2015 C.A.R. Industry Advocates

ADVOCATES FOR REAL ESTATE 

Champions for Our City 

Chicago REALTORS ® . They serve as champions for the City 

of Chicago – and for you. 

The Chicago Association of REALTORS ® wants to thank these 

professionals for their commitment to elevating the real estate 

industry. Their hard work and dedication is instrumental 

in keeping Chicago a vibrant place to live and work. Our 

communities and the real estate industry can only continue 

to thrive with the strong advocacy of professionals like these. 

These determined leaders paved the way for us to successfully 

block a proposal that would have mandated sprinklers in 

Cook County, and a high-rise sprinkler mandate that would 

have crippled our industry and destroyed homeowner’s high- 

rise condominium values. Their steadfast support also helped 

drive our successful negotiations with the city to minimize 

the negative impact of new affordable housing fees to help 

protect buyers from additional 

property costs. 

That’s advocacy in action. These 

are the victories that make these 

Chicago REALTORS ® champions. 

For more information, please visit 

www.ChicagoREALTOR.com. 

EDUARDO 

GARCIA 

JUDY 

GIBBONS 

MICHAEL 

GOLDEN 

DANIEL 

GOODWIN 

MABÉL 

GUZMÁN 

MAURICE 

HAMPTON 

DAVID 

HANNA 

KRIS 

KELLER 

JAMES 

KINNEY 

JIM 

MILLER 

LAUREN 

MITRICK 

ZEKE 

MORRIS 

DAVID 

NASO 

BARBARA 

O’CONNOR 

BARRY 

PAOLI 

GREG 

PEKARSKY 

GERALD 

PERLOW 

NYKEA 

PIPPION- 

McGRIFF 

AKOS 

STRAUB 

NANCY 

SUVARNAMANI 

REBECCA 

THOMSON 

KEVIN 

VAN ECK 

ERIKA 

VILLEGAS 

JOHN 

VRANAS 

DAN 

WAGNER 

MARTIN 

WALSH 

SARAH 

WARE

RON 

ABRAMS 

SONIA 

ANAYA 

NICHOLAS 

APOSTAL 

REBECCA 

ARCE 

ELIZABETH 

BALLIS 

BRIAN 

BERNARDONI 

CARRIE 

BEY-LITTLE 

GENIE 

BIRCH 

THOMAS 

BRETZ 

JOE 

CASTILLO 

TOMMY 

CHOI 

TONYA 

CORDER 

G. JOSEPH 

COSENZA 

BRETT 

DECKER 

JUAN 

DEL REAL 

GINGER 

DOWNS 

MATTHEW 

FARRELL 

GASPAR 

FLORES 

JOHN 

KMIECIK 

HEIDI 

LAWTON 

NICK 

LIBERT 

PATRICK 

LYNCH 

ERIN 

MANDEL 

BARBARA 

MATTHOPOULOS 

MARCOS 

MENDEZ 

DANIEL 

MERRION 

JAMES 

MERRION 

SAM 

POWELL 

HUGH 

RIDER 

MILLIE 

ROSENBLOOM 

TIMOTHY 

RYAN 

RONALD 

SEARS 

VICTORIA 

SILVANO 

MATT 

SILVER 

MARGIE 

SMIGEL 

GAIL 

SPREEN 

DAVID 

WOLF 

DEENA 

ZIMMERMAN

Chicago REALTOR ® Sonia Anaya 

Among the Industry’s Top Advocates for 

Clients and the Real Estate Industry. 

As a major supporter of policy which makes sense for property owners, 

Sonia Anaya, America Real Estate, Inc., was recently featured in Modern 

Luxury’s Men’s Book Chicago for her contributions to the industry. 

Sonia is the managing broker and owner of America Real Estate, Inc. 

She obtained her first license as an agent in 1990, and in 1998, she 

opened her own brokerage firm. 

Sonia has been very active in her community at the local, state, and 

national levels. 

In Chicago, she’s a member of the school board at St. Bruno Catholic School 

and active in Casa Michoacán (FEDECMI), planning and executing activities 

for her community here and in her hometown of La Magdalena Michoacán, 

Mexico. Sonia’s work has helped the people there construct a new school, 

finish building the local church, and aid people suffering from cancer. 

Sonia Anaya 

America Real Estate, Inc. 

Sonia has been a longtime member of the Chicago Association of 

REALTORS ® , serving as a board member from 2010-2011. She also 

served on the 2010 Inaugural Committee, the 2011-2012 Nominating 

Committee and the 2011-2012 REALTORS ® Political Action Committee 

(RPAC). She was named a Top Producer in 2010 and 2011, with over 

$ 

4 million in sales. She is a member of the President’s Circle and is a 

Golden “R” Member. 

Additionally, Sonia is a member of the Illinois Association of REALTORS ® 

(IAR), the National Association of REALTORS ® (NAR), and the National 

Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). She has 

participated in NAHREP meetings and conventions at the local, state 

and national levels. 

The Chicago newspaper HOY has recognized her for her tireless work 

and dedication to honest, reliable service to the home buying and selling 

public, as well as her volunteer work with the Neighborhood Assistance 

Corporation of America (NACA). 

Sonia is a wife and mother of four children, who encourage her to set 

a good example and be successful; they give her great pride.

Chicago REALTOR ® Nicholas Apostal 




Nicholas Apostal, Coldwell Banker Residential, was recently featured in 

Modern Luxury’s Men’s Book Chicago for his contributions to the industry. 

Nicholas has established himself as one of the top residential REALTORS ® 

in Chicago and a leader in the residential brokerage community. He is a 

member of national, state and the local Chicago Association of REALTORS ® , 

where he co-founded the local committee of the Young Professional 

Network. He’s earned his Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR ® ), 

Certified Negotiating Expert (CNE) and Relocation certifications, as 

well as the Previews Luxury Property Specialist and Certified Residential 

Specialist (CRS) designations. 

