Roberto “Beto” Montaño is now an advisor with Engel & Völkers (E&V) Chicago. Most recently, Montaño was a managing broker with RE/MAX and, before that, he spent more than a decade working in local politics.

Montaño is also a veteran, having served more eight years in the U.S. Army and rising to the rank of staff sergeant. After that experience, he began working for Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez eventually becoming his district director. Together, Gutierrez and Montaño worked to fund and open Chicago’s Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

Later, Montaño served as chief of staff for the president pro tempore of the Chicago City Council and, over the years has collaborated closely with other notable politicians like Rahm Emanuel, Dick Durbin, Richard M. Daley, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Mike Quigley, in addition to dozens of aldermen and committeemen.

Now, his extensive experience with zoning policy and city planning informs his real estate insights. “In order to build power, you need to organize money and organize people. Nothing does that better than real estate. Therefore, real estate is about power,” Montaño says. “I give that power to my clients.”

Outside of work, Montaño remains passionate about helping veterans and is a founding member of the Mexican Cultural Committee.

“Whether it is military service, public service or, now, white-glove service here at Engel & Völkers, I am here to honor and serve all those entrusted to my care,” Montaño said of the move to his new brokerage.