greatest leaders in the world. He was an Angier B. Duke Scholar at Duke University, where he studied ethics, philosophy, and public policy. Selected as Rhodes and Truman scholars, he attended the University of Oxford, where he earned a master’s degree and a PhD. An extraordinary photographer and writer, Greitens is the author of three books, which have won many accolades: "Strength & Compassion," "The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL", and "The Warrior’s Heart."
Convention attendees also followed a busy seminar and workshop schedule focusing on topics and techniques critical to success in real estate today.
“The sales convention is one of the best investments I could have made toward growing my business,” said Lee Ann Wilkinson, sales agent at Gallo Realty. “Not only was I able to hear from some of today’s most innovative entrepreneurs and learn critical sales and marketing techniques from industry leaders, but I also was able to connect with other professionals from across the network.”
Wilkinson was also recognized on stage for ranking No. 8 in both units sold and gross commission income in the network for her 2014 production. Also attending the convention were Gallo Realty Associates Chris Beagle, Beth Evans, Kathy Ford, Aaron Hood, Chris Holt, Catherine Hughes, Cindy Hutchinson, and Andrew and Tricia Ratner.
Network members also attended the Sunshine Kids Benefit concert featuring the State of Rhythm-Live. All proceeds went to the Sunshine Kids Foundation, an organization supporting children with cancer. For all of 2014, the network raised over $1.6 million for the Sunshine Kids.
Additional Sales Convention activities included the Vendor & Exhibitor Showcase featuring real estate vendors, products and services, and the Steampunk City Theme Party at the World Market Center. Affiliate members typically use these events to build alliances and establish relationships for additional business promotion.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices will hold its 2016 Sales Convention in Dallas, Texas March 6-8.
