New VP of brokerage services for @properties Streeterville
A familiar name is stepping up to run @properties’ Streeterville office: top-producing broker Grace Goro Kaage. Kaage will be taking over for Wayne Kouf, who has managed the office since 2011 and is retiring next month.
Kaage grew up in the industry. Her late father, Chuck Goro, was a real estate manager who served for many years as vice president and managing broker of the Lincoln Park offices of Koenig & Strey GMAC and later Coldwell Banker. Kaage’s grandfather founded Orland Park-based brokerage Benson Realty, and she has three siblings in the real estate business.
“My father was my mentor, and I was lucky to have the opportunity to learn from him for almost 30 years,” said Kaage. “I’m excited to step into this role and leverage what I have learned not only from him, but also from my personal experience selling real estate and seeing our industry evolve over the years.”
Kaage joined @properties in 2017, having spent six years as an agent with Coldwell Banker prior to that move. At age 30, Kaage is undeniably young for a VP, but @properties co-founder Thad Wong said he sees her fresh perspective and connections with up-and-coming generations as chair for the Chicago Association of Realtors’ Young Professionals Network as a clear benefit to the organization. “Grace brings a unique perspective to this role, having grown up in the industry,” said Wong. “Her father was one of the most respected managing brokers in Chicago real estate, and her connection to him and to the next generation of brokers through YPN will be a huge asset to @properties.”
Learn more about Kaage in her latest Who’s Who profile.
RE/MAX creates new ‘chief customer officer’ position
Nick Bailey is back at RE/MAX in a new role. After a stint leading Century 21, Bailey is back at the Colorado-based brokerage to serve as its chief customer officer. Bailey’s previous run at RE/MAX lasted about 10 years, and he’s also served high-level roles at Zillow and Market Leader. In a letter to his colleagues, Bailey denied leaving the Realogy brand to join RE/MAX. “At the start of this year, I made a big decision to step down from my role as CEO of a well-established and respected real estate brand – not for another opportunity, but for my family,” Bailey said. “The truth is, I didn’t have a specific plan in mind.”
In the newly-created position, the former president and CEO of the company will report directly to current CEO Adam Contos and will oversee areas including business growth, brokerage support, franchise sales and professional development. “This hire aligns with our values and fortifies our customer-obsessed culture,” Contos said in a press release. “We’ve landed one of the best minds in the industry to help deliver even more to our brokers and agents.”
Marcus & Millichap adds new multifamily executive
California-based commercial real estate investment services firm Marcus & Millichap announced this week that they’ve promoted Eric Bell to executive director with the company’s National Multi-Housing Group, its multifamily service line. Having worked with Marcus & Millichap since 1994, Bell is the only active agent who’s also an executive director in the firm’s Chicagoland offices, and is one of only 21 active agents in the company nationwide to achieve that rank.