Nicholas Apostal 

Coldwell Banker Residential 

Nicholas began his real estate career in 2001 as a junior associate at 

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Lincoln Park, and by 2006 

Nicholas partnered with his mother, Edie Apostal, and hired two 

associates to form The Apostal Group. Nicholas also trains agents in 

Coldwell Banker’s New Agent Development program and speaks at 

seminars for the company and regional associations. In the past 10 years, 

he has been recognized as a top producer by the Chicago Association 

of REALTORS ® , received multiple awards from industry groups and been 

included in Coldwell Banker’s President’s Club of elite agents. 

A lifelong resident of Chicago’s North Side, Nicholas comes from a family 

that has been active in real estate investment, management, development 

and sales for more than 40 years. He attended public school at Lincoln 

Elementary, received his high school diploma from Francis W. Parker 

School in Lincoln Park, then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in 

psychology from Boston University. He previously worked as a program 

coordinator and fundraiser for an international non-profit organization in 

New York City. He is an active member of the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Auxiliary 

Board and is involved with multiple local charity and civic organizations. 

Nicholas currently lives in Logan Square with his wife and six-monthold 

daughter.

Chicago REALTOR ® Elizabeth Ballis 




Elizabeth Ballis, Coldwell Banker Residential, was recently featured in 

Modern Luxury’s Men’s Book Chicago for her contributions to the industry. 

For more than 30 years, Elizabeth has brought passion and energy to 

helping people find a place that will truly be home. Her success has 

made her one of the top 10 Coldwell Banker agents (out of 3,500) 

in Chicago. Elizabeth understands the difference between a house 

and a home, and remembers that each client’s interests are unique. 

Elizabeth provides uncompromising level of service and builds long-term 

relationships with her clients. 

Elizabeth Ballis 

Coldwell Banker Residential 

Focusing on the North Side of Chicago, Elizabeth is an expert on current 

market conditions, Chicago’s housing values and the local business climate. 

Her dedication and market knowledge are unmatched, and she is also 

recognized as an expert negotiator. Elizabeth has represented her clients 

in over 1,000 transactions, maintaining communication at every step and 

ensuring that her client’s needs are met. Even beyond the closing, Elizabeth 

remains a remarkable resource for countless clients. 

In addition to Elizabeth’s professional expertise, she believes strongly 

in giving back to the community. She is a founder of the Coldwell Banker 

Charitable Foundation and contributes a portion of each of her transactions 

to help fund housing-related endeavors for those in need. She has 

also shown strong community involvement with the neighborhood 

associations as Past President of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, 

and public schools. 

A resident of Lincoln Park for over 30 years, Elizabeth now calls the Near 

North Side of Chicago home. Married for over 43 years, Elizabeth has 

raised two daughters while maintaining her successful real estate career.

Chicago REALTOR ® Brian Bernardoni 



Brian A. Bernardoni is the Senior Director of Governmental Affairs 

and Public Policy for Chicago Association of REALTORS ® . He oversees 

lobbying for C.A.R., as well as commercial real estate and economic 

development issues. Since 2003, Brian has raised over $ 2 million and 

been a Major RPAC Contributor for RPAC. He is a NAR 2014-2015 

REALTOR ® Party Trustee. 

Brian has served both Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Richard M. Daley 

on various working groups and commissions. Prior to his position 

with C.A.R., he represented Chicago’s high-rise office building 

industry for BOMA/Chicago and was Executive Director of the 

University Village Association. He is a Past President of the Chicago 

Area Public Affairs Groups and the Cliff Dwellers Club, and he holds 

a board seat on the Civic Federation. Since 1986, Brian has received 

numerous awards for his civic and charitable efforts, including, in 

2002, the City of Chicago’s Community Builder Award, the highest 

civilian honor bestowed by police. 

Brian A. Bernardoni 

Chicago Association 

of REALTORS ® 

He completed his undergraduate and graduate work at Illinois State 

University, where he was Student Body Vice President and a graduate 

member of the Academic Senate. Brian, his wife Carrie and their four 

daughters are residents of the Chicagoland area.

Chicago REALTOR ® Tonya Corder 




Tonya Corder, Century 21 Affiliated, was recently featured in Modern 

Luxury’s Men’s Book Chicago for her contributions to the industry. 

Tonya Corder’s leadership ability has been present since the early aspects 

of her life. In high school, she was recognized in Who’s Who Among High 

School Students. Prior to real estate, her leadership skills were utilized in 

the insurance industry, where she was Vice President handling Directors & 

Officers Liability insurance for the boards of Fortune 500 companies and 

other non-profit organizations. 

Throughout her real estate career, Tonya has served on numerous 

task forces and committees for her local association, the Mainstreet 

Organization of REALTORS ® (MORe): Grievance, Pro-Standards (cochairperson), 

Government Affairs (Chairperson), Finance (Chairperson), 

Nominating (Chairperson) and Board of Directors (Treasurer, Presidentelect 

and President). 

Tonya Corder 

Century 21 Affiliated 

While President of MORe, Tonya embraced a diversity platform. She was 

instrumental in helping the association implement an all-inclusive diversity 

statement, and led the way for MORe to develop memberships with the 

National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), 

National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) and Asian Real Estate 

Association of America (AREAA). 

Tonya believes that REALTORS ® should be advocates for the public to 

help promote protective legislation for consumers. Investing in our industry 

through RPAC, giving at least the fair share amount, is beneficial in 

accomplishing this goal. 

In addition to the local real estate board, Tonya is also active with the 

Illinois Association of REALTORS ® (IAR), is a graduate of the IAR Leadership 

Academy and serves on its Nominating, Public Policy. Business Diversity 

(Chairperson) and Education Committees. She is a past member of IAR’s 

Board of Directors. She is actively involved with the National Association 

of REALTORS ® (NAR), serving on the Diversity Committee 

and Board of Directors. 

Tonya is Managing Broker/Team Leader with Century 21 Affiliated in 

Homewood, IL. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from 

DePaul University.

