by David Chapman
Staff Writer
“Rookie of the Year” is a prestigious award people normally associate with young players who achieve great things in sports. Andrew Linn won the award as a young player in the real estate business.
Linn, of ERA Davis & Linn, won the ERA Real Estate national “Rookie of the Year” award last month in Las Vegas, earning the distinction over two other finalists during the company’s International Business Conference.
Linn was nominated in December for the award by Carol Davis, which co-owns the Jacksonville franchise with Linn’s father, Jim.
ERA offices are independently owned and operated and the company’s award is given to one person a year based on a variety of things such as volume of units sold, community involvement and leadership.
“It was as shocking as it was exciting,” said Linn, commenting on receiving the nomination and award. “I’ve never won an award like that.”
In his first year, Linn sold 29 units for $7 million.
Linn credits the support of his parents and other ERA office members for helping his early success. One member he credits was Sandra McDonald, his trainer.
“She’s really helped me out a lot over the year,” said Linn. “She’s won a lot of national awards with ERA and she’s been great.”
Linn broke into the real estate business after working as a project manager under The Hutson Companies and as manager of The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville for SMG, which runs Jacksonville’s major facilities.
He says he has taken something from every working experience.
“One thing I have really learned is how to really listen to people in order to help them,” said Linn.
His father never encouraged or asked his son to get into the industry. He did, however, offer his son some advice when Andrew approached him about it.
His advice?
“He told me, ‘Save enough income to live off of for six months. It’s not easy, but if this is what you want to do, then the door is open,” said Andrew Linn.
Linn was born and raised in Jacksonville and attended Episcopal High and Wofford College.
He is on the Gator Bowl Committee, American Enterprise Bank board and the alumni board of Episcopal High School. He contributes to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, with $200 of every sale going toward the charitys.
As Linn begins his second full year at ERA in April, and fresh off getting his award, he said he plans to continue to do what he’s been doing best.
“I’m going to keep customers happy and keep strengthening the relationships I have while just striving to get better.”