Weichert Real Estate Affiliates recently named Debra Chandler-Protass as the new west coast director of business development. “The selection of a sales representative who is rooted in real estate furthers the ‘in-the-trenches’ model for WREA,” said Senior Vice President of Business Development, Kevin Hill, who is confident in the company’s selection to appoint Chandler-Protass.

Since its inception in 1969, Weichert, Realtors has grown from a single office into one of America’s leading providers of full-service real estate. Under the company’s larger umbrella, Weichert Real Estate Affiliates is in its 13th year and continues to expand as well. It was ranked No. 2 in Entrepreneur magazine on the “Entrepreneur 2013 Franchise 500” list, which is a distinction that has set the company apart from hundreds of others.

Debra Chandler-Protass has many years of experience that will provide her the tools she needs to excel in her new role at Weichert. She began her real estate career in Kansas City, Miss. and shortly after relocated to the East Coast, where she was the director of recruiting for Century 21 Mid-Atlantic states regional office. It was there that she learned the ins and outs of the franchise business. She later became the regional director in Maryland for Century 21 and the vice president of customer and field marketing. In 2001, Chandler-Protass moved across the country, to California, where she led Century 21 and ERA brands’ franchise sales in 12 western states.

At Weichert, Chandler-Protass will work with Hill and Regional Vice President, June Huber. Together, they will develop franchise opportunities throughout the region. Chandler-Protass will look for real estate brokerage owners who are seeking opportunities that can be made available only through the franchise organization experience.

Chandler-Protass is also actively involved in the real estate community outside of her career. She is the 2014 president of the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR)—Palm Springs/Dessert Cities. Chandler-Protass has set goals for her chapter this year, including focusing on each individual day to maximize long-term business results.