Pocono Real Estate Blog

Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC, Names Agents

Mt. Pocono, Pa., — (March 23, 2009) -– Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC., in Mt. Pocono, Pa., has named eight REALTORS to its team of real estate experts. They are Bobbie Smith, Clarice Penna, Craig Hackman, Dawn Kephart, Connie Foland, Karen Wagner, Kris Collis and Jeffrey Peterson.

According to the broker/owner of Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC., Vickie Brockelman, some of this influx of agents was fueled by the recent combining of two area real estate companies with many of the region’s most award-winning agents deciding to continue their careers with Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC. In fact, all eight had worked for Brokelman when she was owner of Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate and either left the organization following Brockelman’s sale, when Brockelman reentered the marketplace, or after the recent closing of all of the Coldwell Banker offices.

Smith has been a REALTOR for 6 years. She is a Pennsylvania native and has been a resident of the Pocono Mountains region for more than 30 years. Prior to joining Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC, Bobbie was an agent with Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate’s Mt. Pocono office. Smith holds the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation, a highly prestigious designation from the National Association of REALTORS earned by the best residential real estate seller agents in the country who have proven they have the experience, training and commitment to be among the best in the profession.

Penna joins Commonwealth with more than 13 years as a real estate agent and manager. She is a graduate of the REALTOR Institute and holds the GRI, the mark of a real estate professional who, according to the National Association of REALTORS, has made the commitment to provide a high level of professional services by securing a strong educational foundation allowing them to better serve and protect their clients. Before joining Commonwealth, Penna served an agent and office manager with Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate. She earned her associate brokers license in 2000 and received the Coldwell Banker Office Manager Award of Excellence and Million Dollar Office Award. She was named into the Coldwell Banker Sterling and International Diamond societies, sales levels achieved by only the top 18 and 13 percent, respectively, of the more than 126,000 sales associates worldwide in the system.

Hackman spent most of his life in the hospitality industry having served as maitre d’ at the world-renown Mount Airy Lodge in Mount Pocono, Pa., in charge of all food operation services as well as a similar position with Skytop Lodge in Skytop, Pa. In 2002, he earned his real estate license and began working for Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate in the Pocono region where he was named Rookie of the Year after only six months in the business. Since then, he has earned many awards in real estate including awards for top listing and selling agent, multi-million dollar, president’s circle and premier office awards recognizing sales volume. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications and foreign language from Mansfield University.

Kephart has been a licensed real estate agent in the Pocono Mountains region for more than 30 years. She specializes in residential real estate and is a Certified Buyer’s Agent, and holds the ABR and e-pro certified designations. In addition, she holds the GRI, the mark of a real estate professional who, according to the National Association of REALTORS, has made the commitment to provide a high level of professional services by securing a strong educational foundation allowing them to better serve and protect their clients. Prior to joining Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC, Kephart earned many real estate awards as an agent with Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate including their Multi-Million Dollar Award for reaching two million or more in dollars in listings sold and buyer controlled volume. She also was named into a national group for individuals achieving a minimum $145,000 closed adjusted gross commission income or 32 closed units. In addition, she was also recognized by for highest company totals for buyer controlled sales by volume and was top 10 among other agents in listings taken, listings sold by volume, listings sold by units and buyer controlled sales by units.

Foland is a certified buyer’s agent and e-marketing specialist. She specializes in relocation, corporate and foreclosure properties. Foland earned her real estate license in 1986 and moved to the Poconos in 1988. She has worked for some of the top names in Pocono real estate and for the past 12 years, she was an agent with Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate. She is a committed professional who has earned numerous awards and accolades in her career including membership in Coldwell Banker’s International President’s Elite, the International President’s Circle, the Six-Million Dollar Club, and the Diamond Society. In addition, she has been recognized for highest company totals for listings taken, listings sold by volume and also by units and buyer controlled sales by units and she was presented with the Positive Income Growth Award recognizing outstanding production increases.
An award-winning agent, Collis puts customer needs first with the goal of providing professional service for life. Her calm demeanor and in-depth knowledge of real estate as well as her care and concern make her an exceptional buyer rep. She holds the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation from the National Association of REALTORS. Prior to joining Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, she was an agent with Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate. Prior to her work in real estate, Kris developed and implemented financial services training programs for branch offices of Merrill Lynch Trust Company nationally. In addition, she designed online delivery and management assessment programs for Merrill Lynch International Training.

Wagner has been marketing residential real estate in the Pocono region since 1995. She is an award-winning, full-time realtor whose specialties include e-marketing and new construction. Prior to joining Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, she was an agent with Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate. Her customer focus includes first-time and single home buyers and older adults. Karen is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, where she graduated from Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis. She and her family moved to Pennsylvania from Pensacola, Florida. Prior to real estate, Karen had a successful career in advertising and marketing.

Peterson has been a Pocono resident for 14 years. A member of the US Marine Corps for four years, Jeff later earned his real estate license in 1989 and worked for several area agencies. For several years he managed his own construction company where he remodeled and completed home improvements. In 2005, he returned to real estate. Immediately prior to joining Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC, Peterson was an agent with Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate. During that brief time, he earned designation into the Multi-Million Dollar Club and the Sterling Society, a club honoring those individuals who achieve $110,000 closed adjusted gross commission income or 25 closed units. The distinction was achieved by only 18 percent of sales associates worldwide in the franchise group’s system. In addition, Peterson earned “Company Best” honors for listings sold by volume, for listings sold by units, for listings taken, for buyer controlled sales by volume and for buyer controlled sales by unit. He was also Rookie of the Year in his first year of being an agent and received the Keith Gilpin Spirit Award recognizing his excellence, team spirit, creativity, professionalism, positive attitude, and willingness to serve the community and the customer.

All eight agents are members of the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS, the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS and the National Association of REALTORS.

They join this fast growing, innovative style of real estate agency with one office in Mt. Pocono owned by former area broker, past president of the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS® and past director of the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®, Vickie Brockelman.

Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC., offers flexible options to buyers and sellers in terms of marketing plans, commission structures and levels of support.

For more information, visit the Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC, Web site at www.creYourWay.com, or call local at 570-839-0411 or toll free at 1-888-333-0464.