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HOUSTON — (November 5, 2021) — The Houston Association of Realtors (HAR) has announced the winners of its 11th annual Young Professionals Network (YPN) 20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate Awards. The 20 winners, all HAR members, were selected from among a highly competitive field of entries and evaluated on the basis of excellence in sales, leadership and community service. They represent what the selection committee deems “an overall well-rounded Realtor.”

 

“These 20 honorees are 40-year-old and younger real estate professionals whose activities and philosophies reflect outstanding core values not only within the industry, but as members and stewards of their community,” said HAR Chairman Richard Miranda of Keller Williams Platinum. “We could not be prouder of their accomplishments and all that they represent.”

 

HAR livestreamed a virtual red carpet ceremony to honor the YPN 20 Under 40 Rising Stars in Real Estate award-winners on November 3. 

 

The following is an alphabetical list of the 2021 winners and their bios:

 

Lauren Ashley, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene – Champions

Armed with her degree from Texas A&M and a specialty degree in school psychology, Lauren worked as a school psychologist but did not feel her talents were being fully utilized.  She threw herself into real estate and in fewer than four years has become a top producer, winning awards in her firm.  She has served two years on the YPN Advisory Group, is active with Rebuilding Houston Together and participates in her firm’s community events.  She has even committed to the 10-year TREPAC pledge!  Lauren is guided by her philosophy to give ‘champagne service’ to all her clients.

 

Derek Boles, Legacy Homes & Properties

As broker/owner of legacy homes and properties, Derek’s company currently houses over 140 sales agents.  According to Yahoo Finance, legacy holds the designation of being the ‘largest black owned real estate brokerage in the state of Texas.’ Derek’s background includes public education and real estate investing. The success he has achieved today can be attributed to faith and family. Words he lives by are optimism, fairness and honesty, and he believes in pushing forward every day.  He’s active in his local community providing financial literacy support, volunteering at various school districts and loves to work with local youth sports teams.

 

Jessica Burton, IndyQuest Properties

Jessica believes in caring for her clients and striving for lifelong relationships. Her clever marketing techniques put people first and include hosting the year. She credits her mental and physical stamina to being active with frequent half marathons and even a half triathlon. Jessica has mastered all the HAR tools. As a top producer she may not have a lot of free time but she does give back whenever she can by volunteering for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Junior League and Houston Trial Lawyers Association.

 

Kristi Delafuente, JNK Property Group

As a lifelong learner, Kristi believes in being highly qualified to serve her clients and has earned nine real estate designations. With experience in home building, real estate investing, property management and more than 10 personal moves, she brings a full complement of service to her clients. As a member of the YPN Advisory group, she has taken the 10-year TREPAC pledge, she is very hands-on with her firm’s community support, is a volunteer for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and has even donated her own bone marrow to a complete stranger saving his life and watching him continue on through college cancer-free.

 

Jonathan Denissen, FYI Realty – Humble

After graduating college, Jonathan launched his career in the title business, rising to become a vice president of his company. Never thinking he would go into real estate sales, he was ‘dragged in’ after his dad suggested he get his license to handle all the referrals that kept coming his way.  He’s had numerous leadership positions including chairman of the HAR Katy Networking Group, two vice president positions with WCR and now carries on the family legacy as broker/owner of FYI Realty. Jonathan is passionate about community service and gives back through involvement with his church, teaching a ‘financial peace’ course, frisbee and soccer along with serving on his HOA.

 

Jihye Deveau, Compass RE Texas

Jiyhe moved from South Korea to Texas at the age of 13 not knowing a word of English.  She later launched her accounting and finance career with some big companies like KPMG and Phillips 66.  Prior to starting her family, she was an avid runner and finished 10 marathons. As a top producer and resident of the Heights, she volunteers for many community events in her neighborhood and has served on the YPN Advisory Group and is a big proponent of TREPAC.  With four real estate designations she believes in giving her clients high value with an unwavering client first mission statement.

 

Cassie Dieudonne, FYI Realty – Katy

Cassie has been described as a leader, a top producer, a mentor, a life-long learner, and innovator. In only four years, she has helped nearly 100 families find their dream home.  She is a member of WCR, YPN Advisory Group and a TREPAC major investor who has made the pledge to donate $10,000 in the next 10 years.  Her wide variety of experiences including rodeo, retail, restaurant server, cheerleader and  actress have given her the early life skills that help her navigate the biggest transactions on behalf of her satisfied clients.

 

Jennifer Elmi, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene – The Woodlands

Jennifer started her entrepreneurial career as a kid in her father’s store, making up businesses, selling stuff and dreaming about starting her own business.  With an MBA in marketing and management, she went on to sell $100M in the new home industry. Partnering with her REALTOR® husband seemed like the next logical step and today as co team leader she is seeing her team grow quickly. While enjoying her 11-year-old twins, she does find time to support her favorite animal causes by volunteering at the Houston Zoo and the Montgomery County Animal Shelter.

 

Clayton Estrems, RE/MAX Associates Northeast

Being an air flight controller with the U.S. Marine Corps taught Clayton the importance of  ‘doing the small things well.’  While being a top producer, he has a reputation of being a DIY guy who is a go-to for real estate expertise, marketing,  technology, and overall fix-it guy who makes it happen.  While juggling family and career, Clayton does take time to volunteer for the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, coaching T-ball and loves to cook so much that his clients call him the Cooking REALTOR®! As for his business strategy, Clayton’s toddler couldn’t say it much better…. ’Daddy, we don’t want to disappoint anybody and make them lose their house.’ 