Chicago REALTOR ® Brett Decker 




Brett Decker, American Financial Solutions, was recently featured in 


Brett has over 17 years of experience in originating mortgages in the 

Chicago/Chicagoland area. Brett has experience with Conventional, FHA, 

203K, VA, & Reverse Mortgage Loans. Brett’s experience in real estate 

and mortgage lending has given him the opportunity to help hundreds of 

families obtain financing for their dream home. Brett’s extensive experience 

has given him the opportunity to help shape the industry by meeting with 

elected officials at both the state and federal level, and by being highly 

involved in the Women’s Council of REALTORS ® , National Association of 

REALTORS ® and the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® . 

Brett Decker 

American Financial Solutions 

Brett has served as President & CEO of American Financial Solutions, Inc. 

since 2000. He is a member of National Association of REALTORS ® 2015 

Conventional Financing and Policy Committee, and has served on various 

committees for both the Women’s Council of REALTORS ® and the Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® . 

Brett attributes his success to excellent customer service skills and always 

keeping the needs of his client first. Although purchasing a home or 

refinancing your existing home can be very exciting and a bit stressful, 

Brett’s experience with the mortgage process allows him to guide you to the 

result you are looking for in a smooth and professional manner. Offering a 

diverse group of funding sources enables Brett to custom tailor the mortgage 

solution that best fits his client’s profile and long-term financial objectives. 

Lending is no longer a “one-size-fits-all” industry and Brett’s detailed 

approach to selecting the “best” product provides his clients substantial 

savings over the life of the loan. 

As a lender, Brett is always here to answer all of your questions and help to 

make your dreams come true.

Chicago REALTOR ® Gaspar Flores 




Gaspar Flores, Su Familia Real Estate, was recently featured in Modern 

Luxury’s Men’s Book Chicago for his contributions to the industry. 

Gaspar is consistently recognized on a state and national level for his 

exceptional sales performance. He has closed over 100 transactions 

annually since 2010. The effective management of more than 

200 relationships each year, including residential and commercial 

sellers, buyers and lenders illustrates Gaspar’s greatest gift. He is an 

unprecedented change of pace for the sales scene. 

Gaspar has the capability to illuminate anyone’s day within minutes. 

With a reminder of the sun shining, comments about a game day win, 

a local historic feature or a memory of his childhood, Gaspar regularly 

improves the livelihood of those around him because he is regularly 

improving himself. 

Gaspar Flores 

Su Familia Real Estate 

Gaspar’s sales volume is only a glimpse of his impact on the real estate 

industry. Gaspar is a family man who advocates housing stability and 

enhancing the community. Overall, he is a champion for progress. 

In 1997, Gaspar established Su Familia Real Estate. To date, he is the only 

original owner of this irreplaceable neighborhood resource. Su Familia 

employs, trains and facilitates students’ transition into the workforce. 

For three years, Gaspar served on the Chicago Association of 

REALTORS ® Board of Directors, where he successfully gathered the 

support to amend HB4050, a legislative action that would have limited 

funds disbursed by lenders in certain neighborhoods. Gaspar is also a 

co-founder of his beloved Chicago Chapter of the National Association 

of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). As an industry leader in 

the third largest city of America, Gaspar Flores has pioneered the way for 

generations of REALTORS ® to come.

Chicago REALTOR ® Eduardo Garcia 



As a major supporter of policy which makes sense for property 

owners, Eduardo “Eddie” Garcia, Realty of Chicago LLC, was recently 

featured in Modern Luxury’s Men’s Book Chicago for his contributions 

to the industry. Garcia began his career in real estate in 2006 with 

Southwest Suburban Realty. 

As he helped family after family find the home of their dreams, he realized 

what an honor it was to walk them through the process and how much joy 

it brought him. This was when he knew that he had finally stopped working 

and was doing what he truly loved. 

Garcia envisioned a company that would stand above the competition 

by encompassing his impeccable work ethic and his love for real estate. 

In 2012, Realty of Chicago was born. Realty of Chicago closed on over 200 

properties in 2013, including 104 closed by Garcia. As his ambition grew, 

his company grew with it. In 2013, he expanded his market with a new 

office in Wicker Park. 

Eduardo “Eddie” Garcia 

Realty of Chicago LLC 

Because of his perseverance and determination, not only to succeed but 

also to provide clients with a one of a kind service, Garcia has continued 

to surpass his wildest expectations. He received the Top Producer Award 

by the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® (C.A.R.) in 2012, and was 

ranked in the top 1 percent by C.A.R. in 2013 and 2014. He ranked 

52 nd out of over 40,000 real estate agents in the country, and 5 th in the 

state of Illinois as a Latino agent in 2014. He is currently on the Board of 

Directors for the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Hispanic 

Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). 

Garcia knows that purchasing a home can be a technical and complicated 

process, but clients trust in his vast experience in the industry and know 

they can count on his reliability, personable demeanor and the passion he 

has for real estate, which is evident with every transaction.

Chicago REALTOR ® Judy Gibbons 




owners, Judy Gibbons, Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, was 

recently featured in Modern Luxury’s Men’s Book Chicago for her 

contributions to the industry. 

Judy is currently a Broker Associate at Jameson Sotheby’s International 

Realty and a Chicago Association of REALTORS ® Top Producer. Judy 

takes great pride in using her expertise and resources to perfectly 

unite buyers and sellers while providing them with an exceptional 

experience. 

Judy is a past president of the North Shore-Barrington Association of 

REALTORS ® , and has served as a Director for the Illinois Association of 

REALTORS ® . Gibbons also served on the nominating committee for the 

Illinois Association of REALTORS ® . 

Judy Gibbons 

Jameson Sotheby’s 

International Realty 

Judy is currently the Programming and Education Committee Chair 

for the Women’s Council of REALTORS ® for Chicago and the State 

of Illinois. 

As a major investor for the REALTOR ® Political Action Committee, 

Gibbons believes in protecting the rights of property owners: 

“I believe we have a duty to protect and educate homeowners. 

We must work tirelessly together to protect our rights.”

