“Yes, we entered and won Best Logo for an Associate Member. We are very pleased and happy about that! We entered because we felt that our new logo was very good and had a chance to win. We usually do not enter for awards because we are an executive recruiting firm and the categories do not apply to us or what we do.”
- Reiss Tatum,
RTR Associates, Inc.
“We do, as much as time/budget permits. Oftentimes we have no choice. Many of our clients insist on it. They’ve got a lot invested into their marketing efforts including their time, money and pride, and they appreciate the recognition for a job well done. The resulting publicity is very good for their companies/projects, as it speaks to their overall concern for quality on an organizational level [i.e. If their marketing is the best, their product/projects likely are, as well]. On our side of things, our team also enjoys the recognition and validation of talent and hard work that we receive from both our clients and industry peers, resulting from winning. While the bottom line [sales] is always the bottom line, you don’t typically win unless your marketing efforts were effective. Just look at the sales records of the winning builders, developers and communities for evidence.
“Additionally, for our company in particular, the Laurel Awards provide us a once-a-year opportunity to promote our company locally. We’ve grown significantly every year for eight consecutive years, based exclusively on referral business. We’ve never employed a sales or new business rep, and have never advertised. But, once a year, we have a captive audience consisting of all of the industry professionals we provide our specialized [real-estate branding and marketing services] to in a single room, and we feel it’s beneficial to distinguish ourselves in this setting. Last, but not least, the Laurels give us an opportunity to support NEFBA and the SMC and visit with industry friends. We try to enter each year and typically purchase a lot of tickets.”
- Tim Hamby,
Renaissance
Creative Services
“I have entered the Laurel Awards for the three years that I have been in real estate. I was told by all of my coworkers to enter my first year and was reluctant at first. Then I thought why not try out! I was awarded Rookie of the Year my first year in 2001, Site Agent of the Year in 2002, and just awarded Top Producer of the Year in 2003. It definitely is a confidence booster and is very exciting to hold such prestigious titles in my real estate career. If you love what you do and do what you love the awards just make it more exciting and help keep you motivated! Special thanks to Portland Stuart and SMC for another outstanding Laurel Evening!”
- Jami Maxwell-Bloedow, Mercedes Homes
“Sid Higginbotham Builder, Inc. enters these contest as well as the Parade of Homes.”
- Bob Hawley,
Sid Higginbotham Builder
“Yes, Linda [McMorrow] and I enter the Laurels and have won, but we’ve never entered the Aurora Awards. If you win, it is great publicity, but if you don’t, it’s still a great party and the opportunity to see the ‘best of the best’ when it comes to sales and marketing!”
- Selby Kaiser,
Prudential Network Realty
“This is a subject near and dear to my heart. I believe that awards are very important to people who are serious about their careers. I also believe that companies benefit from awards programs. Awards are, by their very nature, controversial. Often people think that politics are involved or that the judges can be biased or that the same people and companies win over and over again making it impossible for someone new to the scene to win. Having worked on many Laurel Awards in the past and having entered every award program available to me, I can say without hesitation that this is simply not true. The reason that I got involved in the Laurel Awards originally was because, as a sales and marketing director for a local builder, it was my job to promote my company and the people who worked for me. Winning awards is great for business - plain and simple. And, as a manager charged with motivating a sales team, there is no better way to say thank you and show my appreciation to my sales team, than by entering them in sales awards programs. Most sales professionals are to some degree motivated by being recognized by their peers. Winning a Laurel or an Aurora is a gratifying experience and, again, very good for business and for advancing one’s career and recognition in the industry. Finally, take it from me. In doing the research to start the Laurel Awards program, I decided that I needed to know as much as possible about how awards programs work. Part of my research involved entering every single awards program available to me, including local, state, regional and national levels. I had never entered an awards program before other than local Parade of Homes events. To my everlasting surprise, I won a few of them. What my experience taught me was that, if you enter, you have an excellent chance of winning - maybe not every time - but keep entering and you will win. Yes, you have to know how to do it. You can’t just fill out a form and send it in. It takes some time, careful thought and creativity but it’s worth it. I also judged a few events in other cities. Believe me, great pains are taken to make sure there is no bias or no deals being made. Do I enter awards events? You bet I do and I would advise anyone in this business looking to improve their professional profile and their income to do the same.”
- Vikki Robbins, Victoria Robbins Realty
“Yes, we do. Awards recognize excellence in our industry and we always want to acknowledge our ‘winners’”
- Julie Humphress,
D.R.Horton
“I would enter or advise my manager to enter me if my loan production dictated I deserved the award.”
- Perry L. Wilson,
Washington Mutual
“I have entered the Laurel awards since 1996. It is the one time during the year when we are recoginzed for all the work during the year. It is wonderful for the sales agents to be recoginzed among their peers - a great boost! What better way to salute the builder, marketing company, designers, the realty company, sales agents, etc. I plan on our company entering the Aurora Awards this year for the first time.”
- Mary Anne Hashem,
Prudential Network Realty