#diane ramirez

[halsteadproperty]

Diane Ramirez Receives the Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership Award at REBNY’s Annual Banquet

On January 17, REBNY, the Real Estate Board of New York, hosted its annual banquet. The tradition has held strong for 123 years, bringing together the most influential players in the world of New York City real estate. Each year, the evening involves dinner and cocktails; socializing among executives, politicians, and investors; and recognition of members of the real estate community.

Among the distinguished honorees at the event was Halstead Chairman and CEO Diane Ramirez, who was presented with the Bernard H. Mendik Lifetime Leadership in Real Estate Award. Named after a former REBNY chairman, the award recognizes leadership and dedicated service in real estate and the larger community.

Speaking on Diane’s decades of service, REBNY President John Banks said, “Everyone who knows Diane understands that she embodies the values of [Bernard Mendik], exemplified by her leadership and dedicated service to the real estate industry throughout her career and her philanthropic contributions in and out of the real estate community.   

In addition to being at the helm of Halstead for over three decades, Diane has been on the Department of State Real Estate Board since 2010 as well as an active member of LeadingRE for more than 20 years. She is currently Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of LeadingRE, and will be named Chairman this year.

Diane has also been involved in philanthropic efforts in New York for decades, which has earned her recognition from REBNY in the past. In 2009, she received the Kenneth R. Gerrety Humanitarian Award for her service to the community.

Congratulations to Diane on her exceptional career and this well-deserved honor!

[halsteadproperty]

How Halstead Balances Innovation & Identity

It was the kind of day that could lure a Californian east, and the kind New Yorkers look forward to all year long. And my luck extended beyond the weather. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Diane Ramirez, CEO of Halstead Real Estate, one of the top residential real estate brokerage firms in the New York metropolitan area.

Twice in the last three years, Halstead has been recognized as Most Innovative Brokerage by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Halstead’s culture and spirit for innovation has made their retention among the highest in the industry.

Diane and I met at the brokerage’s stunning Park Ave location, and we talked about everything real estate, as well as the secrets to Halstead’s continued growth and success -- as a brokerage, as an innovator, and as a brand.

What does a typical day look like for you?

No day looks the same, on the whole, but I try to begin each and every day the same way. I spend at least 2 to 5 minutes reading something at home, whether it’s an article or a quote, and that grounds me and provides some perspective. Then, I walk to work – rain (or snow) or shine.

Once I arrive in the office, invigorated from my walk, I’m present and ready to seize the day. I start by returning emails and phone calls that came in overnight, and then I get into my scheduled day, which usually includes meeting with my leadership team visiting our offices, helping agents to strategize on big listing pitches, and oftentimes speaking at an engagement or working closely with organizations for whom I sit on the Board of Directors, such as REBNY and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Often my day concludes with an evening industry event. It’s always a whirlwind, but I love it.

What inspired Halstead’s recent rebrand?

I have led 2 major re-brands at Halstead since I co-founded the firm with Clark Halstead in 1984. We had last changed our look in 2006, adopting green with a structural H logo – very reminiscent of a classic New York City building with two pillars and window features – and had become well-known for it. We owned the color and the look; it was bold for its time.

But Halstead isn’t the same firm that it was in 2006. We have since expanded to second home and suburban markets in places like the Hamptons, Connecticut, Hudson Valley and New Jersey. The green that worked so well for us in the city, in these more suburban settings tended to blend into the grass with signage on lawns, and our architectural H icon just wasn’t resonating across the company in the same way.

Halstead is no longer a boutique, niche market firm. We have become recognized industry leaders at the national and international level, and we needed a brand that would carry us well into the future. The new visual identity is not just reflective of where we are today, but where we are heading.

What did that process look like?

We built Halstead on the foundation of a collaborative and supportive environment. This has always been an integral part of our culture. The way we approached the rebrand was very much in this spirit – we needed an identity that would inspire pride in our agents across all our unique markets. We worked with Pentagram, the world’s largest independently-owned design studio, on the effort and they were excellent partners.

We started by conducting a thorough analysis of our brand and interviewing Halstead executives, agents and influencers within the real estate industry. We listened, calibrated, revised, and refined together. It was an incredible team effort. We have a new flexible, multidimensional “H” icon and a use of color that is forward-thinking within the real estate industry and beyond.

The corporate color set consists of a monochromatic palette of grays that anchors the brand, while three additional color sets reflect Halstead’s various markets throughout the tri-state region. The final result reflects the essence of Halstead and is strong and flexible to withstand the test of time.

Implementing our new branding has been an enormous undertaking and an incredible group effort. In the weeks following the launch, we did everything from updating all the signage and branding for our 30+ offices to re-designing every piece of marketing and advertising material. We even changed the smallest details like the logo on the cocktail napkins in my office. It has been well worth the hard work because our agents have truly embraced the new Halstead brand -- they are proud to wear it in the lining of their suits!

