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Beverly Hills "rock star Realtor" Mauricio Umansky brings his billion-dollar magic to HAR’s eighth annual YPN ‘20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate Awards’

HOUSTON — (September 28, 2017) — The Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) has announced the winners of its eighth annual Young Professionals Network (YPN) 20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate Awards.

During a celebration luncheon on Thursday, October 5, Beverly Hills “rock star Realtor” Mauricio Umansky will present awards to 20 Houston-area real estate professionals, age 40 or younger, who demonstrated excellence in the areas of sales, leadership and community service during the past year. The winners, all members of HAR, represent what the selection committee considered an overall well-rounded Realtor.

Here is the complete list of 2017 winners and their bios:

JAMI BERTRAND, Elite Real Estate Services
Jami’s mother never achieved her dream of home ownership, but she instilled that dream into her daughters by taking them to visit model homes and telling them to “pick out” their bedrooms.  “I was homeless when I moved to Houston 10 years ago and many people who remember that and see me now are encouraged to achieve their goals and never give up on their dream.  A proud graduate of the Texas Realtors Leadership Program (TRLP), Jami hopes she is “leaving a legacy for our children, we are contributing to neighborhoods like I’ve grown up in, building beautiful, affordable homes that I personally put my finishing touches on.”

JAY BRADLEY, Equinox Realty Group
As a broker/owner, Jay’s strategy is to build a referral-based business, carefully matching his clients and their needs with his business model.  He is a major Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC) investor and will graduate from TRLP this year.  Giving back is his passion and integrity is his motto.  “My year-to-date money raised for charity as of July 20th is $25,000. My goal was to open my own brokerage and donate 10 percent of every transaction to charity. My office goal for our first year is $40,000 and we are well on our way!”

SIBEL CALISKANLAR, Keller Williams Memorial
With such an exotic name, it’s not hard to believe Sibel was approached to be stationed as a project manager with the CIA at the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan in 2001.  After deciding to stay stateside, one year after landing her first real estate job, she was hit by a drunk driver and underwent two years of rehabilitation. Her business strategy is to execute defined SMART goals by implementing the systems, tools and resources to deliver a high quality transaction for her clients.  As a proud graduate of TRLP in 2015, Sibel has served on the HAR International and the Risk Management advisory groups.

JILL DANIELS, Realty ONE Group, Experience
Since she was 16, Jill has been in sales and leadership, serving on national advisory panels with both Sears and Best Buy.  Described as an organized go-getter, Jill inspires others through the commitment she displays through her work, her family and leadership.  With only three years in the real estate industry, she is already a franchise owner. Her strategy is to elevate our industry through coaching and training.  As a TREPAC Major Investor, Jill has served on HAR leadership groups and is a current member of the 2017 TRLP class.  She has moved over 20 times in her life and lived in Alaska the longest.

CHRISTOPHER ELMI, Heritage Texas Properties
“Helping others with the biggest purchase of their life has been so rewarding, I love educating consumers and take great pride in my profession.”  As a proud father of six-year-old twins, Chris still finds time to be involved in community and charitable service along with leadership development all while pursuing his broker’s license. Chris is a forward-thinking Realtor who embraces technology and prides himself on being a paperless agent, able to do business anytime, anywhere.  A native of The Woodlands, ask Chris anything – he has deep roots and knows his community well.

RICARDO GONZALEZ, Realty World Memorial
In the early years, with only $7 in his bank account, Ricardo would find a way to take a bus to a listing appointment.  Today, he’s a top producer on the rise.  Ricardo has a two-fold business strategy “about not starving to death and having a roof over his head and, more importantly, to make sure that every client is happy enough with the service you provide that they will go out of their way to refer more business. Ricardo’s nickname is “Rickypedia” because he is a walking source of random facts about Houston.

