MADISON, N.J. (Oct. 21, 2016) – Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, the original Silicon Valley real estate start up founded in 1906, announced the winners of its most prestigious awards during the company’s annual international conference, the 2016 Generation Blue Experience. The Chandler Barton Spirit, Preserving the Trust and Coldwell Banker Hero of the Year awards recognize the sales associate, manager, and broker/owner affiliated with the Coldwell Banker® brand who best exemplify leadership, business excellence and service to others. The winners were nominated by their peers and selected from approximately 84,000 professionals affiliated with the Coldwell Banker network worldwide.
“The brokers and agents honored with this year’s awards exemplify the admirable traits we encourage and praise within our organization, and we’re thrilled to recognize their achievements,” said Charlie Young, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “Their passion, dedication and leadership for service strengthen their global communities and preserve the Coldwell Banker brand’s core values.”
The 2016 winners of the company’s most prestigious awards are:
Coldwell Banker Chandler Barton Spirit Award
Colin Hartigan, owner, Coldwell Banker Fort McMurray, in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
Named after Chandler Barton, president of Coldwell Banker Real Estate from 1989 to 1996, this accolade honors his “can do” attitude and ongoing legacy that leaves a lasting impression on the Coldwell Banker network through an ability to overcome obstacles to achieve objectives.
Hartigan earned this year’s award for his inspiring efforts during the Fort McMurray wildfire and its aftermath. Demonstrating the “can do” spirit that previously ranked him as Canada’s top Coldwell Banker agent, Hartigan tirelessly rebuilt his brokerage operations and devoted his personal and business resources to help displaced residents in the ravaged community. Hartigan used his own home to house firefighters who came from across North America and around the world to battle the blaze. Hartigan is also Community Chair of this year’s United Way campaign, which hosted a Fire Aid benefit concert at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.
Coldwell Banker Preserving the Trust Award
Sam Rader, owner of Coldwell Banker Select in Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Preserving the Trust Award honors a member of the Coldwell Banker® network who has consistently and successfully exemplified the heritage of high standards, trust, loyalty and customer service throughout his or her affiliation with the Coldwell Banker brand.
Rader, who has spent 38 years in the real estate industry, affiliated his Oklahoma company with the Coldwell Banker network in 1989 and has become one of brand’s most iconic figures. Coldwell Banker Select, with operations in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and surrounding communities, has reached Chairman’s Circle status, the highest honor in the Coldwell Banker system, 25 times. The company has grown to 14 offices with 650 sales agents, closing more than 8,300 transactions and $1.3 billion in sales in 2015. Rader has given back to the real estate industry by serving as president on local and state Realtor boards, on the National Association of Realtors (NAR) executive committee, and as regional vice president for NAR, serving Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas.
Coldwell Banker Hero of the Year Award (co-winners)
D. Ralph Huff, III, owner of Coldwell Banker Advantage in Fayetteville, North Carolina and Helene Hutchings, sales representative, Coldwell Banker First Ottawa Realty in Stittsville, Ontario, Canada
The Coldwell Banker brand is known worldwide for its charitable efforts. The real estate company and network support the efforts of a seemingly limitless number of diverse organizations ranging from Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots and Adopt-a-Pet.com to hundreds of localized programs. The Coldwell Banker Hero of the Year embodies the brand’s passion for giving back to the communities we serve.
D. Ralph Huff, III has led his Coldwell Banker Advantage team since 1981. With 935 agents in 30 offices, it is now the largest real estate brokerage in the region and the fourth largest Coldwell Banker franchised brokerage in the nation. In addition to actively managing Coldwell Banker Advantage, Huff’s H&H Homes, which was founded in 1991, is one of the Carolina’s top homebuilders. Outside of homebuilding, Huff volunteers his time as a teacher, choir member, deacon and elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville where he recently led a $5 million fundraiser to build a 24,000 square foot addition to the church.
Earlier this year, Huff directed a team leading the charge to pass a $35 million bond that would improve parks and recreation areas in Cumberland County. It became the first bond approved in Fayetteville in over 20 years. He currently leads local economic development efforts with a committee of business leaders to build a downtown baseball stadium and finance the Civil War History Center to be built at the old arsenal site in Fayetteville. Of the many community awards he has won, Huff and his wife, Linda, most recently earned the Order of the Longleaf Pine, the highest award for civilian service from the state of North Carolina.
Helene Hutchings, a leading sales associate affiliated with Coldwell Banker First Ottawa Realty, has passionately worked to support children with cancer as founder and CEO of Hair Donation Ottawa. Founded in 2011, the non-profit organization began with the simple idea of fundraising for cancer research and donating hair for wigs for children with cancer who could not afford one. The organization has grown from raising $4,000 in its first year to $370,000 and more than 15,000 inches of hair just five years later. Hutchings has built a volunteer network of over 100 people and holds a number of fund-raising efforts each year, with donations made to the Ottawa Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario for Viral Oncolytic Research. She recently received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, a national recognition that honors the exceptional volunteer achievements of select Canadians from across the country. Hutchings was one of the first people in Canada to receive the Medal from the Governor General’s office during a ceremony at the Ottawa Hospital.
About Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier provider of full-service residential and commercial real estate brokerage services. Coldwell Banker Real Estate is the oldest national real estate brand and franchisor in the United States, and today has a global network of 3,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 47 countries and territories with approximately 84,000 affiliated sales professionals. The Coldwell Banker brand is known for creating innovative consumer services as recently seen by taking a leadership role in the smart home space, being the first national real estate brand with an iPad app, the first to augment its website www.coldwellbanker.com for smart phones, the first to create an iPhone application with international listings, the first to develop an iPad application (CBx) to easily bring big data into home listing presentations, and the first to fully harness the power of video in real estate listings, news and information through its Coldwell Banker On LocationSM YouTube channel. Coldwell Banker is a leader in niche markets such as resort, new homes and luxury properties through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® marketing program delivering exceptional experiences for all consumers served.
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