Chicago REALTOR ® Mabel Guzmán 




owners, Mabel Guzman, ahwd, @properties, was recently featured in 


Mabél has been advocating for clients/consumers and the industry 

since 1997, and is known for her honesty and ability to build 

relationships. Mabel was the 2011 President for the Chicago Association 

of REALTORS ® . She initiated the “Chicago Difference” campaign, 

charged the Finance Committee to reduce member dues and traveled 

to Poland on a trade mission to sign an accord between C.A.R. and a 

Polish real estate association to collaborate on education and advocacy. 

Passionate about the role of real estate in public policy, Mabél testified 

as the 2014 Chair of NAR’s Conventional Financing and Policy Committee 

before a U.S. Senate subcommittee in Washington, D.C. about the 

importance of helping millions of responsible, creditworthy prospective 

homebuyers. She served as NAR’s 2015 Liaison to Committees for Global 

Real Estate. 

Mabel Guzman 

@properties 

Mabél was the 2013 Chair of the Government Affairs and Public Policy 

Member Involvement Group. She served on an Illinois Association of 

REALTORS ® working group to set a bright line on foreclosed condo 

fees, and initiated a property tax work group to start a dialogue with 

legislators and educate consumers. 

Mabél was a driving force behind Chicago’s efforts to implement the 

federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), and worked as an 

advocate for fair tax policies. 

Mabél is a member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS ® - Chicago 

Chapter and its 2002 President and the 2009 Member of the Year. 

She was awarded the 2012 Community Achievement Award by the 

Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate 

Practitioners (NAHREP) and was the awarded the 2012 REALTOR ® of the 

Year by the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® . In 2014, she received 

the Presidential Medallion for Outstanding Service from the Illinois 

Association of REALTORS ® for her work with Habitat for Humanity.

Chicago REALTOR ® Maurice Hampton 




owners, Maurice Hampton, Centered International Realty Corporation, 

was recently featured in Modern Luxury’s Men’s Book Chicago for his 

contributions to the industry. 

As a visionary real estate Managing Broker and CEO of Centered 

International Realty Corporation, Maurice Hampton brings innovation 

and drive to the real estate industry in a host of areas, including property 

investments, management and appraisals, contract negotiations and sales. 

Firmly committed to serving others, Maurice has helped countless 

families find their dream home. Driven by a desire to see communities 

grow and maintain sustainability, Maurice’s mission is always to educate 

the buyer on market trends and advise him or her on the most viable 

solutions for their real estate needs. 

Maurice Hampton 

Centered International 

Realty Corporation 

A native Chicagoan, Maurice is more than familiar with the diversity 

and richness of Chicago’s many neighborhoods and townships. In 

fact, it’s his love for the city and his desire to see everyone have the 

opportunity to own their dream home that first sparked his desire to 

enter the real estate industry. 

A graduate of Western Illinois University with a B.S. in Health Service 

Management, it’s Maurice’s diverse education and career background, 

which includes community outreach, management and marketing, that 

has served as a springboard for much of his success. 

Maurice’s passion and drive for the community extends beyond the 

real estate industry. With a passion for youth, he is a board member of 

the Bailey Boy A.D.E. Foundation, a non-profit organization committed 

to fostering growth and development and educating individuals in the 

performing arts. 

When Maurice isn’t serving others, he can be found spending time with 

his wife and two children.

Chicago REALTOR ® Kris Keller 




Kris Keller, National Realty Network, was recently featured in Modern Luxury’s 

Men’s Book Chicago for his contributions to the industry. 

Kris is founder and Principal of National Realty Network, and brings a wide range 

of experience to the brokerage and consulting profession. 

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Finance with an emphasis in real estate, Kris 

began his professional career appraising real estate for an MAI in Chicago. He then 

went to a major Chicago transportation company with extensive real estate holdings 

throughout Illinois and the Central United States. Kris was directly responsible for 

appraisal and evaluation of all company-owned land and buildings in 10 states. 

Kris broadened his real estate experience as Assistant Vice President and Corporate 

Officer for a large real estate syndication company with some $ 12 billion of 

properties in its national portfolio, including hotels, office buildings, shopping 

centers and multi-family residential complexes. As part of the company’s due 

diligence process, he performed a thorough analysis of each potential acquisition. 

In 1990, Kris started his own firm, where his analytical ability and well-rounded 

background have resulted in a high level of success for himself, his clients and 

his agents. 

Kris Keller 

National Realty Network 

• NSBAR (North Shore-Barrington Association of REALTORS ® ) 

Past Chairman of the Board 

– 2010 Realtor of the Year Award 

– 2013 Humanitarian Award 

• CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) 

Past Board Member of Illinois Chapter 

– 2008 Charity Service Award 

– 2012 Charity Service Award 

• NICAR (Northern Illinois Commercial Association of REALTORS ® ) 

Past Board Member 

• IAR (Illinois Association of REALTORS ® ) 

Past Board Member 

– Commercial/Investment Committee and Public Policy and Government Affairs 

Committee 

• Center for Enriched Living 

Board of Directors Emeritus - Helps the developmentally disabled 

– 2007 Champions Award 

– 2008 Presidents Award 

• NAR (National Association of REALTORS ® ) 

– 2013 National Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Commercial 

Real Estate Industry 

• OUTREACH - Fundraised and helped package nearly 500,000 meals for the hungry in 

the last several years

Chicago REALTOR ® Nick Libert 




owners, Nick Libert, Exit Strategy Realty, was recently featured in Modern 


Nick lives daily through his mantra: empowering lives through real 

estate. Since 1998, he has been helping people buy, sell and invest in 

property across the Midwest, and since 2001, been involved in brokerage 

management and ownership. Awarded local, regional and national 

awards by both Keller Williams Realty and Exit Realty, he is the broker/ 

owner of Exit Strategy Realty, Exit’s largest franchise in the Midwest. 

With a passion for training and coaching, Nick started Exit Strategy Realty 

in 2009 with eight agents, and since then has grown the operation to a 

regional powerhouse, boasting over 150 sales and leasing agents selling 

residential, commercial and investment property across Northern Illinois. 

