OFFICIAL RESULTS: Top 100 Most Influential Women in Real Estate Leadership for 2008

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with New York Times Bestselling Author & International Speaker

With 3,460 respondents casting 6,099 votes, Rainers and the real estate professional community has decided who the Top 25 Most Influential Women are. And what an incredible list of powerful women this list represents.

Nine months ago when the 2008 edition of the Swanepoel TRENDS Report was published, the demographics that included women, youth and minorities were identified as key drivers in the future of the residential real estate brokerage industry. In the Trend titled "Shattered Glass" it was detailed how many women had reached leadership positions at national levels.

This trend lit the match to initiate a nationwide flame in search of the Top 100 Most Influential Women in leadership roles in the Real Estate Industry. Though the survey was not billed as warranting scientific rigidity, the tremendous response rate and distribution of over 6,000 votes speaks to a strength in collective wisdom about the relative placement of the most influential women in the Top 100 list.  Hence the results are being presented in alphabetical order within three group rankings.  The Top 25, Top 50 and the Top 100. 

THE RESULTS

Top 25

The top 25 Most Influential Women include a power list of Who's Who in real estate such as former National Association of REALTORS® Presidents, Dorcas Helfant-Browning (1992) and Sharon Millett (1999); co-founders of large real estate franchises and companies such as Gail Liniger (of REMAX International), Ebby Halliday (of Ebby Halliday Realtors) and Barbara Corcoran (of Corcoran in NY).  Also featuring prominently are current presidents and senior executives of large real estate firms such as Helen Hanna Casey (of Howard Hanna Real Estate), Michael Saunders (of Michael Saunders Real Estate) and Virginia Cook (of Virginia Cook Realtors).

The top 25 list, however, also comprises a variety of interesting female leaders that deal with all different walks of the industry such as Avis Wukasch (Board member of the Texas Real Estate Commission), Susie Hale (Frogpond Publishing) and Leslie Appelton-Young (chief economist of the California Association of Realtors). For a photo and full details of all of the Top 25 Most Influential Women click on each person's name in the list.

Here are the Top 25 in alphabetical order (names hyperlink to bios and photos):

Ann Defries
Avis Wukasch
Barbara Corcoran
Blanche Evans
Bonnie Mays
Danielle Kennedy
Dorcas Helfant-Browning
Ebby Halliday
Gail Liniger
Helen Hanna-Casey
Joeann Fossland
Judy Ladeur
Kelli Todd
Laurie Janick
Leslie Appleton-Young
Margaret Kelly
Mary Frances Burleson
Mary Tennant
Michael Saunders
Mo Anderson
Niki Rapattoni
Rita Santamaria
Sharon Millett
Susie Hale
Virginia Cook

Top 50

The next group of 25 women rounding out the top 50 includes numerous household names in the industry featuring esteemed authors such as Carla Cross and Bernice Ross and well known speakers and trainers such as Laurie Moore-Moore, Barb Schwartz and Dianna Kokoszka. The list is also adorned with numerous presidents of large real estate companies including Kaira Sturivant Rouda (Real Living), Sherry Chris (Better Homes & Gardens) and Dottie Herman (Prudential Douglas Elliman), Former NAR past presidents Cathy Whatley (2003) and Pat Vredevoogd Combs (2007), as well as incoming president for 2010, Vicki Cox also made the top 50 list.

Here are the Top 50 in alphabetical order (names hyperlink to bios and photos):

Adorna Carroll
Amy Chorew
Andy Capelluto
Ann Bailey
Anne Randolph
Barb Schwarz
Bernice Ross
Carla Cross
Cathy Whatley
Darity Wesley
Dianna Kokoszka
Dottie Herman
Frances Flynn Thorsen
Kaira Sturdivant Rouda
Kim Ades
Laurie Moore-Moore
Lenn Harley
Marilyn Wilson
Pam O'Connor
Pat Vredevoogd Combs
Patti Kouri
Shari Chase
Sherry Chris
Terry Murphy
Vicki Cox

Top 100

Rounding out the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Real Estate Leadership (in alphabetical order by first name) are:

Betty Graham, Beverly Faull, Bonnie Erikson, Brenda Casserly, Brenda Shipplett, Carmen Multhauf, Carol Clarke, Claudia Wicks, Darlene Lyons, Debbie Campagnola, Debra Ashwer, Donna Lee Laue, Edith Lank, Frances Martinez Myers, Ilyce Glink, Janet Branton, Jennifer Cummings, Joyce Bea Sterling, Joyce Paron, Judy Moses, Judy Stark, Karel Murray, Kimberly Gorsuch-Bradbury, Laurie Keenan, Lee Pappa, Lois Weis, Lorna Borenstein, Margaret Dixon, Maria Patterson, Mary Doyle Kimball, Mary Umberger, Maureen Mccabe, Nina Cottrell, Pamela Alexander, Pamela Geurds Kabati, Pamela Leibman, Pat Jensen, Patricia Choi, Robin Mueck, Ruth Ann Pepple, Sarah Shoemaker, Sharon Simms, Shelia Bair, Stacey Moncrieff, Sue Doerfler, Susan Johnson, Sylvia Shelnutt, Tami Bonnell and Tara-Nicholle Nelson. Bios of many of the finalists are listed at www.realestatewiki.com 

Incredibly impressive list of great women.