ABBIE HOLLAND, Realty ONE Group Experience
Real estate is in her blood, starting with her mom’s career.  After being told she was overqualified for an assistant position, Abbie got her license and has skyrocketed ever since.   At only 33, Abbie opened a successful brokerage, has served in several leadership roles with HAR advisory groups and is committed to TREPAC as a Major Investor.  A recent personality test identified her as a “Commander.”  Fewer than three percent of people in the world fall into this category.  Abbie prides herself on delivering a high quality experience to her clients and agents. “Climbing mountains,” she says, “is all in a day’s work.”

IGE JOHNSON, RE/MAX Generation
Back during Ige’s loan officer days, “past clients kept asking me to help their family and friends find them a home and do their home loan, because they had a better experience with me than their past Realtors.”  These days, as a broker/owner, Ige has traveled the ups and downtimes of the market and has managed to grow a profitable brokerage and run a team of five.  She knows the value of advocacy to her bottom line and is a TREPAC Major Investor, has five designations and says her first name means “born feet first,” which she was! 

LOGAN LESTER, Team Sansone at RE/MAX Fine Properties
As a kid, one of Logan’s favorite things to do was ride her bike around the neighborhood looking at houses.  Three weeks after graduating from Texas A&M at the age of 21, Logan launched her real estate career, and within a few weeks, she closed on a million-dollar home.  She credits her journey in the Miss Texas USA pageant at 16 years old with changing her from an insecure girl into a confident woman. And in 2016, Logan was crowned Miss Houston.  “Besides my love for real estate, I have a huge passion for being a voice for others.”

NANCY MACIAS, Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS®
“I have placed many families into homes and love working with different people.  My customers are diverse and range from experienced investors to first-time buyers.  People have different goals, and I am fulfilled when I can make their goals a reality.  The most rewarding and unique challenges occur when my clients’ dreams become my own dreams.  Their pursuit of the American dream becomes my passion. Their sacrifices coupled with my good planning and experience help them become homeowners.  It drives and inspires me to be my very best and I get internally rewarded achieving this for my clients.”

EMELIE MAVLIGIT, John Daugherty, Realtors
Only two years in the business, and six real estate designations later, Emelie is a top producer on the fast track.  She took a leap of faith after a successful career in public relations and marketing to gain more independence and time with her daughter.  Her early education took her on a dance path and now she calls herself a “foodie and wanna-be chef” for family and friends.  As an adoptive parent, Emelie’s charity work hits close to home, supporting causes that promote education, advocacy and financial assistance for adoptive parents.

ERIN McKIE, Krueger Real Estate
The oldest of four siblings, Erin learned responsibility, discipline and the value of education at an early age.  With her degree from Texas A&M and advanced courses at Rice University, she entered the education world before obtaining her real estate license.  In her first year, Erin reached over $4.5 million in sales volume.  In high school, she created a club “just so I could name myself as president.” By her senior year, she turned the club into one of the top three in the school.  She has fond memories of a long rafting trip through the Grand Canyon and her childhood pet – a chinchilla named Princess.

QUENTON ROCKWELL, The Rockwell Team/Realty ONE Group Lone Star
Quenton describes himself as “the poster boy for persistence and determination in this industry.”  He says he has achieved a healthy balance in his life – one that allows him to be the husband, father he needs to be and make an impact on his community and offer skillful and trustworthy service to his clients.  After managing a major market radio station, I was the host of a nationally syndicated radio show for seven years that is still being played in Moscow.  He also plays in a punk band called The Shiny Darks making it to No. 4 on the UK rock charts.

KYE SAMPSON, Intero Real Estate Services
Currently an advisory group member for TREPAC, YPN and a student in the TRLP Class of 2017, Kye believes strongly in the power of advocacy and is a Major Investor with TREPAC.  She has a creative flair for producing snappy videos for her team the Sampson & Group.  Community service is part of Kye’s business model, so she partners and supports Give Back Homes and Habitat for Humanity.  She is an identical twin and recently starred on HGTV’s “Lakefront Bargain Hunt,” where she took the camera crew out to Missouri City.

