Coldwell Banker Resort Realty holds annual awards banquet

At Irish Eyes restaurant in Lewes, Coldwell Banker Resort Realty recently held its brand relaunch and annual awards banquet, celebrating the many accomplishments of 2019.

Last year an additional 11 agents joined the Rehoboth, Lewes, Milford and Seaford offices. The combined efforts of all branches led to a continued strong presence as an industry leader.

Bruce Plummer, broker and chief operating officer, led the meeting and announced the unveiling of the new Coldwell Banker logo. Incorporating the familiar colors and CB letters, the new logo features a star, a visual mark representing two distinctive elements that exemplify the brand. First, the five-point star is a recognized mark of excellence, one that symbolizes the quality of service provided since 1906. Second, throughout history, the North Star has been the beacon explorers have used to guide them to the place they most cherish – home.

Sitting confidently above the CB, this North Star signifies that Coldwell Banker has been guiding people home for over a century, longer than any other real estate brand. “The rebrand reflects a modern, forward-thinking company that respects its rich heritage while focusing confidently on the future,” said Plummer.

Coldwell Banker Resort Realty’s annual compilation of client satisfaction survey results continues to speak to the level of professionalism among its agents. 2019 results revealed that 98.74 percent of survey respondents were “very satisfied” and 99.58 percent would recommend and/or use the services of Coldwell Banker Resort Realty again.

The rental division continued its growth in market share by increasing internet exposure for the company’s rental clients through partnering with websites such as Trip Advisor, Findrentals.com, Flip Key and VRBO. A team with decades of experience, the rental division welcomed summer guests with sodas, snacks, smiles and an occasional ice cream truck.

The sales department continued its sales strength countywide with four locations in Rehoboth, Lewes, Milford and Seaford combining for nearly 100 agents licensed in Delaware and several also licensed in Maryland.

Coldwell Banker Resort Realty recently celebrated 40 years in business.

In 2019, Coldwell Banker Resort Realty obtained approval from the Delaware Real Estate Commission to teach a new agent course called Propel. Encompassing 17 courses for newly licensed agents, Propel combines best practices, company tools and programs, and local market expertise to provide new agents with exactly what they need to run a business.

2019 brought continued commitment to the community in events such as feeding local homeless community members at the Immanuel Shelter in Rehoboth, bowling in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake event in Milford, hosting a pet adoption event in conjunction with Grass Roots Rescue, staffing a booth at Apple Scrapple Festival in Bridgeville and collecting food for the Food Bank of Delaware. The interoffice food drive collected 2,525 items totaling 1,918 pounds of food.

All four branches also came together to participate in the Milton St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Lewes Christmas Parade, Rehoboth Christmas Parade and a holiday toy drive.

“Critical to the success of our firm is the strength of the Coldwell Banker brand,” said Kathy Kiernan Newcomb, president. Coldwell Banker has remained strong as a real estate company for 112 years. Today, 94,000 agents are located in 3,000 offices in 44 countries worldwide. The Coldwell Banker brand continued to excel in luxury home sales in 2019, selling $144.4 million per day in $1 million-plus transactions.

Top producer awards for the firm were presented to: Skip Faust, Top Closed Listing Volume and Top Closed Sales Volume for the Rehoboth Branch; Julie Gritton, Top Closed Listing Volume and Top Closed Sales Volume for the Lewes Branch; Rick Bennett, Top Closed Listing Volume, and Lee Johnson, Top Closed Sales Volume for the Seaford Branch; Dana Byrd, Top Closed Listing Volume, and Joanne Milton, Top Closed Sales Volume for the Milford Branch.

Members of the President’s Silver Circle, recognized for outstanding performance in 2019, were Tricia Sulecki, Richard Tikiob, Kari Shellenberger, Teresa Queen, Linda Book, Ben Steward, Aimee DeBenedictis, NancyAnn Price, Christine Grace, Kathy Newcomb, LaSonya Oney, Brenda Hudson, Adam Gaull, Dana Caplan, Ruth Sivils, Dennis Barnes, Dana Byrd, Ken Wolfe and Trina Joyner.

Members of the prestigious President’s Gold Circle were Sally Chaney, Myles Martin, Bill Mantyla, Jeff Kemp, Rick Bennett, Harold Marmon, Melissa Rudy, Kathy Douglass, Beth Dorman, John O’Leary and Joanne Milton. Recognized in the Chairman’s Platinum Circle were Lee Johnson, Julie Gritton, Skip Faust and Nitan Soni.

Recognized for the 2019 Chairman’s Award, presented by their peers for outstanding service and professionalism, were Skip Faust for the Rehoboth sales office, Julie Gritton for the Lewes sales office, Lee Johnson for the Seaford sales office, Joanne Milton for the Milford sales office, and Myles Martin for the rental division.

Also recognized for Coldwell Banker Manager’s Choice, an award for outstanding commitment to the firm, were Dennis Barnes for the Rehoboth sales office, Michael Shockley for the Lewes sales office, NancyAnn Price for the Seaford sales office, Dana Byrd for the Milford sales office  and Ken Wolfe for the rental division.

Coldwell Banker Resort Realty honors the memory of Bill Vernon with an annual Coldwell Banker Resort Realty Pillar Award. This award is bestowed upon the firm’s agent or staff member who most exhibits the firm’s culture and core values of integrity, service, hard work, professional competence, cooperation and innovation. The 2019 award recipient was Julie Gritton.

Special recognition was also given to agents whose 2019 customer survey results revealed a 100 percent rating in each category answered. The 2019 Manager’s 100 Percent Club were Nitan Soni, Teresa Queen, Melissa Rudy, Christine Grace, Beth Dorman, LaSonya Oney, Joanne Milton, Aimee DeBenedictis, Kathy Newcomb, Trina Joyner and Dana Caplan.

“The strength of Coldwell Banker comes from top-producing sales and rental associates like these who give outstanding customer service, produce excellent results and have made a commitment to their clients, the firm and the community in which they excel,” said Plummer. “It is an honor to have them as part of our organization.”

Strength comes from longevity, commitment, loyalty and stability. Coldwell Banker Resort Realty was honored to recognize the following agents for a 20-year or longer commitment to the firm: Linda Book, Skip Faust, Kathy Newcomb, Richard Tikiob, Tricia Sulecki, Beth Dorman, Joy Hearn, Bruce Plummer, Irene Tillman, John O’Leary, Ellen Ewell, Pat Kelley, Chrissy Steele and Lucy Churchill.

Coldwell Banker Resort Realty’s vision statement is “to be the admired and trusted team of highly skilled and innovative real estate professionals passionately working in unison to create an extraordinary experience for all we serve.”

“We work diligently, one client at a time to accomplish this vision,” said Newcomb.

2020 brings continued success and innovation. Coldwell Banker has already been recognized as the 2020 Women’s Choice Award Winner by Women Certified Inc. Realogy, the Coldwell Banker parent company, was also designated as one of the Most Ethical companies for the ninth consecutive year by Ethisphere. 2020 will introduce a new AARP Benefits Program, the inaugural real estate program for AARP’s nearly 38 million members, a new partnership with Realogy Military Rewards program and a new Amazon partnership called Turnkey, giving buyers move-in benefits. Coldwell Banker will also introduce Real Sure Sell, a guaranteed cash offer for sellers, and Real Sure Mortgage, a program allowing home sellers to bid with confidence on their next home while marketing their current home.