Turk File

VER moves up to No. 2 in corporate group

by Leslie Turk

Local Latter & Blum company now second only to sister entity in New Orleans

Latter & Blum CEO and Chairman Bob Merrick delivered the news March 26: Associate company Van Eaton & Romero has moved into the No. 2 spot among the company's four real estate entities.

Merrick, who was in Lafayette for Van Eaton & Romero's 2013 top producers awards presentation, praised the work of the local real estate agency's leaders and associates for placing second only to Latter & Blum in New Orleans in total residential sales among the corporation's four real estate companies. Just two days after making the presentation in Lafayette, Merrick signed a check for $1 million to United Way of Southeast Louisiana - the largest-ever single gift from an individual in Louisiana or Mississippi. With the pledge, he became the first person in the state to join United Way's Million Dollar Roundtable, an exclusive circle of donors that includes Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet and George Clooney.

For 2013, Van Eaton & Romero Agents closed $598.45 million in residential sales behind Latter & Blum in New Orleans with $1.05 billion in closed residential sales.

Van Eaton & Romero held the event at City Club in River Ranch to honor its 2013 top producers in both residential and commercial real estate. Celebrating its 37th year in business, Van Eaton & Romero closed more than 3,000 transaction sides, double that of its nearest competitor.

During 2013, seven Van Eaton & Romero agents and five teams closed more than $10 million; 18 agents and two teams closed between $5 million and $10 million; 35 agents and four teams achieved a closed volume between $2.5 million and $5 million; and 44 agents and two teams closed between $1 million and $2.5 million.

Van Eaton & Romero's top 10 associates, based on individual closed dollar volume, were Stacey Arceneaux, Charlie Baudoin, Adrienne Doucet, Missy Guilliot, Melanie Lunn, Lori McCarthy, Penny McGehee, Patricia Powell, Janice Simar and Arla Slaughter.

The top five teams were Teresa Hamilton & Team, composed of Teresa Hamilton, Sharon Henderson, Kasey Dean George, Eliana Ashkar, and Jason Louviere; Robbie Breaux & Team, composed of Robbie Breaux, Heather Breaux, and Amber Beauregard; The Over The Top Team, composed of Rebekah McGee, Lynette Bagala, Linell Champagne, and Zonnie LaBry; The Gleason Group, composed of David Gleason, Cassie Goldsboro, and Caitlyn Williams; and the team of Carole Horn and Calvin Legé.

Special recognition went to:
Top Individual Residential Listing Agent based on total number of closed listing sides Lori McCarthy
Top Individual Residential Listing Agent based on closed listing dollar volume Charlie Baudoin
Top Individual Residential Selling Agent based on closed selling sides Johnna Domingue
Top Individual Residential Selling Agent based on closed selling dollar volume Charlie Baudoin
Top Residential Listing Team based on closed listing and selling dollar volume, and closed listing sides Teresa Hamilton & Team, composed of Teresa Hamilton, Sharon Henderson, Kasey George, Eliana Ashkar and Jason Louviere
Top Residential Selling Team based on closed selling sides Tie between Teresa Hamilton & Team, composed of Teresa Hamilton, Sharon Henderson, Kasey George, Eliana Ashkar, and Jason Louviere; and Robbie Breaux & Team, composed of Robbie Breaux, Heather Breaux and Amber Beauregard
Top Selling Team based on closed selling side dollar volume Teresa Hamilton & Team, composed of Teresa Hamilton, Sharon Henderson, Kasey George, Eliana Ashkar, and Jason Louviere
Top Individual Commercial Agent based upon closed transaction sides and closed dollar volume Dewitt David
Top Commercial Team based upon closed transaction sides and closed dollar volume The Gleason Group, composed of David Gleason, Cassie Goldsboro and Caitlyn Williams
Lowest Broker Market Analysis Variance between list price and sale price: Patricia Powell
Rising Star Award Stephanie Weeks

Special branch office recognition went to:
Carencro
Top Listing and Selling Agent based on closed listing dollar volume, closed selling dollar volume, number of closed listing sides, and closed selling sides Dan Fuselier

New Iberia
Top Team in Iberia Parish The Over The Top Team, composed of Rebekah McGee, Lynette Bagala, Linell Champagne and Zonnie LaBry
Top Listing Agent based on closed listings sides and closed listing dollar volume Anna Delahoussaye
Top Selling Agent based on and closed selling sides and closed selling dollar volume Angela Scott

Opelousas
Top Listing Agent based on closed listing sides Shirley Leger
Top Selling Agent based on closed selling sides Lynn Webre
Top Listing Agent based on closed listing dollar volume Georgia Stoute
Top Selling Agent based on closed selling dollar volume Georgia Stoute