Nick Libert 

Exit Strategy Realty 

He also remains deeply active with his own clientele, being consistently 

awarded the Top Producer designation by the Chicago Association of 

REALTORS ® , and is a five-time recipient of Chicago Magazine’s “Five 

Star Real Estate Agents” award (2011-2015). 

Earlier this year, Nick launched his second company, Nick Libert 

Development, focused on the purchase, renovation/improvement and 

resale of properties in Chicago neighborhoods looking for beautification. 

He is also heavily involved on the board of EdgeAlliance, a Chicagobased 

charity fighting homelessness and providing vital human services, 

and served as Dining Out for Life 2015 chairperson for our city. 

Nick serves on the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® Grievance 

Committee, and is a regular contributor to HGTV on such shows 

as “House Hunters,” “Good Buy/Bad Buy,” and the new “A Tale of 

Two Cities.”

Chicago REALTOR ® Barry E. Paoli 



Barry E. Paoli of CENTURY 21 McMullen Real Estate, Inc. has had 

a strong work ethic all his life. As a first-generation Italian American 

from the DePaul area of Lincoln Park in Chicago, his first jobs included 

delivering groceries and flowers, which helped pay for his grammar and 

high school tuition. After high school, he was very fortunate to land a 

job at a local printing company, where he remained for 11 years until he 

decided to make a serious career change. 

In 1972, he was offered a real estate sales position by an owner of Ben 

Friend Realty. With virtually no experience, he became the #1 agent 

in Northwest Chicago in his second year in real estate. During his 

third year, he met Robert J. McMullen, owner of McMullen Realtors 

(established in 1945). Barry partnered with Robert and ran the small 

three-agent office, which eventually grew to seven agents in just a few 

years. When Mr. McMullen retired in 1980, Barry became the sole 

owner of the company. Along with General Manager John Guest, Barry 

grew the company to 15 agents and moved to larger quarters, and in 

1983, he bought a CENTURY 21 franchise. 

Barry E. Paoli 

Century 21 

McMullen Real Estate, Inc. 

And the rest is history. Over the course of thirty years, Barry built up 

CENTURY 21 McMullen Real Estate, Inc. to what it is today: the number 

one CENTURY 21 Office in all of Chicagoland and the entire state of 

Illinois, a top ten CENTURY 21 Office in the country, and among the 

top twenty CENTURY 21 Offices in the world, with billions of dollars 

in lifetime sales. Today, the company has over 180 licensed brokers, 

an experienced management team and a full-service support staff that 

is housed in a beautiful, state-of-the-art, 16,000 square foot building 

that Barry himself developed and named “Tuscany Terrace” to honor 

his Tuscan roots. The company prides itself on its customer-centric 

business model; superior customer service lies at the root of its business. 

And, with the help of Barry’s youngest daughter Angela, the company 

continues to make advances in marketing and technology, positioning it 

as a prime choice for brokers looking to establish a career and a fierce 

competitor in today’s market.

Chicago REALTOR ® Grigory Pekarsky 




Greg Pekarsky, Vesta Preferred, was recently featured in Modern Luxury’s 

Men’s Book Chicago for his contributions to the industry. 

Greg Pekarsky, Managing Broker/Owner of Vesta Preferred, is a professional 

top producing Chicago REALTOR ® . A Detroit native, Greg had his debut in 

Chicago real estate in January 2008. He quickly worked his way to the top 

of the industry, achieving a National 30 under 30 Award in 2012 from the 

National Association of REALTORS ® and has been a top producing Chicago 

REALTOR ® since 2013. 

Greg founded Vesta Preferred with his business partner in October 2009. 

Vesta has reached national acclaim for their work in leasing and sales. 

Founded with the same core ethics and values Greg has built his career on, 

Vesta continues to rank as a highly-rated real estate company on Yelp.com. 

Greg Pekarsky 

Vesta Preferred 

Greg has been a real estate advocate for as long as he’s held his license. 

Chairing the 2010 Young Professional Network board for the Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® , Greg led the charge to win the highly-coveted 

national large network of the year award. Ever since chairing the YPN, Greg 

has served on numerous committees and was awarded the REALTOR ® 

Community Service Award in 2013. Currently, he sits on the Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® Board of Directors. 

Specializations include servicing first-time home buyers in the City of 

Chicago along with extensive experience with sellers/investors/renters. 

His hard work and persistence has brought him to a consistent top ranking 

among Chicago REALTORS ® . 

Greg’s other charitable work includes being a Big Brother though Big 

Brother Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago since 2010, and chairing 

the Associate Board of Gateway Green from 2012-2014. He has also 

earned a C.A.R. Good Neighbor Award for helping to change the face of 

neighborhoods through high-quality real estate developments. 

Greg is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Finance.

Chicago REALTOR ® Nykea Pippion-McGriff 




owners, Nykea Pippion-McGriff, Dream Town Realty, was recently 

featured in Modern Luxury’s Men’s Book Chicago for her contributions 

to the industry. 

Nykea is a proud Chicagoan and has spread her roots throughout the 

city, making her the ideal choice for finding your perfect home. Nykea 

possesses an in-depth knowledge of all things Chicago and is an expert 

in the city’s geography, neighborhoods and amenities. 

Prior to beginning her real estate career, Nykea spent 10 years as a sales 

manager in various industries. Her management background has made 

her the perfect candidate for managing your real estate projects. Nykea 

is adept at achieving her clients’ real estate goals due to her extensive 

training in consultative and problem solving techniques. 

Nykea Pippion-McGriff 

McGriff – Dreamtown 

Nykea has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Southern Illinois 

University, and is a licensed Illinois Managing Broker. Recently, the 

National Association of REALTORS ® (NAR) appointed her Federal 

Political Coordinator of the 1st Congressional District. Nykea works 

tirelessly to promote initiatives that help and support both homeowners 

and the real estate industry as a whole. As 2015 Vice President of 

Membership for Women’s Council of REALTORS ® , Chicago Chapter, 

Nykea works to promote the WCR mission. 