How do you maintain your culture as you’ve grown over the years?

A strong culture is challenging to achieve and as you grow, and it is often the easiest thing to “go.” But having a great culture is critical for retention and attracting the “next generation” of agents. Whenever we release new technology, for instance, we do it in the spirit of Halstead’s culture. We strive to introduce tools that will truly resonate with our agents and encourage adoption (without making it required). Recently with RealScout, we involved agents in beta testing for your New York City product so we could solicit their feedback and work with you to help enhance the product before rolling it out companywide and to the brokerage community. It was a great success and an effort that our agents truly appreciated. We were so proud to have led the charge for RealScout in New York City. One thing to keep in mind is that investing in new technology can be expensive but “showing up” is not. Arguably, a genuine top-down presence is the most important component to maintaining your culture as you grow. While it is a significant investment of time on my part, I am regularly in all our offices throughout the tri-state area. It is so important to me that agents feel their voices are heard. It’s about finding the balance. At Halstead, we are committed to continuously investing in new technology and maintaining our culture as we scale. I’m proud to say that we have built an internal foundation of incredible technology, marketing services and support companies without forgetting our mission as a real estate company based on relationships, collaboration and skill.

How is technology changing the real estate industry?

The real estate industry has upped its technology game, particularly over the last 5 years, and it’s bringing great value to agents, their customers and the public at large. Halstead has invested heavily in technology and we are always looking at the latest tools to help enhance our agents’ businesses. In house, we have focused on perfecting our data and integrating it across all our platforms so that when we partner with an outside vendor, like RealScout, everything is integrated seamlessly to deliver real efficiency to our agents.

What excites you most about RealScout?

The collaborative nature of RealScout resonated with us since we were first introduced to the search platform over a year ago. There were such obvious synergies between Halstead and RealScout, and your commitment to working with the brokerage community to make this a valuable tool for agents was important to us.

What’s so exciting about RealScout is that the more brokerage firms sign on, the better the platform will be. It gives agents access to home buyer demand data which has never been available before in a meaningful way. As a listing agent, this is great for finding highly relevant buyers, selling homes more effectively and having important conversations with sellers about pricing.

How have Halstead agents responded to the tool?

Halstead agents are loving RealScout. It gives them real-time visibility into their buyers’ preferences and, on the sell-side, it accelerates the matchmaking process for them. Just the other day, I got this feedback from an agent in Manhattan: “RealScout highlights my value as an agent, as opposed to minimizing my function. It puts agents and clients first – just like Halstead.” I think that just about says it all!

What advice would you give to agents who are just starting out in their careers?

Make certain you have a game plan. Real estate is a commission-based business which can be alluring and even thrilling. Many agents, including those who are brand new to the industry, believe that a big deal is right around the corner. The truth is that the key to their success is hard work and a diligent plan. It can often take years to build your business, so you must be driven by a real fire in your belly throughout your career.

[halsteadproperty]

‘Know Your Strengths’: Leadership Lessons From A Real Estate Entrepreneur

By Jill Griffin

Diane M. Ramirez, chairman and CEO of Halstead, is known for her passion and devotion to the residential real estate industry. She is a 35-year veteran who started her career in Palm Beach, Florida where she worked as an agent for a number of years before returning to her hometown—New York City—and embarking on a successful and rewarding career.

Together with Clark Halstead, she helped found Halstead in the fall of 1984. Their vision for the company was a high-end firm that utilized advanced technology combined with old fashioned elegance that covered all segments of the market and was located in the communities that they serviced. Due to their vision, Halstead became the first big firm to utilize storefront offices in Manhattan as well as the first to be on the West Side and in Downtown.

Under her leadership, Mrs. Ramirez has strategically grown the firm from its original goal of three storefront offices in some of the most important communities in Manhattan to its current size of 22 offices with nearly 950 agents throughout the tri-state area.

I had a chance to interview Diane recently and learn more about her and what drives her.

Jill Griffin: Where did you grow up? Describe your early childhood and its significance on your life.

Diane Ramirez: I grew up in a middle-class family in Jackson Heights, Queens. I have two older brothers, but am the oldest daughter, which led to my taking on a lot of responsibilities at a young age. Growing up with four siblings, I learned how to deal with people, how to diffuse a situation, and how to get your voice heard. It was truly a wonderful way to grow up, surrounded by love and support, but also challenged me to navigate how to make my own way in the family.

Griffin: When did you first get the whisper that you belonged in business?