MELISSA SHECHTER, RE/MAX 5 Star Realty
Being married to a police officer with two young boys while juggling a career as a top producer is not for the faint of heart. “Real estate allows me to be many things for my clients. I have had to be a counselor, adviser, friend, and shoulder to cry on, and then my favorite – a hero. I love my job for all these roles I get the honor to fulfill. I chase the challenge that comes with every transaction while trying to be the best mother and wife I can be.”  While short on time, Melissa still manages to support a long list of community charities.  And uniquely, she is part of an 1800s Indian Reservation and Trading Days reenactment group, sleeping in a teepee, shooting bows and arrows, throwing knives and making her own fire.

KELLY SIMON, Kelly Simon Properties
As a broker/owner, Kelly has learned to grow her firm into 24 agents by knowing when to delegate to her team in order to find the balance between career and family/personal life. Not only do she and her husband own a neighborhood bar, but somehow she finds time to coach Color Guard students and was the choreographer for high school performers in the 2017 Lady Gaga half time show in Super Bowl LI.  And the icing on the cake for Kelly is being named a Texas Monthly five-star agent for six years running.

SAVANNA STANFORD, Better Homes and Gardens Gary Greene
Savanna is an entrepreneur at heart with no desire to fit into the company mold.  Her business philosophy is “to grow a successful team that not only meets every team member’s personal financial goals, but that gives back to the community and our clients.”  She and her team are launching a new initiative to take a percentage of each closing and present a check to the charity of choice.  As a TREPAC Major Investor, Savanna has also served on the advisory boards for YPN, Engage and is a current participant in the 2017 TRLP class.

JULIA WANG, Nan & Company Properties & Christie’s International
Real estate was always part of Julia’s life as her dad was a broker for 20 years.  Julia worked her way through college as a waitress at a high-end sushi restaurant, graduating from University of Texas at Austin. She quickly bought and sold six different homes before taking the obvious step to becoming a REALTOR®.  With only two years in the business, Julia has risen quickly to the top while focusing solely on high-end leasing.  “I'm very proud of the fact that I have a perfect score on HAR from past clients.”

BRITTANY WATERMAN, Heritage Texas Properties
As a 10-year-old child, Brittany worked the phones at her dad’s property management company, which taught her about plumbing, HOAs , demanding clients and patience.  With a broad range of experience from legal assistant to hotel and restaurant management, Brittany credits “community involvement, leadership and compassion for others and animals for leading her on a path that has brought many worlds together.”  She is most proud of the transactions she’s done in the community where she grew up. They may not be high-dollar, but they are near and dear to her heart.

ELLIS YOUNG, Intero Real Estate Services
A self-described “overachiever,” just one look at Ellis’ high production tells you he shows up and gets it done, closing 42 transactions in his second year of business. “I work when others don’t. On vacation with my son at Disneyland, I’m the one that puts him on a ride and then takes a call so he doesn’t even know and I take care of business.”  Ellis is a team leader of two, along with his 11-year old son who thinks it’s cool that dad wrapped his Kia Sol with his real estate team’s photo and contact info. He says dad’s car is “a real chick magnet.”

The awards luncheon honoring HAR’s 2017 YPN winners, and featuring Umansky as keynote speaker, will take place on Thursday, October 5 at 11 a.m. at the Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight Road in Houston. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Texas Realtors Disaster Relief Fund to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

You may register to attend online at www.har.com/ypn. Please email any questions about the program to ypn@har.com.

Founded in 1918, the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR) is a 36,000-member organization of real estate professionals engaged in every aspect of the industry, including residential and commercial sales and leasing, appraisal, property management and counseling. It is the largest individual dues-paying membership trade association in Houston as well as the second largest local association/board of REALTORS® in the United States.

HAR.com, owned and operated by HAR, is an award-winning website that displays properties for sale or lease across the state of Texas. With more than 3 million visitors per month, HAR.com is the only local REALTOR® association run website that ranks in the top 20 real estate sites in the country.