Our Annual Award Recipients

We celebrated our market leading success with an awards reception to honor our agents and staff members Thursday afternoon, January 28th at Cuvee 30A, located downstairs from our 30Avenue office near Rosemary Beach. We acknowledged 15 of our agents and staff at the annual event.

Jonathan Spears, whose annual sales of nearly $45 million were up over 60% from last year, generated the highest single agent sales volume. Joining Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty in January of 2015, Spears quickly immersed himself in the tools offered by the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand, receiving additional honors that include the most transaction sides closed by a single agent, as well as tying for most double-sided closings in which both buyer and seller are represented by the same agent.

Tying with Spears for most double-sided closings was Lauren Cottrell and husband Josh Staggs, who were also acknowledged for closing 61 transactions sides, the most among our company’s teams.

“We strive to connect buyers with our listings in house,” says Broker and Co-owner Chris Abbott. “Whenever our agents are able to work together while providing independent guidance to their customers, we are in the strongest position possible to see the closing process through to success. With this goal in mind, it’s not surprising there was a three-way tie for the most double-sided closings award.”

The Peggy Geppert Group was also awarded for most double-sided closings, representing both buyer and seller in 6 transactions.

The highest team sales volume was awarded to The Chris Abbott Group. Team members Corey Ledbetter, Jennifer MacBride, Kathryn Sistrunk, Jim Sumpter, and Brenda McLean generated over $62 million in sales volume. Not only did the team generate the highest sales volume at Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty, it generated the highest sales volume among all agents and teams on the Emerald Coast according to data gathered from the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

The award for most property inquiry calls answered immediately was presented to Keen Polakoff who works alongside wife Kim Polakoff.

“Serving our customers is at the forefront of everything we do,” says Broker and Co-owner Blake Morar. “Prospective buyers inquiring for additional information about our listings they encounter in our print and online advertising expect and are owed immediate assistance. We also owe our customers who have entrusted their luxury properties to our representation immediate attention to those interested in purchasing them.”

“Though new to our company in 2015, our New Recruit on the Move award went to a seasoned agent and veteran of the local Real Estate market who has many successful years under her belt,” says Morar, who presented the award to Jo Stewart.

Awarded each year in memory of Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty agent Ridge Nye, who passed away in 2012 from ALS, The 2015 Ridge Nye Award for Most Inspirational Team Member was presented to Casey Joiner. Joiner, despite dedicating a significant portion of his time and resources to filling the role of Sales Manager for most of the year, finished strong as the top producing agent in the company for December.

Supporting our agents and teams in their day-to-day activities are Directors of First Impressions Aimee Hartzog and Amanda Morgan, two members of our support staff, who were presented with Team Contributor Awards. Hartzog supports our 30Avenue office, and Morgan supports our Blue Mountain Beach office, located on 30A.

Congratulations to everyone!