End of an Era: Clark Toole Retires After 29 Years with Coldwell Banker
Coldwell Banker® has guided people home for nearly 115 years. Its steadfast legacy was built and shepherded with the passion, dedication, and expertise of some of the most remarkable leaders in real estate. Clark Toole exemplifies this legacy. On December 31, 2020, Clark will spend his final day as the legendary leader of Coldwell Banker […]
Coldwell Banker® has guided people home for nearly 115 years. Its steadfast legacy was built and shepherded with the passion, dedication, and expertise of some of the most remarkable leaders in real estate. Clark Toole exemplifies this legacy.
On December 31, 2020, Clark will spend his final day as the legendary leader of Coldwell Banker Realty and Coldwell Banker Commercial in Florida, representing more than 80 offices and more than 6,500 sales agents. As president of Coldwell Banker Realty and Coldwell Banker Commercial in Florida, and prior to that as president of Coldwell Banker Realty in Dallas Fort Worth, and Regional Vice President for Florida’s Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay regions, Clark Toole has bled blue for several decades.
He began his real estate career in 1975, selling homes to pay his way through graduate school at the University of North Florida, where he earned a Master of Business Administration in real estate and marketing, and quickly escalated to leadership as he found his way to Coldwell Banker.
Under his leadership, the Florida operation has closed more than $15.6 billion in residential sales and 39,744 transactions sides in 2019 alone. He has forged connections with international brokers and real estate professionals around the globe, promoting the benefits of Florida and its favorable business climate. His focus on bringing the Coldwell Banker excellence and exceptionalism to as many real estate sales professionals as possible has resulted in more than 60 walkovers and acquisitions in his career, helping to expand the Coldwell Banker footprint across both Florida and Texas.
As part of the company’s growth strategy, Clark took great care and pride in the talent he places in leadership positions. Clark’s personal mentorship has yielded some of the strongest local leaders in the Coldwell Banker Realty network, with many of his regional leaders being tapped for growth opportunities throughout the country. Clark starts his days early, often at his desk before the sun rises, studying the financial and production reports from the prior day. His earnest desire for every real estate agent in his company to not just succeed, to but to expand their business is the basis for his approach, usually rooted in the fundamentals of practice, ethics, and community.
During Clark Toole’s leadership as president, Coldwell Banker Realty’s non-profit foundation, Coldwell Banker CARES, raised over $3.6 million from 2003 through 2020 for more than 425 nonprofit educational, health, welfare, environmental and cultural arts organizations in Florida such as Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, the American Cancer Society Inc, Make-a-Wish Foundation, the USO and more.
Additionally, Clark has led initiatives to provide necessities for the local communities during times of need, including hosting numerous blood drives at the company headquarters. After Hurricanes Irma and Maria touched South Florida and Puerto Rico, hundreds of real estate professionals throughout Florida donated supplies, gift cards and their time to victims of the natural disasters. Florida offices collectively donated over 3,000 cases of water, more than 35 tons of supplies and thousands of dollars in cash and gift cards. More than 300 sales associates and support staff gathered across the state to load the supplies and coordinate drop-offs.
The legendary real estate career that Clark built was created on a foundation of hard work and passion for people. A walk-through Clark’s office, which is filled with photos of agent events, plaques of recognition, signs from company campaigns and marked-up market reports, showcases his deep dedication to his work. And although Clark quickly escalated into successful leadership, he has never forgotten where he started all those years ago. In fact, he has held tight to a note he received from his very first client, which reads, “Clark, thank you for finding us a home. There is nothing that can stop you.”
Four decades later, hundreds of grateful employees, thousands of successful agents and too many happy homeowners to count, Clark has proved that nothing has indeed stopped him.
Accolades from his leadership team:
“Clark has been a phenomenal leader, mentor and shining example that we’ve been blessed to have at Coldwell Banker. His passion, dedication to the real estate industry and his uncanny ability to support, motivate and inspire Coldwell Banker employees and agents will reverberate for years to come. Please join me in celebrating this fantastic accomplishment with Clark.”- M. Ryan Gorman, president and CEO Coldwell Banker.
“Clark has been a pillar and icon of Coldwell Banker Realty for 29 years and is one of the most respected and beloved figures within the industry. We thank Clark for his leadership, philanthropy, and most of all, his dedication to the Coldwell Banker family.” –Kate Rossi, executive vice president, Southeast, Coldwell Banker Realty.
“Clark’s accomplishments speak volumes, and the positive impact he has had on Coldwell Banker agents and employees is best viewed in his daily interactions with them. I am eternally grateful for his mentorship, professionalism and love of Coldwell Banker.” -Duff Rubin, Incoming President, Coldwell Banker Realty in Florida.
Clark’s incomparable legacy leaves a lasting impression on both Coldwell Banker and the real estate industry for decades to come. His retirement is exceptionally well deserved, and his friends, family and colleagues are supremely proud of him and excited to celebrate his retirement with him.
