As founder of COMPASS’ Glencoe office and leader of The Matlin Group, Gloria “Glo” Matlin has as much enthusiasm for real estate today as she did when she became an agent 36 years ago. “I love what I do, and I believe it rubs off on our clients,” she says. Her longevity, both in the business and in the Chicagoland market, gives her the confidence and knowledge to make real estate fun for clients while educating them at the same time.

Her career was built from the bottom up. “I moved to the ‘burbs not knowing one person, so I did open houses every weekend, and at that moment in history, we did ‘floor time,’” Matlin remembers, referring to the industry practice of assigning agents to shifts in the office handling walk-ins and phone inquiries. Today, she and her team have closed more than $1 billion in lifetime sales.

For Matlin, mentoring other agents and helping them become successful is an important part of her work, and it extends to her team. “My son, Zack, and I are partners, the best decision ever. I couldn’t do it without him,” Matlin shares. “We have a small team of three seasoned agents, which is wonderful and collaborative.” The Matlins opened the COMPASS Glencoe office in 2019. Since then, the team has served hundreds of Chicagoland clients.

As a Certified Relocation Specialist, Matlin is well versed in helping out-of-area buyers as well as locals find the perfect Chicagoland home. A typical buying experience with her begins with a wish list, but she is careful not to rush the process. “With sellers, we work the same way, listening to their concerns and explaining the process,” she says. Her reputation among clients and agents is one of fairness, effectiveness and being easy to work with.

This year, Matlin received a Lifetime Achievement Award from COMPASS. In addition, her work with several local and national nonprofits earned the 2018 Humanitarian Award from the North Shore-Barrington Association of Realtors.