BUSINESS OBSERVER

+ Keller Williams agents complete course
Roberta Burish and Robin Wentz, agents with Keller Williams Realty of Manatee, recently were initiated into The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing after completing a luxury home marketing training course.

The course was taught by Laurie Moore-Moore, President of the Dallas-based Institute for Luxury Home Marketing and author of the book, “Rich Buyer, Rich Seller! The Real Estate Agents’ Guide to Marketing Luxury Homes.”

Burish has been with Keller Williams Realty of Manatee since 2003 and serves as the director of the Luxury Home Division for the Market Center. Wentz has been with Keller Williams of Manatee since 2008 and is a member of the Wentz Team.

For more, call Burish at 704-4223 or Wentz at 931-1289.

+ Michael Saunders names top agents
Michael Saunders & Company announced recently its top-performing agents and teams for 2011.
Company-wide, Linda Dickinson was the top producing individual agent for her eighth consecutive year. Kim and Michael Ogilvie were the company’s top-producing team in 2011, for their second consecutive year and fourth time overall.

For their exceptional production on behalf of the company’s Ritz-Carlton office, Joan Dickinson and Beth Afflebach were named the company’s “Top Specialty Team” of the year.

The company finished 2011 with $1.52 billion in total sales volume, an increase of 6% over 2010. Unit sales for the year were up by 12.8% over 2010.

The top-performing agents for the company’s offices in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and at IMG Academies were Kathleen Valente (Bradenton West), Deborah O’Mara (Lakewood Ranch) and Adam Cufaro (IMG Academies). The top-performing team was Howie and Robin Drourr (Lakewood Ranch).

Also cited for outstanding performance were Christine Mazur, Mary Pihl, Joseph Foster, Kathy Lewis, Michelle Crabtree, Heidi Cox, Bill Weed, Stephen Strong, Mary Hellhake, John Camino, Phyllis Woodroof, Ed Haggerty, Judith Browning, Karen Pflueger, Diane Fogo-Harter, Antaeus Balevre, Nancy Phillips, Robin Bowman, Terri Thacker and the team of Maggie and Stewart Hastings, from the firm’s Lakewood Ranch office; and Kym Paxton, Debbie Vogler, Sandy Drapala, Jody Shinn, Cheryl Roberts, Laura Tracy Clekis, Deborah Capobianco and Dana Preston, of the Bradenton West office.

Couple launches counseling business
Chris and Dee Waters announced the opening of their new business, Coaching, Counseling and Consulting Inc., located at 8374 Market St., Suite 123, Lakewood Ranch.

The business will offer assistance to individuals, couples, families, business owners and employees.

Dee Waters, a life coach for women, has years of experience with individuals in both their personal and professional lives. She is dedicated to resolving problems and improving interpersonal skills. She specializes with women in life’s transitions, whether it is family, career or other relationships.

Chris Waters offers years of diverse professional business, counseling and consulting experience to assist individuals, families and business owners resolve conflicts or problems.

For more, visit the CCC website, www.ccc-srq.com, or call 799-0007.