 

Shirmel Gumbs-Heyliger, Doug Erdy Group

Raised on the island of St. Croix, Shirmel worked as a National Guard Family Assistance Coordinator, helping deployed family members, and later transitioned to raising her family and launching a career in real estate.  Her motto is,  ‘From first contact to welcome mat is more than just a catchy phrase…it is a promise to get every client across the finish line.’  Leadership and community service are a big part of her life serving on HBREA, WCR and VAREP, GHBA, along with establishing Humble ISD scholarships, mentoring at Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scout troupe leader and mentoring new agents and still racking up awards and committing to the TREPAC 10-year challenge.

 

Mariam Hejazi, Keller Williams Memorial

With a bachelor’s degree in biology, Mariam decided to leave her passion behind and establish a new career in real estate. As a native Houstonian who is highly engaged in her community, Mariam knew she had the contacts to get a jumpstart in real estate.  One of her guiding philosophies is to ’totally commit to her clients while not missing out on time with your loved ones.’ She has been heavily involved with the Junior League and has volunteered for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for several years. Mariam credits her strong work ethic and success in part with being the daughter of an immigrant.  She loves and knows Houston like the back of her hand and has become the go-to person for friends and clients.

 

Alicia Jammer, Compass RE Texas

Alicia has an entrepreneurial spirit and loves to take courses in real estate to better serve her clients. Just take a look at all of her seven designations in 7.5 years!  She prides herself on re-invention using her analytical skills and ability to ‘read people’ to give her an edge.  As a top producer with Compass, Alicia doesn’t have a lot of free time, especially with three children, but she still manages to attend their games and volunteer for the charities that are dear to her heart, even spending time in Zambia.

 

Samantha Knoerr, Infinity Real Estate Group

While attending college, Samantha landed a part-time assistant position with a top producing team where she worked in almost every position learning the business from the ground up.  She did so well that, today, she is the COO and Managing Broker working side by side with her sponsoring broker.  She attributes much of her success to staying involved with your local MLS, having a business coach and mentor along with a thick skin that allows her to thrive under pressure.  Samantha has served in HAR leadership as a member of the Risk Management committee and teaches numerous 

classes at national conferences.  She is a strong believer in supporting her community and giving back and is teaching those same values to her two young sons.

 

Claire Liang, RE/MAX Fine Properties

As a top producing agent and team leader, Claire credits her experience as a business owner and the trusted relationships she earned for giving her a kickstart when she changed her career to real estate.  With more than 270 five-star reviews, her team is so successful they established a satellite office to handle the high volume of business. She created a non-profit to help single Chinese Americans find their ‘Mr. or Mrs. Right’ and has matched up more than 40 couples. Claire volunteers her time to the non-English speaking community and has helped more than 200 families file their homestead exemptions to claim their tax breaks.

 

Kasia McCormick, Compass RE Texas

Traveling the world for seven years working as a U.S diplomat, Kasia eventually set down her roots in Houston. She found the homebuying process frustrating, so she decided her skills could give her the foundation she needed to launch her real estate career while still raising her family. Kasia has a history of activism and community engagement having served in the Peace Corps in Senegal. She continues her volunteer work in numerous roles in her Heights community along with support for All Saints Catholic Church and Peace Corps projects around the world.

 

Tory Ramirez, Krueger Real Estate

Tory started his career working as a manager at a blood bank while also running his family’s screen shop printing business. He is described by his broker as a ‘natural leader who inspires greatness in his teammates.’  Rising to become a top producer, he also mentors and develops new agents in his firm. He serves as a leader on the YPN Advisory Group and is a graduate of the Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program and has committed to the 10-year TREPAC challenge. Tory attributes his success to absorbing as much as he can about real estate and the industry as whole, and more importantly, sharing that knowledge with other members of the team in hopes of building them up, and becoming a nationally recognized real estate coach one day.

 

Lexi Sakowitz-Marek, Compass RE Texas

Lexi grew up in a well-known family in Houston.  After a stint in TV, Lexi decided to follow in the footsteps of her ‘real estate rock star mama' Laura Sweeney.’ Continuing her family’s legacy of charitable and philanthropic efforts, she gives her time to numerous organizations including SEARCH. Houston Symphony, the Houston Zoo and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  Her strategy is to exceed her clients’ expectations at every point and this philosophy has kept her referral business booming and her clients coming back. 

 

Daniela Sumbera, Keller Williams Realty Northeast

Daniela’s mottos include 'find a need and fill it' …'driven and compassionate.' With her University of Houston business degree in hand and years of property management experience, she created the successful Sumbera Team. Early on, when Covid-19 almost shut down real estate, she recognized the value of virtual tools like HAR Virtual Open House and her MLS Platinum subscription as effective ways to bridge the gap when in-person interaction was at its low. As one of the youngest members to be elected to the HAR Board of Directors, she is also highly active in her community and a proud Sterling R TREPAC investor.

 

Amy Wallner, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene – Post Oak Park

Amy is a second-generation REALTOR® and has a reputation for being able to win over just about anybody!  She says the pandemic has given her a tighter bond with her clients so she can be their sight, hearing and sense of smell in a home.  As a top producer, she has worked with clients from London, Scotland, Singapore and Dubai.  She’s a proud TREPAC Sterling R investor and what may be most unique about Amy is that she taught yoga to the Texas A&M linemen on Kyle Field!

 

Cole Watkins, eXp Realty

As founder and team Leader of The Bridge Group, Cole and his wife Kelly run a top producing team.  In only five years, his firm produced more than $64 million in sales last year. Early on, Cole recognized the importance of hiring a top coach to help you stay on course saying it has paid for itself multiple times over.  He also credits his quarterly client  

retention appreciation parties as a popular strategy to stay in touch with his sphere.  Giving back is an important part of his life and he supports and volunteers for K9 Angels, Feed the Hungry and Little League Baseball.

 

Photo courtesy of TK IMAGES

 

About HAR

Founded in 1918, the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR) is a 47,000-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.