Congratulations to everyone!!

Who are you most excited to see make it to the Top 25?

 

 

Comments (17)

Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Gail, Joanne, Margaret and Mo.

Lenn and Frances in the next 50.

Sep 28, 2008 11:53 PM
Cyndee Haydon
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes

Stefan - thanks for the update. Thanks for all your work putting this together - I'm especially excited for Lenn and Frances in the Top 50 - lots of great women to learn more about. Congrats to them ALL!

Sep 29, 2008 12:22 AM
Joeann Fossland
Advantage Solutions Group - Tucson, AZ
Master Certified Coach to Motivated Agents

Stefan- Thanks for bring attention to all this great talent. I am absolutely thrilled to be part of the top 25 list and am appreciative to all who felt me worthy and voted! What a nice way to start my Monday morning!

Sep 29, 2008 12:30 AM
Anonymous
John

Great to see Susie in the Top 25. Thanks Stefan for arranging this.

Sep 29, 2008 01:12 AM
#4
Anonymous
Michael D Harris Jr, Ardynn Media

Stefan,

It is a thrill to see such an impressive group of women leading the real estate industry.

Sep 29, 2008 03:01 AM
#5
Coach Patti Kouri
Accelerated Performance Coaching - Chatsworth, CA

Thank you for organizing this Stefan.  I am humbled and honored to be in the top 50 with these amazing women!  What a rush!  Congratulations to all of us!!!!!

Sep 29, 2008 12:35 PM
Frances Flynn Thorsen
eXp Realty LLC - State College, PA
Author | REALTOR | Educator

Stefan, Thanks for your work in compiling this list. I am deeply honored to see my name in the company of such incredible women. These women bring a wonderful energy to the industry at large. Kudos to each and every one of them ... and thanks to everyone who voted.

Sep 30, 2008 05:15 AM
Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

I started my career at Ebby Halliday, so I completely understand how she and Mary Frances Burleson made the top 25... I decided to leave so I could make some money though...

Sep 30, 2008 05:24 AM
Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Stefan - thank you for a wonderful job of putting this all together. Congratulations to the Top 25, the Top 50 and the entire Top 100!

Oct 01, 2008 04:33 AM
Andy Capelluto
International School of Staging - Seattle, WA

I'm humbled and delighted to be amongst this amazing group of women.  Thanks Stefan - and thanks to all who voted.  Congratulations to all!

Oct 01, 2008 03:28 PM
Anonymous
Sudhir Teotea

I am pretty excited and delighted to see Niki Rapattoni in the Top 25 list. Being worked with Rapattoni as a Consultant, I can say, Niki clearly deservs the slot in top 25. It is highly energetic endeavor and that smile on her, fills the Rapattoni office positive vibes.

Congratulations to all others in the list.
Cheers!!!
Sudhir

Oct 01, 2008 03:44 PM
#11
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTORĀ®, Broker

It was great to see Rita Santamaria on that final list.  I've know Rita for several years and she is a credit to the real estate profession.

Oct 03, 2008 09:12 PM
Anonymous
Amy Stoehr

Barbara Corcoran is such an amazing woman, and I'm thrilled to see her celebrated in yet another location. Anyone who hasn't read her book, Use What You've Got, will benefit greatly from picking it up.

Also nice to see Nina Cottrell made the Top 100. She is a diva!

Jan 11, 2009 02:11 AM
#13
Amy Stoehr
Real Estate Masters Guild - Longmont, CO

Barbara Corcoran is such an amazing woman, and I'm thrilled to see her celebrated in yet another location. Anyone who hasn't read her book, Use What You've Got, will benefit greatly from picking it up.

Also nice to see Nina Cottrell made the Top 100. She is a diva!

Jan 11, 2009 02:13 AM
Dave Culbertson
Real Living Home Team - Mount Vernon, OH

I stand up and cheer for Kaira Rouda! What a wonderful, successful person. And if anyone hasn't checked out her book, Real You Incorporated, it's a must-read. It's written to inspire women entreneurs, but it's a good read for anyone. She and her husband, Harley, have a wonderful Real Estate Company, Real Living. As a fairly new franchise holder (2 years), they have stood by my, patiently during the past six months of rough times, and have been there for me, as coaches and cheerleaders. Now the market is improving and I'm seeing the fruits of my labors and will always sing their praises!

Mar 13, 2009 05:43 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Looking forward to
OFFICIAL RESULTS: Top 100 Most Influential Women in Real Estate Leadership for 2008 2009.

Have a great year.

Jan 03, 2010 09:37 PM
Jan Whitlow, ASPM
Coastal Properties Group International - Indian Rocks Beach, FL

Congratulations to all the winners!!!

Jan 11, 2010 09:32 PM