Stroudsburg – Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Assocs and NEPA Management Associates announced two promotions in Senior Management on the Real Estate side of the Wilkins organization effective April 1, 2017.
The first promotion is Christine A. Wilkins to the position of President and the second promotion is William “Bill” Schutte to the position of Executive Vice President.
Said Wilkins, “At this particular juncture, Christine has really been running the real estate side of the business, so there’s no reason that she should not be promoted to President. Over the past 7 years, without her guidance, I’m not quite sure we would have made it through the recession.”
Christine A. Wilkins had been the Executive Vice President/General Manager for the past 7 years. In her position, Wilkins recruited Salespersons; set up, organized and oversaw training for new Salespersons, Realtors and Central Processing. Wilkins also handled the day to day operations in BHG’s four offices and was an integral part of Senior Management in making financial decisions concerning the Wilkins companies as a whole.
Bill Schutte, V.P./Sales Manager, started his real estate career in 2003 working with Wilkins & Assoc Real Estate in Dingmans Ferry. Since that time, Schutte earned his Assoc Broker’s license, been a top producer for the company and along with his wife Beth Schutte is a member of The Schutte Team. Schutte has won numerous awards for a variety of achievements in the Wilkins organization and currently is the Vice President/Sales Manager of the BHG Milford office.
Wilkins stated, “Bill started his real estate career with us many, many moons ago. Christine was actually his Manager in the Dingmans Ferry office. Talk about a hard worker and someone who is Corporate minded–Bill is definitely a company man. It is Senior Management’s collective belief that Bill Schutte is a gentleman who is going to be an important part of taking Better Homes and Gardens and NEPA to the next level.”
In Schutte’s new position as Exec Vice Pres., Schutte will be responsible for the 4 BHG offices and answer to Christine A. Wilkins, President on the day to day operations and management of those offices and to Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO with regard to marketing online and in print for the real estate company. Schutte will travel between the offices during his work week ensuring and helping the agents perform to their highest ability, help teach and promote the software that we use, assist the Agent in his or her online marketing, recruit new people into Real Estate, as well as invite seasoned Realtors to join BHG, and contribute to the overall growth and expansion of the company.
Said Schutte, “I’ve worked with Tom and Christine my entire career and am so excited to be a part of the overall plan to grow the company. Both Tom and Christine think “out of the box” and have always listened to my ideas. That means a lot to me. The biggest plus is our company is head and shoulders above any competing Real Estate company when it comes to being online not only our marketing and advertising, but also with our back-office procedures. That’s right up my alley—I’m so excited!”
Wilkins also stated, “In speaking to my childhood friend the other day, President of another family owned Pocono business, we both agreed it’s been a tough 9 years; and we further agreed the recession is behind us now. The the real estate market is heating up in the Pocono Mountains and the surrounding areas. I doubt very much we are going to slip back into a recession mode. Now’s the time to prepare if you want to grow over the next 3 to 5 years.”
The real estate market has always been cyclical and is definitely on the way up.
The Real Estate industry has changed considerably over the past several years in that now 98% of the Real Estate business comes in through the internet. Wilkins, a true leader in online marketing, recently launched ZAP, a new interactive website that produces a great customer/client friendly experience for buyers and sellers. Wilkins, who believes now is the time to expand, is looking to explore the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, Lake Harmony, Lehighton area and other points close to the Lehigh Valley as well as Wayne County. All of this expansion is within the next 36 months. During the height of the market Wilkins operated 14 offices.
Said Wilkins, “In closing, I want to sincerely congratulate Christine, my wife and business partner, in her new position. I am so proud of her. And Bill, I am just as proud of the job that he’s done in the past and so encouraged he will be part of our team to take our company into the future. Best of luck, Bill.”
Dennis A. Mooney, Senior V.P./Associate Broker will continue to manage the Bushkill, Stroudsburg and Mount Pocono offices.
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates are open 7 days a week and can be visited online at www.BHGWilkins.com.
NEPA Management Associates, Inc., also owned by the Wilkins family, provides property management for Homeowner Associations, Condo Complexes, and Townhome communities throughout eastern Pennsylvania. You can visit NEPA online at www.nepamgmt.com .
