SIX COLDWELL BANKER® REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS NAMED TO TEAM COLDWELL BANKER AND RACE IN CENTENNIAL NEWPORT BERMUDA RACE
Brand Entry in Race Raising Money for Habitat for Humanity
PARSIPPANY, N.J. (May 10, 2006) – Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation announced today that six members of the Coldwell Banker® family will crew Team Coldwell Banker on the brand's entry in the 635-nautical mile Newport Bermuda 2006. The yachting race is organized by The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) and the Cruising Club of America (CCA). Both the race and the Coldwell Banker brand are celebrating their 100th anniversaries in 2006. The race will commence on June 16 in Newport, Rhode Island and finish at St. David's Lighthouse in Bermuda.
Each of the six Coldwell Banker real estate professionals is making a sizeable donation to Habitat for Humanity in order to gain a spot in the race. In addition, Team Coldwell Banker will be manned by nine other seasoned yachtsmen who also will donate to the cause. The Coldwell Banker group expects to raise more than $50,000 from the crew sponsorship and additional race-related fundraising efforts. This initiative is part of the brand's ongoing campaign to sponsor more than 100 Habitat for Humanity home builds around the nation. The Coldwell Banker system is also active in Operation Home Delivery, the Habitat for Humanity fund assisting those devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
Habitat for Humanity has been the Coldwell Banker national charity of choice since 1993.
Coldwell Banker Previews International®, the exclusive Coldwell Banker service dedicated to luxury real estate, will have a major presence in race activities. Coldwell Banker Previews International will be the presenting sponsor of both the official Newport Bermuda centennial video and the Newport Bermuda iBoatTrack System to be used for the first time during the 2006 race on www.bermudarace.com. The 200-plus boat fleet of the Centennial Newport Bermuda Race will be the largest fleet to ever use the iBoatTrack System. In addition, a Coldwell Banker Previews Internationalbig-screen kiosk at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club will present race position graphics and finish results for spectators awaiting the sailors' arrival after the race.
"This is an adventure of a lifetime and it is the goal of Team Coldwell Banker to raise enough funds to build a Habitat for Humanity home in the Gulf Coast region," says Charlie Young, senior vice president, marketing, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation, who will participate. "We are fortunate to have crew members who are not only passionate about sailing, but also bring their dedication and commitment to the Coldwell Banker organization and Habitat for Humanity."
Below follows brief bios on the six Coldwell Banker professionals participating in the race:
Frank Coon, Broker/Owner, Coldwell Banker Coon & McCreary, Realtors, Pleasant Hill, CA
Coon is an avid sailor and windsurfer on San Francisco Bay. He is used to the water, having spent much of his youth working on fishing boats. Each year he and his family take a sailing or biking adventure. In 2005 they completed a nine-day round-trip sail from Vancouver to Desolation Sound in British Columbia. Coon's company has four offices in the San Francisco East Bay with 200 sales associates.
Greg Hollier, Franchise Sales/Training Manager, Coldwell Banker Greater Australia, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia
Hollier joins Team Coldwell Banker with a tremendous amount of competitive sailing in his background. A former Australian National team member, Hollier competed in the 1996 Olympic Trials, and he finished third in Australia's first national championships. Prior to his real estate career, Hollier spent several years working in his family's ship chandlery and shipwright business. With Coldwell Banker Greater Australia, Hollier works with current and potential Coldwell Banker® franchisees.
Steve Keefe, Broker/Owner, Coldwell Banker Sky Ridge Realty, Lake Arrowhead, CA
Keefe has more than 20 years of international racing experience, mostly off the Southern California coast. He spent seven years working with sailing Hall of Famer Randy Smyth, and later helped start Glaser Keefe Sailmakers in California. Today, Keefe heads one of the top affiliates in the Coldwell Banker system with 20 straight years as a Coldwell Banker Chairman's Circle company.
Molly Knowlton, Sales Associate, Coldwell Banker Jasinsky & Associates, Amelia Island, FL
Knowlton has an impressive background in sailing. She has sailed to the Caribbean, New England and made two Trans-Atlantic two-person crossings to Europe. In addition to her sailing expertise, she has strong family ties to Bermuda and this race. She received her real estate license in 2002 and began working for Coldwell Banker Jasinsky & Associates. In 2004, she was the top sales associate in the office. She is a member of the local Board of Realtors as chair of the Activities Committee.
Rod Messick, Chief Financial Officer, Coldwell Banker Homesale Services Group, Lancaster, PA
Messick began sailing as a member of the Naval Academy Offshore Sailing Team. He has competed in many offshore races including two from Newport to Bermuda. Rod's sailing experience includes over 10,000 offshore miles along with working as a U.S. Sailing Small Boat Instructor. He served in the United States Navy as a Naval Flight Officer and as a Naval ROTC Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. He continues his service as a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve. Coldwell Banker Homesale Services Group is one of the largest affiliates in the Coldwell Banker system.
Charlie Young, Senior Vice President, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation
Young is an avid sailor who races out of the Raritan Yacht Club in New Jersey. He was a sailing instructor while a student at Emory University and has 30 years of experience on the water.
Young has served in his role since 2004 and guides the company's consumer marketing including advertising, online activities, market research, public relations, internal communications and regional marketing activities throughout the United States.
About Coldwell Banker®
Since 1906, the
Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier
full-service real estate provider. In 2008,
Franchise Times magazine's prestigious Top 200 issue
ranked the Coldwell Banker system No. 1 in real estate for the ninth straight year and 12th among franchisors
in all industries. The
Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,500 residential real estate offices
and approximately 100,000 sales associates in 47 countries and territories. The
Coldwell Banker System is a leader in
the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and
luxury property through its
Coldwell Banker Previews International®
division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its
Coldwell Banker Concierge
® Service Program and award-winning Web site,
www.coldwellbanker.com.
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