Top Producers Join Together to Form East + Ivy of Long & Foster
Nicole Canole and Kyle Toomey, top producing millennial real estate agents, have joined together to form East + Ivy, a unique real estate team based out of Long & Foster’s Alexandria/Kingstowne Centre office. Canole and Toomey will lead the team of five agents, all of whom started and grew their careers as part of Long & Foster. In addition to Canole and Toomey, the team consists of Will Lawrence, Jennifer Lynch and Susan Toomey. Combined, East + Ivy members sold over $37 million worth of real estate this past year.
Richmond Style Weekly Honors Josh Romano on its Top 40 Under 40 List
Josh Romano, founder and owner of Cobblestone Development Group and a Realtor with Long & Foster’s Strawberry Street office in Richmond, has been named as one of the Top 40 Under 40 professionals by Richmond Style Weekly. The publication’s annual Top 40 Under 40 awards recognize 40 impressive young leaders and their significant contributions to the Richmond community. Through his business, Josh and his wife, Breese, focus on making and promoting Richmond as a great place to live and work. At Cobblestone Development, they renovate area properties to meet the needs of today’s homeowners while preserving the unique character and history of the houses.
Krystyl Leonard Chosen for Richmond Association of Realtors’ Leadership Development Academy
Krystyl Leonard, a sales agent with the Village of Midlothian office, has been accepted into the Richmond Association of Realtors’ Leadership Development Academy. The Leadership Development Academy is designed to develop members for leadership roles. While working with coaches, the academy offers an overview of the significance of community and civic involvement, as well as insight into the association and the role of volunteer leaders. Each Leadership Development Academy class is limited to 15 qualified participants chosen by the RAR Nominating Committee.
Stephen Mottola Honored by Association of Fundraising Professionals
Stephen Mottola of The Mottola Group of Long & Foster’s Greenville, Delaware, office, was recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Brandywine Chapter. Mottola received the Philanthropy Award from AFP for his fundraising efforts and volunteer contributions to numerous organizations in the community for many years. As a native Delawarean and true philanthropist, Mottola’s spirit of giving back to his community has touched thousands of lives in Delaware. Whether flipping pancakes at a Pancakes for Parkinson’s event to being involved with the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware and Habitat for Humanity, he gives where he knows there’s a need.
Eric Chen Named Agent of the Month by Juwai.com
Eric Chen, director of Asia Pacific initiatives in Long & Foster’s Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES) division, was recognized by Juwai.com as its agent of the month in November. Chen was chosen by Juwai.com for his outstanding customer service to Chinese investors interested in purchasing U.S. real estate. Juwai.com is China’s largest real estate website and connects Chinese buyers to international real estate firms, including Long & Foster.
Tim Smoot Appointed Director to the New River Valley Association of Realtors Board of Directors
Tim Smoot, an agent with Long & Foster’s New River Valley office, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the New River Valley Association of Realtors (NRVAR). The board is the governing body that oversees all association business on behalf of the membership. Smoot will serve as a director on the committee for two years. A Realtor since 2005, Smoot has been affiliated with Long & Foster’s New River Valley office throughout his career. He holds a Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) designation. Smoot has been an active member of the NRVAR for 12 years, serving on its MLS Committee for three years.
Lanny ‘Doc’ Palmer Recognized as Melvin Jones Fellow
Lanny “Doc” Palmer, a sales agent with the Eldersburg, Maryland, office, was recognized as a Melvin Jones Fellow from the Lions Club International Foundation at the 70th anniversary celebration of the Freedom District Lions Club (FDLC). Being recognized as a Melvin Jones Fellow is the highest award for humanitarian service that is presented to a person by the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Palmer is a long-time active member of the FDLC.
Steve Vutsinas Wins Orchestra Director of the Year Award
Steve Vutsinas, a sales agent with the Chesapeake, Virginia, sales office, received the Orchestra Director of the Year award from the Virginia String Teachers Association (VASTA). Vutsinas demonstrated outstanding achievement as an orchestra teacher and conductor, resulting in major advancement of the Grassfield High School Orchestra Program. Vutsinas has been a professional in the real estate industry for the past two years and closed 13 sales, all while still being employed as a full-time teacher at Grassfield High School.
Dare Tulloch Chosen to Serve on Richmond Association of Realtors’ Board of Directors
Dare Tulloch of the Virginia Properties office in Richmond, Virginia, has been elected to serve on the Richmond Association of Realtors’ (RAR) board of directors. Tulloch will serve on the board for three years. The board serves more than 4,000 Realtor members who work in the greater Richmond area. Tulloch is an associate broker and has earned the Accredited Buyer Representative, Certified Residential Specialist, and Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource designations. Tulloch was awarded Virginia Certified Residential Specialist of the Year in 2016, and the RAR honored her with Sales Associate of the Year in 2013 and the Service Award in 2009. She also serves as the President of the Virginia Council of Residential Specialists and serves on several RAR committees.
Donna Marie Harris Wins Realtor of the Year Award
Donna Marie Harris, a sales agent with the Roanoke, Virginia, office, received the Realtor of the Year award from the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors (RVAR). The Realtor of the Year award is RVAR’s highest honor recognizing a local Realtor who demonstrates business accomplishments, community involvement and an outstanding Realtor spirit. Harris has been a professional in the real estate industry for the past 11 years. She served as RVAR’s president in 2016 and she chaired the Virginia Realtors Convention held in Roanoke this past fall. She has lived in Roanoke her entire life.
Walter Grewe, a sales associate with the Botetourt office in Daleville, Virginia, has been elected by the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors to serve on its board of directors leadership team as vice president. The board’s leadership team comprises 12 Realtors who meet 10 times annually to discuss issues, solve problems, set direction and manage the association and MLS funds. A Realtor since 2008, Grewe has been affiliated with Long & Foster’s Botetourt office since 2012. He currently holds the advanced real estate designations of Certified Residential Specialist and Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource. He is also a listing agent for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Patty Woodhurst Appointed to the Virginia Realtors Property Managers Council
Virginia Realtors has appointed Patty Woodhurst, an associate broker with the Chincoteague, Virginia, office, to serve on its Property Managers Council. The council is responsible for assisting members who are engaged in property management with education and professional opportunities. It also provides advice to other committees, including the Standard Forms and Public Policy committees, on issues important to the property management profession. A Realtor since 1988, Woodhurst has been affiliated with the Chincoteague office since 2015. Woodhurst also serves as the chair of the Eastern Shore Association of Realtors’ MLS Committee. She has been a member of the Eastern Shore Association of Realtors since 1994.
Grand Slams
Below are the agents who closed a transaction with three Long & Foster partners – Prosperity Home Mortgage, Long & Foster Settlement Services, Long & Foster Insurance or one of Long & Foster’s home warranty partners.
- Carmen Perry, Vienna, Virginia, office, Northern Virginia/West Virginia region
- Craig Lilly, Vienna, Virginia, office, Northern Virginia/West Virginia region
- Ryan Peckyno, Vienna, Virginia, office, Northern Virginia/West Virginia region
- Catherine Smitty Smith, Tysons, Virginia, office, Northern Virginia/West Virginia region