Valerie Kahan, a founding agent of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, has joined Baird & Warner after 20 years with the brokerage. 

Kahan was raised in Evanston and Rogers Park and currently resides in Evanston, where she is active in several local community-focused organizations.  

She received the Justin Wynn Fund’s Buddy Portugal Award in February, which honors adults who have made exceptional contributions to the lives of Evanston’s youth. 

“As an Evanston native whose work has spanned across Chicago and the North Shore for over 20 years, my career has always been driven by a deep personal commitment to community care, mutual aid and service,” said Kahan. “Joining a historic, independent firm with such a legacy of local dedication perfectly aligns with those values, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring that energy and experience to the Evanston Baird & Warner office.”  

Catherine Leonard, vice president and managing broker of Baird & Warner’s Evanston office, said, “To describe Valerie Kahan as a force in Evanston is an understatement. She is the founder, owner and creative director of Artmakers Outpost, a haven of creativity for kids and adults of all ages to express themselves through art, and co-founder of Evanston Community Cares, spearheading collections of food, clothing and baby care products for our neighbors in need.”