Bronzeville brokerage to join forces with Fulton Grace

Adding to their recent track record for attracting boutique players, Fulton Grace announced this week that Jennifer Bell’s Gramercy Group will be joining the independent brokerage as a team.

Bell recently contributed to Chicago Agent magazine’s neighborhoods issue, which examined Bronzeville among other Chicagoland hotspots. T.J. Rubin, founder and president of Fulton Grace, said the partnership fits in well with their overall geographic strategy. “Fulton Grace is making a concerted effort to increase its presence in the near south neighborhoods, such as Bronzeville, Kenwood, Woodlawn and Hyde Park. Gramercy is extraordinarily successful in those areas and places a significant emphasis on selling new-construction homes, as does Fulton Grace,” he said. “Our similar strong work ethics and shared vision for growth all help make this a powerful partnership.”

Gramercy Group will be initially work out of Fulton Grace’s Wicker Park office, though the plan is to eventually move to Fulton Grace’s forthcoming Bronzeville location. 

Wintrust brings on mortgage vet

Alex Ilich, who’s been with bemortgage, Blueleaf Lending and most recently Guaranteed Rate, has moved to Wintrust Mortgage. Ilich, who also owned his own mortgage company for over a decade, is also a Rose Bowl champion, having graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. “We are thrilled to have Alex with us as a true professional and top-notch performer on and off the field. With his extensive football background, he understands the importance of a team,” said Tricia Brouwers, area manager and vice president of business development for Wintrust. “As a team, we are committed to his growth, client relationships and referral sources.”

The announcement comes on the heels of the company’s welcoming Jill Diethelm from Guaranteed Rate Affinity in November.

EXIT announces title arm

Last week, EXIT Strategy Realty CEO Nick Libert announced on Twitter that his firm will be rolling out a title company. Known as Strategic Title Co., the new company is the result of a partnership with Codilis & Associates, P.C., which has been serving clients in Illinois since 1977. The firm has been approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and is open for business in a variety of locations across Chicagoland, including various EXIT Strategy Realty locations.

New landscape architects on the block

In a bid to enter the Chicago market, Des Moines-based landscape architecture, planning and design firm Confluence announced last week that it will be taking over Wolff Landscape Architecture. Confluence plans to keep current staff on but will bring in Craig Soncrant and Matt Strange to lead the Chicago office as principals.

With offices in Minneapolis, Des Moines, Kansas City, Sioux Falls, Omaha, Cedar Rapids and Fargo, Chicago was a logical next step for Confluence. “We reviewed the Chicago market for several years looking for the right strategic opportunity – one that was consistent with who we are at Confluence and the way we work,” says Wm. Christopher Cline, a senior vice president with Confluence leading the firm’s marketing efforts. “As we reviewed Wolff Landscape Architecture’s portfolio of work and client relationships, it became clear our priorities of quality design, creative collaboration and client-focus were in total alignment.”

MRED announces 2020 leadership

Last week, Midwest Real Estate Data LLC announced the individuals who will be filling five open seats on the board, elected by the organization’s broker preferred unit owners: 

• Sue Miller, designated managing broker of Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group
• Molly Ryan, general counsel at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago
• Lynn Madison, owner of real estate training and development company Lynn Madison Seminars
• Sue Wiskowski-Fair, vice president of career development of Realty Executives Premiere
• Jeff Gregory, managing broker-owner of Realty Executives Success

The organization also brought on another strategic manager from outside the Chicagoland area to join California Regional Multiple Listing Service CEO Art Carter as an advisor: Jeremy Crawford, president and CEO of Georgia’s First Multiple Listing Service. Finally, MRED noted that, with the departure of North Shore–Barrington Association of Realtors CEO Steve Volkodav for the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors in Colorado Springs, they’d be bringing Chris Studebaker, CEO of the Realtor Association of the Fox Valley, to fill the open seat.