In addition, Nykea is a Graduate of the REALTOR ® Institute (GRI) and 

holds the following Realtor certifications and designations: Accredited 

Buyers Representative (ABR), Accredited Distressed Property 

Representative (ADPR), Broker Price Opinion Resource (BPOR) and 

Short Sale Foreclosure Representative (SFR). Nykea helps her colleagues 

continue to advance and succeed as an instructor for Midwest Real 

Estate Data (MRED), a REALTOR ® MLS system.

Chicago REALTOR ® Sam Powell 




Sam Powell, Dream Town Realty, was recently featured in Modern Luxury’s 

Men’s Book Chicago for her contributions to the industry. 

A real estate professional since 2002, Sam is passionate about making 

the industry better, through education with consumers, peer-to-peer 

sharing, or through her volunteer work as the 2015 Women’s Council of 

REALTORS ® Illinois President-elect, 2014 Women’s Council of REALTORS ® 

Chicago Chapter President, and as the Game Day Operations Manager 

of the Chicago Force, a women’s semi-professional tackle football team 

(2013 National Champions), as well as an active member of the Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® Professional Standards Committee. 

Sam is thrilled to be working at Dream Town Realty, a company that 

both complements the team’s not so inner geek and also supports 

the growth of the geek for the benefit of the team, the company and, 

hopefully, the industry. 

Sam lives in the West Loop, and is originally from Delaware and Rochester, 

N.Y., where she went to school at the Rochester Institute of Technology. 

Sam Powell 

Dreamtown 

Sam is passionate about technology - both personally and professionally, 

her family - partner, Jen and chocolate lab, Afis, true crime stories (what 

she affectionately refers to as “murder and mayhem”) and helping others. 

As an example of helping others, she actively works to put useful items 

into the hands of people who can use them - from furniture to guitars to 

blenders and clothes -if real estate clients leave these items 

behind at their property. 

Sam has held the following leadership positions: 

• 2015 Women’s Council of REALTORS ® Illinois Chapter President Elect 

• 2014 Women’s Council of REALTORS ® Chicago Chapter President 

• 2014 Chicago Agent Magazine, Who’s Who 

• 2014 Chicago Association of REALTORS ® Community Service Award 

• 2014 Association VIP Nominee, Chicago Agent Magazine 

• 2013-Present RPAC Major Donor 

• 2013 Industry MVP Nominee, Chicago Agent Magazine 

You can follow Sam on facebook.com/askforsam to see what she’s up to at 

any time.

Chicago REALTOR ® Matt Silver 




owners, Matt Silver, Urban Real Estate, was recently featured in Modern 


A Broker and Director of Professional Development with Urban Real 

Estate, Chicago’s premier real estate firm, Matt’s experience, expertise 

and reputation are instantly recognized. His areas of specialization 

include condominiums, townhomes, single-family residences and 

investment properties, whether you are buying or selling. 

Matt’s dedication to real estate is evident in his success through 

numerous awards, designations and his tireless association work. 

Matt Silver 

Urban Real Estate 

Most recently, Matt was elected to the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® 

officer position of President-elect and is currently serving as Treasurer on 

the Board of Directors. Matt also chaired the Education Subcommittee 

for the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® . In the recent past, he served 

on the Board of Governors for the REALTOR ® Institute of Illinois and 

eventually was named Dean of the program and served as the Chair for 

the Working Group for REALTOR ® Institute. Matt also won C.A.R.’s 2013 

REALTOR ® Achievement Award. 

Matt is President of the Real Estate Education Foundation Board for the 

Illinois Association of REALTORS ® , as well as Chair of the Education 

Work Group. Matt sat on the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® (C.A.R.) 

Audit Committee, served on the C.A.R. Finance Committee and chaired 

the Professional Standards and Ethics Committee. Matt is an NAR, IAR 

and local board Certified Mediator. In 2010, Matt was selected for Illinois 

Association Leadership Development Program, and graduated from the 

IAR Leadership Training Academy in 2010. 

IAR appointed Matt as the Federal Political Coordinator for Congressman 

Brad Schneider of the 10th Congressional District of Illinois. 

Matt graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s 

degree in the College of Business, School of Hotel, Restaurant, & 

Institutional Management.

Chicago REALTOR ® Margie Smigel 




Margie Smigel, The Margie Smigel Group, LLC, was recently featured in 


Margie began her odyssey in real estate in Boston in the 1970s, and 

moved to Chicago in the late 1980s. 

She became a filmmaker and video artist after studying at The School of 

the Museum of Fine Arts. Seeking funds to complete a film she had shot 

in Boston, Margie started selling real estate on the South Side. The film 

was never completed, but her career in real estate took off. 

Margie Smigel 

The Margie Smigel Group, LLC, 

Margie was a founding broker and co-owner of a Hyde Park brokerage 

that worked with independent developers to create and market new 

developments in the neighborhoods of Woodlawn, Bronzeville, 

Washington Park and South Shore. Bringing her past talents to the 

projects, she created marketing names, logos, signage and advertising for 

these three- and six- and 12-flat developments. Her team designed and 

furnished models, and brought people from all over Chicago to move into 

neighborhoods they had never even driven through before. The business 

was named one of the 100 fastest-growing businesses in Inner City 

America by ICIC and Inc. Magazine in 2005. 

Margie now owns a small boutique firm in Printer’s Row, working in all of 

the neighborhoods of Chicago. She is still an investor as well as a broker, 

because she believes in real estate as the best possible investment and 

a secure way to build wealth. She supports the work of the REALTOR ® 

organizations to promote and protect the rights of property owners and 

those who want to become property owners. A former member of the 

Chicago Association of REALTORS ® Board of Directors, she also sits on the 

Professional Standards Committee to ensure that the real estate business 

being done in Chicago is ethical, honest and of the highest caliber.

Chicago REALTOR ® Gail Spreen 



Gail Spreen is the President and Owner of Streeterville Properties. 

She has been a real estate broker since 1994; from 1994 to 2007, 

she was also a certified real estate appraiser. Gail has focused her 

career entirely on the Chicago market, specializing in the Streeterville 

neighborhood and downtown core, and working with large developers 

in the City. 

