Excitement and Awards Combine as Fusion 2017 Wraps Up
The day started bright and early with the Awards Breakfast, presented by American Home Shield, which honored some of the best-performing members of the BHGRE® network.
The awards started by recognizing brokers and agents for excellence in a variety of areas, ranging from home warranty sales to technology, marketing and talent attraction.
Excitement and pride were palpable as some of the network’s top producers wowed the audience. We celebrated Margo Bohlin’s track record as a top producer at BHGRE Rand Realty for 20 years. Blair Myers impressed us with her outstanding performance, closing 386 units in 2016. Those stories, and several others, showed us it was a great year to be a part of BHGRE®.
The awards ceremony gave way to a panel moderated by BHGRE® CEO Sherry Chris. Sherry introduced outgoing Realogy Franchise System CEO Alex Perriello and his successor, COO John Peyton. The panel discussion touched on Alex Periello’s long history in the real estate industry and highlighted the importance of service, technology and transition planning for real estate professionals.
Once again, Zap took center stage during the discussion as Alex emphasized how Zap is the foundation for Real Estate 4.0 at Realogy. Alex spoke about the significant amounts of tech innovation and investments taking place in the real estate industry. “By uniting all BHGRE brokers under the same technology platform, BHGRE® will be able to deliver innovation to consumers faster than our competitors,” he said.
Mr. Perriello’s emotional farewell was capped by a visual reel of his time as CEO. He closed with a heartfelt piece of advice to the BHGRE® network. “Enjoy the ride, enjoy the journey,” he said to a standing ovation.
Brad Inman spoke at length about the role that technology has played in compressing the transaction timeline and how it will enable personalization and improve security. Another key takeaway was his urging for real estate professionals to embrace the advantages of technology as a way to improve the service they provide.
Zillow COO Amy Bohutinsky introduced her company’s groundbreaking consumer study, which polled over 13,000 consumers with 160 insightful questions. The report, which is available free from Zillow, promises a trove of insights and dispels some lingering industry myths about the homeownership habits of millennials and other groups.
Other highlights from the closing session included Jen Marchetti, CMO of BHGRE®, who shared insights from extensive meetings and interviews with agents and brokers. Her presentation, “What You Have Taught Me About Marketing,” touched on the power of the BHGRE® brand and the value it brings to brokers and agents every day. Jen reminded us that the Better Homes and Gardens® brand adds a layer of trust to BHGRE® and gives us a competitive advantage.
As the session drew to a close, optimism for the future was palpable, with excitement and anticipation already building up for the next Fusion conference.