Ramirez: I can’t remember a time in my life when I did not already know that I wanted to be in business. This is owed immensely to my father and the strong influence he had on my life. He made me feel like I could do anything, including being successful in the business world. My background was in marketing and advertising and I put my career on pause when I married young and had children. I was happy to focus on my family, though my strong desire to work in business never died down. I knew that unless I wanted to wait until my children were grown, I needed to pursue a career with flexible hours.

I was living in Florida at the time when it hit me—real estate. The hours seemed flexible, I had already bought and sold a couple of properties, and I loved the close interaction with people. I began working in real estate in Florida, before we decided to move back to New York City where I got my real estate license. I liked real estate in Florida and I loved real estate in New York.

Griffin: Was there an early teacher that inspired you?  Who and how?

Ramirez: I had some wonderful teachers in my life but it was my family that inspired me the most. My dad gave me a sense of confidence and real belief in myself. He passed away when I was just a teenager, having instilled in me that he felt I could accomplish anything I put my mind to. It wasn’t this false sense of flattery, but rather a true belief in my potential that I then took on in my own persona. There is nothing I look at now that I do not feel I can do, even when faced with challenges. If I didn’t believe I could do it, I would never have taken some of the risks in my career that have brought me here—and that definitely came from my father.

Griffin: What’s a great piece of business or life advice you received, who gave it to you, and how has it enhanced your life?

Ramirez: There are two people whose advice has enhanced my life. My husband taught me to treat everyone with the utmost respect. He always treated everyone he encountered in business with such incredible regard. I knew that was a beautiful trait, one that I hope was in me anyway but watching his interactions with people definitely shaped how I look at people in life.

My business partner and cofounder of Halstead, Clark Halstead, taught me to always look to the horizon and never lose sight of the bigger picture. He was always a visionary thinker, and I always thought of myself as the meat and potatoes in the relationship – I crossed my t’s and dotted my i’s. Working alongside him, I developed a visionary sense of thinking as well, which is something I needed to grow and enhance Halstead to where it is today.

Griffin: Please give me the top three bullet points in your personal leadership credo.

Ramirez:

Know your strengths. Embracing who you are will allow your authenticity to shine.

Say what you’ll do and do what you say. Following through on your word is one of the most important things you can do for building foundations of mutual trust.

Failures are not fatal unless you don’t have the courage to continue your journey. If you look deep down, you will have it in you to keep going.

Griffin: Describe a painful setback in your life and what it taught you.

Ramirez: I feel blessed that I haven’t had a lot of setbacks in my life. My most painful setback was losing my father unexpectedly, at a time in my life when I thought I had my future all planned out. It did turn my life upside down – as it was sudden, he had been the one providing for our family, and I was the oldest one at home. The well-planned vision I had for myself as a teenager had to be rearranged and I had to be there for my mother and younger siblings. It was devastating at the time but I did make lemonade out of it. I didn’t take the road I thought I would but when I look back at my life, it was beautiful and just the way it was supposed to be. Facing tragedy at a young age has ultimately served me well, as I’ve been able to embrace challenges in life.

Griffin: What advice do you have for young, talented, ambitious women who want to rise?

Ramirez: Be the best you can be, and always work hard. When people see that you are working hard, that your work ethics are there and you’re a team player, it will not go unnoticed. Often, younger people want to shine right away, but remember that collaborating, working as a team and working hard does bubble to the top.

I am often in male-dominated situations, and the main thing that I do is to approach the situation as a talented person who is meant to be there. Not as a female, not as a male, just as a person — a bright, intelligent person who has something valuable to add. You are there because you have the talent to be there.

(Source: Forbes)

[halsteadproperty]

Halstead Celebrates International Women’s Day 

International Women’s Day, a day in which we commemorate the movement for women’s rights, is a special day for women in the workplace, especially real estate.

While we continue to fight for more workplace equality, it is important to look back at the strides women have made – and continue to make – whether it is in residential real estate or beyond.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor

Women’s participation in the U.S. labor force has climbed since WWII, from 32.7 percent in 1948 to 56.8 percent in 2016.

The proportion of women with college degrees in the labor force has almost quadrupled since 1970. More than 40 percent of women in the labor force had college degrees in 2016, compared with 11 percent in 1970.

In 2016, more than one in three lawyers was a woman compared to fewer than 1 in 10 in 1974.

Nationwide, women brokers dominate the residential real estate market.

According to Trulia, there are more female agents in all 50 states, out-numbering male counterparts by about 50% in each individual state. That is a 2:1 ratio of female to male agents.

About 62 percent of all certified Realtors are women, according to the National Association of Realtors.

2017 marked the first year a woman leader was among real estate’s 10 most powerful leaders with Zillow Chief Operating Officer Amy Bohutinsky claiming the No. 10 spot. (via Global Newswire)

There are a number of women who fill senior leadership roles in both residential and commercial real estate, which includes Halstead Chairman and CEO, Diane Ramirez, who was recently named to the Swanepoel Power 200 (SP200).