Gail received her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of 

Business in 2005 with majors in real estate management, marketing 

and entrepreneurship. She exemplifies a true real estate professional, 

with disciplines and market knowledge to assist her clients in all 

aspects of their home buying and selling experience. 

Gail Spreen 

Streeterville Properties 

Gail is proud to call Streeterville home. She is extremely active in both 

the residential and business communities. As five-time President of the 

Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR), she is continuously 

working to keep Streeterville a neighborhood, collaborating with city 

departments and developers to make improvements to enhance, 

improve and create value for the neighborhood. 

She is also very involved in the Magnificent Mile Association, where 

she has served on the Board of Directors and various committees, as 

well as the Streeterville Chamber of Commerce. 

Recognized by her peers as an industry leader and expert in downtown 

Chicago real estate, Gail is routinely invited to speak at real estate 

forums and to neighborhood community groups, and various real 

estate publications, media and community newsletters seek out her 

expertise. A loyal advocate for her neighborhood, its residents and 

her clients, she is an invaluable asset to the real estate community.

Chicago REALTOR ® Akos Straub 



“Boom,” isn’t just a catch phrase muttered by one of Chicago’s top 

producing agents on a regular basis. “Boom,” is when something great 

happens, when someone does something fantastic, or when at the end 

of the day there is nothing but accomplishments trailing behind you. 

As a Chicago native and Loyola University Alumni, Akos Straub knows 

the Chicagoland area and its citizens and what they are looking for when 

it comes to exceptional service and quality real estate. 

Straub is the CEO of The Group | RE at Coldwell Banker Previews 

International. Straub and his talented team are ranked top 1% in Chicago. 

In fact, Straub has consistently been recognized as one of the top producers 

for Coldwell Banker and has been recognized as a member of the Coldwell 

Banker International President’s Circle for outstanding sales performance year 

after year, an honor bestowed upon the top elite of all Coldwell Banker NRT 

sales associates nationwide. He remains a multi-million dollar top producer 

each year since 2005 and serves on the Board of Directors for the Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® (C.A.R.) 2013-2015. 

Akos Straub 

Coldwell Banker 

Previews International 

Straub was selected by Chicago Real Estate Magazine as one of the 

“Top 40 under 40” in Chicago Real Estate, and was also recognized as 

a Top Achiever and recipient of the Top 5 Producers Award. He was 

in a featured topic in the Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine titled: Secrets to 

Today’s Investment Market and 10 Pitfalls to Avoid. Straub has served on 

multiple committees for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and 

the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® . 

Straub is extremely marketing savvy and has a great understanding of 

how homes should be marketed. He is honored to deliver an awardwinning 

real estate website to his clients and uses skills learned from 

his professional history to deliver a solid business presentation to assist 

clients in making well-informed real estate decisions whether purchasing, 

selling or leasing. His priority has always been to offer his clients the 

highest level of service, market knowledge and integrity. 

As Straub says it best, “Boom.”

Chicago REALTOR ® John Vranas 




owners, John Vranas, Vranas Ventures, Inc., was recently featured in 


A Chicago native and graduate of Loyola University Chicago, John is 

the principal of Vranas Ventures, Inc. He has been involved in the 

rehabilitation, leasing and management of over 10 million square feet of 

multi-family, commercial and retail investment properties in the Chicago 

metropolitan area. He is a trained Mediator for REALTOR ® member 

disputes and chairs Arbitration and Ethics Hearings on behalf of several 

local REALTOR ® Associations. 

The 2003 President of the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® , John 

also served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of 

REALTORS ® , chairing its Real Properties Operations and Federal Taxation 

Committees. NAR inducted him into the RPAC Hall of Fame in 2010 and 

the Illinois Association of REALTORS ® designated Vranas the 2013 Illinois 

REALTOR ® of the Year. John is currently a Commissioner of the City of 

Chicago Special Service Area #26 Board. 

John Vranas 

Vranas Ventures, Inc. 

From 2009 to 2013, John served as President of the Board of Directors 

of the Emergency Fund, which provides immediate financial assistance 

and related services to help Chicago’s low-income individuals and 

families through a crisis. John helped facilitate a consolidation with the 

Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness in 2011 to form All Chicago - 

Making Homelessness History, an organization that effectively combines 

immediate resources with long term strategies to address the complex 

issue of homelessness. 

A resident of Lincolnwood with his wife Annette, they have two married 

sons. John is a member of the Lincolnwood School District #74 Board 

of Education, where he serves as Secretary and a member of the Niles 

Township District for Special Education #807 Governing Board where he 

serves as Vice President. From 1993 to 1999 he served as President of 

the Skokie Fairview School District #72 Board of Education.

Chicago REALTOR ® Daniel Wagner 



Daniel Wagner is Senior Vice President of Government 

Relations for the Inland Real Estate Group of Companies. He has 

been a licensed real estate broker since 2004 and holds Series 7 

and Series 63 Security licenses. 

Dan currently serves on numerous real estate industry and governmental 

boards and committees. He is President Elect of the Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® (C.A.R.). He serves on the Illinois Association 

of REALTORS ® Board of Directors and is Vice Chair of the REALTOR ® 

Political Action Committee Trustees. For the National Association 

of REALTORS ® , he is Chairman of the Commercial Legislative and 

Regulatory Advisory Board and was recently named 2016 Commercial 

Liaison. He is also a commissioner on the DuPage Airport Authority 

and serves as the Chairman of the Authority’s Capital Development 

Committee. He is Chairman of the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of 

Commerce and actively involved with the Village of Oak Brook. 

Daniel Wagner 

Inland Real Estate Group 

As a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Dan 

has been a significant contributor to and advocate for the Marketplace 

Fairness Act currently in debate by the U.S. Congress. Dan is also 

a member of the Investment Program Association’s Public Affairs 

Committee and part of the Real Estate Roundtable’s 1031 Like Kind 

Exchange Coalition. He is a board member for the Civic Federation 

of Chicago and active in the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois 

Manufacturers Association, Illinois Retail Merchants Association and 

the United States Chamber of Commerce. 

