Five HomeSmart International Leaders Recognized with RISMedia 2021 Newsmaker Awards

HomeSmart International
Published: February 12th, 2021

Executives from 100-percent-commission model real estate franchisor selected as part of elite, nationwide group of 300 award winners

February 12, 2021 // Franchising.com // SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - HomeSmart International is pleased to announce that five company leaders have been recognized with the prestiges 2021 RISMedia Newsmaker awards for their positive contributions to the industry and their communities.

“I am deeply honored to have been chosen for a Newsmaker Award, but what I am most proud about is being joined by such an outstanding group of HomeSmart International leaders that live our values and culture every day,” said HomeSmart International Founder and CEO Matt Widdows.

RISMedia’s annual Newsmaker Awards recognize the achievements and leadership of 300 real estate trailblazers that have made a difference and led by example the past year. The honor is regarded as a pinnacle achievement for real estate professionals.

Newsmaker Awards are divided into the following categories: Achievers, Crusaders, Futurists, Influencers, Inspirations, Luminaries, Trailblazers and Trendsetters. HomeSmart International award winners represent a cross-section of the company and communities HomeSmart serves.

• Futurists Award: Matt Widdows, Founder and CEO of HomeSmart International
  In 2020, when other brokerages were rushing to implement technology so their brokers and agents could work from home, Matt’s vision for HomeSmart paid off because it already had the technology in place to succeed. He opened new offices at a time when many other brokerages were closing theirs and expanded mortgage, title and home warranty brands to provide a cohesive experience for consumers. HomeSmart is positioned for even more success in 2021.
• Luminaries Award: Ashley Bowers, President
  Since the start of the pandemic, Ashley has prioritized communication and creating a sense of transparency across the company. She has offered hope and a sense of support and community through the unprecedented times brought on by the pandemic. Going from a state of hypergrowth and thriving to managing numbers in preparation for a down market to a skyrocketing market in the second quarter, Bowers and team coped with the whiplash of the pandemic with flying colors.
• Inspirations Award: Britton Sanchez, Vice President Franchise Operations
  Britton played a key role in developing HomeSmart Helps, the company’s 501(c)3 nonprofit arm, and identifies monthly opportunities for agents and staff to help others. Thousands of employees and agents across the network have gotten involved. Sanchez’ team also worked together to prioritize the agent experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. They quickly switched to a fully remote workforce, improved service metrics and production time for agents, and centralized all five corporate operations so the team at headquarters could provide the highest level of service to agents.
• Crusader Award: Todd Sumney, Chief Industry Officer
  As the world went virtual, so did Todd’s team, creating new marketing and communications pieces for agents to use in their business, all to help agents and their clients buy and sell homes virtually. His efforts also included daily training, webinars and online meetings. Through his education, Todd introduced the concept of virtual open houses, tours and showings, opening his classes up to agents both inside and outside the network, filling an educational void to support professionals when business success seemed impossible.
• Achievers Award: Michael Swope, Chief Revenue Officer
  Despite the pandemic, Michael helped drive incomparable growth for the company in 2020. From leading corporate and franchised expansions to managing project plans and assimilating brokerages, he has spearheaded the company’s initiatives and led HomeSmart to the top seven largest brokerages in the country. By the end of 2020,  Michael helped HomeSmart not only gain 2,000 agents organically, but prepared the company for another year of amazing growth.

SOURCE HomeSmart International