This month, RISMedia is honoring some 300 real estate professionals as RISMedia's 2020 Real Estate Newsmakers. Each of these individuals—separated into eight categories—was either nominated by you, the RISMedia reader, or chosen by our editors.
These folks made newsworthy contributions within their own communities or the industry as a whole. They have dedicated their lives to a better real estate process. Here, we highlight five honorees who were chosen as Newsmakers in the Influencers category:
Darryl Davis, CEO at Darryl Davis Seminars
As CEO of New York-based Darryl Davis Seminars, Darryl Davis assists sales professionals in designing lives and careers worth smiling about. He accomplishes this through teaching hands-on listing and sales skills that increase listing inventory, help communicate value and make the mindset shift from sales to service.
"Real estate professionals change lives," says Davis. "My mission is to help them do so with more ease, less stress and a whole lot more fun."
Bill Gassett, REALTOR® at RE/MAX Executive Realty
Bill Gassett, a Massachusetts REALTOR®—has unique expertise in real estate technology, marketing and social media. He enjoys providing information that can help buyers, sellers and real estate agents make sound decisions. His website, Maximum Real Estate Exposure, experienced exponential growth in traffic last year, and it has become one of the industry's most recognizable sites.
"Real estate is a great business that allows endless growth opportunities if you are willing to put in the time, work and energy," says Gassett.
Michi Olson, Dean of Resources & Global Connections at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®
In her role, Olson is responsible for overseeing LeadingRE's network of 565 independent real estate firms in over 70 countries. She is known throughout the industry for her expertise in corporate relocation, business development, e-commerce and global business.
"LeadingRE's focus on quality and collaborative spirit create an environment where relationships drive business opportunities, supported by global resources that allow each member company to thrive," says Olson.
Mark Pruner, Director of New Development at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties
Mark Pruner is director of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties' New Development Group in Greenwich, Conn., focusing primarily on new residential developments and serving as a sales executive. Additionally, Pruner is a strong advocate for his community of Greenwich, itself, in print, online and in public.
"High-end real estate is changing, and to succeed–and for the community to prosper–you have to take a multi-pronged approach using new innovations while keeping the best of the traditional approach," says Pruner.
McKenzie Ryan, Agent at Compass
McKenzie Ryan is a Manhattan native who uses her Instagram account to share her in-depth knowledge of Manhattan and Brooklyn with prospective homebuyers. In addition to posting photos of well-known landmarks, she's made a name for herself by describing hidden gems and explaining how each neighborhood developed its character.
Ryan believes that when searching for real estate, people are interested in much more than square footage and amenities.
To view the full gallery of RISMedia's 2020 Real Estate Newsmakers, click here.