[halsteadproperty]

Diane M. Ramirez Named IREM 2016 Real Estate Person of the Year 

Congratulations to our CEO and Chairman Diane M. Ramirez who has been named the 2016 Real Estate Person of the Year by The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). The recognition, bestowed in January at a dinner in Manhattan, acknowledges achievements within the real estate industry.

Diane was selected based on her experience, commitment and success in growing Halstead Property to one of the three largest firms in New York with offices in the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, Connecticut and New Jersey. She is an exceptional leader in the industry, and this honor is yet another career accomplishment that is so well-deserved. 

“The Institute of Real Estate Management does incredible work and is an amazing source for knowledge, advocacy and networking for the real estate community,” said Ramirez. “It is a true honor to be the recipient of this year’s Real Estate Person of the Year award.”

Once again, congratulations to our CEO Diane Ramirez!

[halsteadproperty]

HALSTEAD CEO DIANE RAMIREZ RECOGNIZED IN SWANEPOEL POWER 200 

Congratulation to our CEO Diane Ramirez who ranked in the Swanepoel Power 200 list as one of the most influential people in residential real estate this year! The Overall Power 200 list recognizes everyone from corporate executives to power brokers who lead the industry. Diane was selected based on her experience in growing Halstead Property to one of the three largest firms in New York with offices in the Hamptons, Hudson Valley, Connecticut and New Jersey. Plus, she was appointed by the Governor to the Department of State Real Estate Board in 2010 and remains an active member. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, which recently presented her with their President’s Award.

Once again, a well-deserve congratulations to our CEO Diane Ramirez! 

To connect with Diane follow her on Twitter. 

[halsteadproperty]

HALSTEAD TAKES HOME 4 AWARDS AT LEADING REAL ESTATE COMPANIES OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE 

We are thrilled to share that Halstead Property took home four prestigious awards at last week's Leading Real East Companies of the World Conference in Miami.

The President's Award in the Service Recognition Program went to our CEO Diane M. Ramirez for her hard work and dedication to the LeadingRE network.

The Best Marketing Piece recognizes the most inventive and innovative marketing/technology initiative in 2015. Our ProperTV Books came out on top because of their sharp design and instant video playing feature.

The Best Relocation Marketing went to Halstead's "Unmatched Global Reach" advertising campaign and collateral.

Top Outbound Referral was awarded to West Side agent, Richard Rosenthal of the Friedman Rosenthal Team, who transacted the highest referral fee within LeadingRE's network of 500+ firms. Richard worked with Halstead's Global Services Division to find an agent in California to represent a high-profile client. In fact, he vetted 4 agents from 4 different firms within the network prior to introducing the buyer. In June 2015, his outbound buyer bought and closed on a $15M Frank Gehry-designed Malibu home owned by actor Patrick Dempsey. Executive Director of Global Services Kimberly Barkoff expressed her appreciation of this important win:  

"the Friedman Rosenthal team have entrusted our division with their clients in need of outbound introductions and have shown their full-service capability of being a local expert with global reach."

Congratulations to all those who contributed to our wins at this year's conference, and a special congratulations to Diane Ramirez and Richard Rosenthal!

Check out even more of Halstead's awards and recognition at www.halstead.com/awards

[halsteadproperty]

INSIDE OUR COLLECTION WITH DIANE M. RAMIREZ: 7 EAST 35TH STREET 

Halstead Property’s CEO, Diane M. Ramirez, reveals highlights of the Penthouse at 7 East 35th Street as she tours the Midtown dream home in the second installment of Inside Our Collection. Diane provides a look inside this phenomenal exclusive listing selected from Halstead’s Luxury Portfolio Collection:

“This apartment has it all,” Diane says. She introduces the penthouse by pointing out its impressive features, such as a large terrace and three wood-burning fireplaces.

The penthouse is multi-level and includes four bedrooms. As Diane puts it: “this is home-like.”

It is no surprise that Diane found herself in awe of the home’s soaring ceilings (approximately 20 feet in height). Skylights throughout the space provide ample natural light to illuminate the dining and living rooms.

At 1,500 square feet, the upper-level terrace could be the penthouse’s most enticing bonus. Best of all it’s located in the shadow of the Empire State Building.

The perks don’t stop there. 7 East 35th Street is a full-service, doorman building plus amenities. Not to mention, located in the center of Manhattan.

“It’s really the quintessential apartment in New York,” Diane says.

Click here to learn more about this spacious townhouse in the sky, and stay tuned for our next installment of Inside Our Collection.

To connect with Diane, visit her website or follow her on Twitter.