Power Brokers
The Elite 25
by Julie Andrews
 THEIR
SMILING FACES ARE GROUPED IN
ADVERTISING. THEY MEET FOR LUNCH
EVERY MONTH. THEY LIKE TO LOOK AT
HOUSES, TOGETHER. WHAT’S GOING ON
WHEN 34 REALTORS FROM A VARIETY OF
COMPANIES MEET TO EAT AND GREET?
Plenty when they make up the membership of the Elite 25 of
Colorado Springs. It is a small group of local brokers who
specialize in high-priced residential real estate.
It takes something pretty special to qualify for the group,
and costs something to join, both in time and money. And is
it worth it? You bet, according to some of the members interviewed
after a recent meeting.
“It’s a great opportunity to meet periodically with other
Realtors who share the same goals and interests,” says Mary
Calvert, Mary Calvert & Co. “We discuss our properties
and share information on all aspects of the market. Also it’s
a means of getting recognition in return for establishing
the kind of business that people feel comfortable with.”
 Calvert
has worked as a broker for the past 10 years, after leaving
a career in defense contracting. She founded her company in
2003; works with five other brokers affiliated with Calvert
& Co., and has a support team of four on her staff. Her
membership in the Elite 25 is touted on her web site, on all
her
marketing pieces and her company’s highend listings always
make it to the Elite 25 web site as well.
“It sure seems that the public recognizes that Elite 25 members
have excelled in their profession and in their ability to
provide their clients quality representation. Certainly membership
in Elite 25 gives my clients that
extra sense of security by knowing my reputation,” Calvert
adds.
Peggy Beukema is the Elite 25 coordinator for Stewart Title
of Colorado Springs,
founder and host of the local group. The qualifying criteria
fluctuate around a certain price range and are determined
by each previous year’s sales figures. It took a total sales
volume of $9 million last year and the sale of at least seven
homes priced $475,000 or six homes priced at least $500,000
to make the
cut for the 2005 group. That, plus quarterly dues that pay
for marketing, and mandatory attendance to group meetings
(members can miss only three in a 12-month period), keeps
the group poised for useful interaction.
This is an excerpt from the July 2005 Colorado Springs Style
Magazine.
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