More than 1200 guests descended on the Palladium at the Crown for the annual Ray White Victoria and Tasmania state awards last night to celebrate the top offices and individual achievers throughout the network.
Ray White Victoria & Tasmanian CEO Domenic Belfiore welcomed everyone and reminded them all that the leading group helped more families achieve their great Australian dream than any other brand.
“The environment within which we are operating is moving faster than ever before and will continue to move faster in the future. We can not keep doing what we have always done. We cannot waste any time or energy on the things we cannot control the outcome of,” Mr Belfiore said.
“I have no doubt that united together we are capable of so much more. Being big is so much more advantageous than being small, boutique or cute.
“Scale gives us the opportunity to give you all more. Better training, services, technologies and systems.”
“Further together is how we will succeed and continue to drive growth in all our businesses and we must leverage our group’s size and depth and work together. If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go further, go together,” Mr Belfiore said.
The top performer in terms of settled commission for 2017-18 in Victoria and Tasmania was Ben Thomas of Ray White Ferntree Gully, who took out the top individual spot for the second year in a row.
Mr Thomas had a stellar career as an accomplished Melbourne chef before he followed his heart into real estate and quickly became a dominant sales force.
The powerhouse Ray White Ferntree Gully business has once again taken out the top overall office spot in Victoria for the second year in a row.
Leading agent, Ray White Balwyn principal Helen Yan was named as the number one top principal of the 2017-18 year, following her winning the number four spot at the Ray White International awards recently. She was also recently named as the top Australian female agent by Real Estate Business (REB) for 2018.
Damian Portaro of Ray White Mildura was named as the top regional performer based on settled commission at the state awards, while Ray White Phillip Island was named as the top regional office in Victoria & Tasmania for 2017-18.
Rebecca Owens of Ray White Hobart took home the plaque for the top performer in Tasmania, while Ray White Hobart office won the top accolade as an office.
This year, the CEO’s Cup Award, recognising the recipient for having an extraordinary year of growth and commitment to their business, while also celebrating their contribution to the company, was awarded to Chris Kelepouris of Ray White Oakleigh.
The rising star award recognised the youngest talent in the network and was won by Andrea Lever from Ray White Albury who was named the top sales rising star while Ozlem Koksal of Ray White Glenroy was named as the property management rookie of the year.
Ray White Lara was named property management team of the year, and Katrina McLoughlin of Ray White Ferntree Gully took out property manager of the year.
Anthony Torzillo of Ray White Bundoora was named business development manager of the year at both the state awards plus the international awards.
The individual award for marketing excellence went to Heather Mellican of Ray White Reservoir.
Ray White Frankston took out the award for sales office with the best marketing.
Ray White Swan Hill took home the gong for its community service.
Powerhouse office Glen Waverley also received awards for auctioneering once again, including Marc Lum for top auction performer in settled sales and top office for auctioneering.
Angela Limanis of Ray White Cheltenham won novice auctioneer of the year. The senior auctioneer of the year award went to Danny Zhang of Ray White Glen Waverley.
Other awards on the night included best-presented office, office manager/administrator of the year, personal assistant of the year, service excellence, and many more.
In 2017-18, the network welcomed nine new Victorian businesses with Ray White Berwick, Ray White Camperdown, Ray White Clayton, Ray White Forest Hill, Ray White Geelong, Ray White Gladstone Park, Ray White Land Sales, Ray White Seddon and Ray White Yarraville.
