Christy Budnick said she has never been one to shy away from a challenge or adventure.
Her May 24 promotion to HSF Affiliates CEO, the global network of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Real Living Real Estate brokerage franchises, will be her latest test – one she says she did not see coming.
“It never was on my radar,” Budnick said May 25.
“I never thought I would be tapped for something like this. It really came to me as a complete surprise. The goal is to be the most successful at anything I take on, it is really who I am, but this is far beyond my expectations.”
She will oversee 1,500 HomeServices offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe and the Middle East and 150 Real Living Real Estate offices.
She previously led the Jacksonville-based branch of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.
Her mother, Linda Sherrer, founded the franchise. She hired Budnick in 2002 as a manager of the Beaches office, after several years at Bank of America as vice president of sales and leadership training.
Budnick was promoted to executive vice president of residential real estate in 2006 and became CEO in 2018.
She said HSF Affiliates Chairman Gino Blefari approached her for the global CEO position. They have worked closely for several years.
Her experience having part ownership of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty franchise, along with its recent annual growth, are why Budnick said she was offered the position.
“That is really important for the network because they know I’ve walked a mile in their shoes as recently as yesterday, and that’s very important for the broker-owners out there, that somebody understands what they are going through,” she said.
Budnick, 51, will remain based in Jacksonville, which she said was key to accepting the role.
“When that was presented and everything aligned with my values and what’s important to me and my family and our life, I jumped all over it,” she said.
Her new role as global CEO will be similar to her previous one but on a much larger scale.
Budnick said she most looks forward to working with a larger group of agents, nearly 50,000 around the world, and learning from them.
“I am going to be working with a fabulous team that will help chart the future of the franchise network,” she said.
“That includes everything from our technology to the services we provide our franchisees to our positioning in the marketplace and the culture of our company.”
Two local successors were chosen to fill Budnick’s role. Kevin Waugaman is the franchise CEO and Ann King is president.
Waugaman, who was vice president of core services, and King, who was vice president of brokerage, worked “in lockstep” throughout the pandemic and were integral to the firm’s success the past two years, Budnick said.
“One of the challenges that shined a light on their capabilities was COVID,” Budnick said.
“That tested everyone’s leadership abilities. The two of them truly helped our company chart a very successful course through the COVID pandemic and we’ve come out of it in far better shape than we were going into it.”
Budnick said she will remain in an advisory chairperson role within the local franchise and can help her successors as needed.
While based in Jacksonville, Budnick said she is ready to represent the city on an international platform.
“I’m very happy that I can be a small piece of continuing to spread the word about Jacksonville and all it has to offer,” she said.