In 2014, he received the Advocacy Award from the Illinois Park and 

Recreation Association for his work on behalf of special needs children 

in his community. Dan is a longtime volunteer for the Conservation 

Foundation and the Wellness House, as well. 

Dan obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Illinois 

State University. He is married and has four children, three of whom 

are triplets.

Chicago REALTOR ® Martin Walsh 

among the industry’s Top Advocates for 



owners, Martin Walsh, @properties, was recently featured in Chicago 

Social Magazine for his contributions to the industry. 

Martin is an expert negotiator. For more than twenty years he negotiated 

complex financial transactions as a trader at the Chicago Mercantile 

Exchange. His proficiency has been utilized by the most significant players 

in the financial world, including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Citibank, 

UBS, and many more. Martin understands the various, intricate, and 

sensitive needs of clients who require a superior level of professionalism. 

His experience navigating diverse economic conditions and wide range 

of markets has created an impressive record of success maximizing 

profitability while minimizing risk exposure and expense. 

Martin Walsh 

@properties 

Martin has quickly become a leader in the REALTOR® ® community. He is 

a Past-President of the North Shore-Barrington Association of REALTORS ® , 

and has served as a Director for the Illinois Association of REALTORS ® . 

His current committee work includes Executive, Finance, Professional 

Standards, Education, and Government and Political Affairs. He is also 

a major contributor and fundraiser for the REALTOR® ® Political Action 

Committee. Martin works tirelessly protecting and promoting the rights of 

property owners, “We are instrumental in defeating unwarranted property 

taxes and educating lawmakers about promoting home and property 

ownership. It is our job to be the watchdog of the American Dream” 

A graduate of Northwestern University and lifelong resident of the North 

Shore, Martin is at home in many diverse environments. 

INDUSTRY 

ADVOCATE 

Martin’s extensive charity work includes: The Challenged Athlete 

Foundation, Bright Pink, Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure, Immerman 

Angels, Wounded Warrior Foundation, The North Shore Alano, The Sierra 

Club, PAWS Chicago, and Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue.

Chicago REALTOR ® Sarah L. Ware 




owners, Sarah L. Ware, Ware Realty Group, LLC, was recently featured in 


Sarah L. Ware is Principal and Managing Broker of the newly-formed 

Ware Realty Group, LLC and former partner of The Carter Ware 

Group, Inc., where she served as co-founder. Sarah leads the real 

estate brokerage group, where she provides sales, leasing, research 

and consulting services to wide array of clients. Sarah has developed 

and implemented creative sales techniques and innovative marketing 

strategies for Chicago’s ever-changing real estate market. 

Sarah’s career in real estate began at R.M. Chin & Associates in 1994 

and continued to flourish in 1997 at U.S. Equities Realty, where she 

honed her skills in the commercial industry. During her seven-year tenure 

at The Carter Ware Group, she was able to excel in her field of real estate 

by taking on several leadership positions that she still holds today. 

Sarah L. Ware 

Ware Realty Group, LLC 

Sarah has sold over $ 30 million in real estate, developed acquisition and 

disposition marketing strategies for a wide range of community focused 

clientele, and is continuously recognized as a Top Producer by the Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® and has several mentor-mentee business 

relationships with organizations where she is able to flourish professionally. 

In addition, she continues to work with several organizations focusing on 

their real estate needs in underserved communities throughout Chicago. 

Since co-founding The Carter Ware Group, Sarah has worked to develop 

acquisition and disposition marketing strategies for a wide range of 

community-focused clientele. 

Sarah is a native Chicagoan and a proud resident of the South Shore 

community, and passionate about real estate. Sarah also is involved in 

many civic opportunities and many other real estate initiatives throughout 

the City of Chicago.

Chicago REALTOR ® Deena Zimmerman 




Deena Zimmerman, Sperry Van Ness, was recently featured in Modern Luxury’s 

Men’s Book Chicago for her contributions to the industry. 

Deena is an award-winning broker who has worked in the real estate industry 

since 2004. Deena’s skills in negotiating and her attention to detail have proven 

to be invaluable to all parties in a transaction. 

Deena began her career as a top-producing agent focusing on property leasing 

and sales at The Lord Companies, after which she joined Helios Commercial 

Realty until they joined forces with Jameson Commercial in 2010. 

In addition to her work with Sperry Van Ness, Deena has built an extensive 

network of contacts with her involvement in several organizations on both the 

local and national levels. Deena served as Chair of Illinois Young Professionals 

Network (YPN) in 2012, which lead to the National Network of the Year award. 

She was also honored by IAR in 2013 with the Outstanding Service Award. 

Deena Zimmerman 

SVN | Chicago Commercial 

Deena is a graduate of the 2014 class of the National Association of 

REALTORS ® Leadership Academy. She is also an advisory member of 

REALTORS ® to the Rescue and a member of the National Association 

of REALTORS ® Finance Committee and Vice Chair of the NAR Reserves 

Investment Advisory Board. She was 2010-2011 President of the Chicago 

Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS ® and was named its member 

of the year in 2012. Deena is also a very proud mentor for the Goldie B. Wolfe 

Miller Women Leaders in Real Estate Initiative through Roosevelt University. 

She was honored by Chicago Agent Magazine in July 2012 as one of 50 

Chicago Powerhouses in their annual “Who’s Who” issue and was chosen as 

the only female commercial agent. 

Deena is an active member of the International Council of Shopping 

Centers and the recipient of the 2012 National Association of REALTORS ® 

National Commercial Award. 

She is also honored and proud to have received the 2012 REALTOR ® 

Achievement award by the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® , of which 

she is also a member of its Board of Directors. 

Deena earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The University of 

Minnesota in 1997. She spends her spare time running 5Ks to raise funds and 

awareness for Pancreatic Cancer research.

www.ChicagoREALTOR.com

2015 C.A.R. Industry Advocates

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