Brokerage Beat: News from Compass, E&V, Coldwell Banker, C21 

Editor's note: The brokerage business is a busy one, with frequent moves, mergers and milestones. Here we highlight some of the latest activity among brokerages across the U.S. and globally.

Compass welcomes teams in New Jersey, Florida

Compass is welcoming two teams of experienced pros in the New Jersey and Florida markets. The brokerages are Team Soha, formerly with RE/MAX and focusing on downtown Jersey City to south of Bergen County; and SWF Premium, formerly with Engel & Völkers and based in Naples, Florida.

Soha Fontaine leads her namesake team. She has more than 20 years of real estate experience and has been named to RE/MAX's Hall of Fame, Circle of Legends and Lifetime Achievement group. The team draws 80% of its business from referrals, and past clients have included such well-known figures as NY Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke and rapper and media personality Joe Budden.

In a news release announcing the move, Fontaine states, "Compass's technology is a game-changer for agents such as myself, simplifying tasks and minimizing trial-and-error."

There are six other members of the team: Anne Ricchio, Manuel Castillo, Natasha Ryan, Kiana Gomez, Kanishka Jain, and Samantha Smith, who are based out of Compass's Hoboken office. 

SWF Premium: In Naples, Florida, 30 agents from the SWF Premium Real Estate team have joined Compass in its new downtown office.

Managing Director Adam Vellano is joined by Clark Minker as sales manager and Stevan Stanisic as marketing adviser in the Naples brokerage. SWF had $321 million in sales and 278 transactions in 2023. Top agents Ryan Chiodo, Patrick Hill and Tom Ostrander also have moved to Compass.

"We are thrilled to announce Compass' new real estate office in downtown Naples on Fifth Avenue. Welcoming so many exceptional agents is a testament to Compass' dedication to the Naples market," Vellano said in a new release.

"There's amazing organizational growth," Ostrander noted. "With more than 30,000 agents and 400 offices across the U.S., I'm impressed by the referral network for a second-home market like Naples. The opportunities will be fabulous for my clients to get more exposure that every property deserves."

Engel & Völkers opens shop in downtown Portland, Oregon

Engel & Völkers has expanded its presence in Oregon with the opening of Engel & Völkers Portland Rose City. Located downtown, the brokerage serves the Greater Portland area, including the neighboring cities of Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard and more. 

The office is led by license partners Sam Real and Ramiah Thomas, a duo with decades of expertise in luxury real estate. Real has more than 15 years of experience in Los Angeles, and is license partner of another E&V office in Bend, Oregon. Thomas has more than 19 years of real estate experience, and has lived in Portland since 2007. He joined E&V in 2018.

"Opening our new shop in Portland is a great opportunity to serve a market known for its innovation and unique character," Thomas said in a news release. "We are committed to delivering the highest standards of service and professionalism to our clients, backed by the prestigious Engel & Völkers brand. We look forward to being an integral part of the Portland community."

Coldwell Banker Warburg welcomes new and returning pros

Coldwell Banker Warburg in New York is welcoming back agent David Harris and broker Bill Kowalczuk, who are returning after working briefly at other brokerages. CBW also welcomes two new team members, broker Sean Adu-Gyamfi and agent Guy Hobson.

CBW has been serving New York for more than 100 years. "Having Bill Kowalczuk and David Harris rejoin our team is a testament to the strength and reputation of our firm," said Kevelyn Guzman, CBW's  regional vice president, in a news release. She added that she was thrilled to welcome Adu-Gyamfi and Hobson. 

"I've always felt very supported at CBW. The communication is always on point, which helps things get done more quickly and efficiently," Kowalczuk said in the news release. "And because CBW is a boutique firm, we (agents and brokers) all share our knowledge with each other. The interaction — everyone grows from it." Kowalczuk and Hobson also have affiliated their New Jersey licenses with Coldwell Banker.

In addition to these four industry veterans, CBW recently brought onboard several other new agents and brokers, including David Sokolowski and Josue Gonzalez.

Century 21 launches systemwide week of charitable activities

Starting Sunday, July 21, Century 21 Real Estate agents and brokers worldwide will participate in a week of activities to promote strong communities and raise funds for worthy causes. Several of the events benefit Easterseals, which Century 21 has supported for 45 years.

C21's donations to Easterseals over 45 years total $138.5 million.

Events vary widely by location, and some have already taken place. They include the Century 21 Novus sponsoring "Reels for Seals," a fishing tournament at  Lake Wedowee in Alabama; Century 21 Affiliated will hold the Easterseals Golf Classic in July 24 at the Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita, California; and Century 21 Bryanston in South Africa will host a monthlong charity drive to benefit orphaned pets and children in need of shelter.

This is the third-annual such fundraising campaign, which started with a single day in 2022 to celebrate the brand's anniversary. It was expanded to a week last year.

"People often remark that, as a profession, real estate is local and focused on supporting homeownership, which is true. But this expression also describes the Century 21 network's all-encompassing commitment to elevating the individual communities they serve," said Mike Miedler, president and CEO of Century 21.