ERA Real Estate recognizes Steve Simmons as a 2016 Hall of Fame Inductee

Press Release
April 29, 2017 1:12 p.m.

Steve Simmons inducted in ERA’s Hall of Fame

ERA Real Estate, a leading global real estate franchisor, recently inducted Florida business leader Steve Simmons into the brand’s Hall of Fame. Simmons is the founding owner and broker of ERA Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida. Established in 2013, the ERA(r) Hall of Fame honors member companies and individuals who have consistently earned high levels of recognition and have made contributions with lasting impacts on the
culture and history of the franchise system. The inductees were announced at the 2017 ERA International Business Conference in Dallas, Texas.

“Serving double-duty as a broker/owner and an ERA service broker, Steve Simmons literally grew the ERA brand by 28 ERA offices in the mid-1970’s and early 1980’s,” said Sue Yannaccone, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate. “Steve truly deserves to be inducted into our Hall of Fame because he fast-forwarded the growth of our brand while running his own ERA company and transformed the way ERA does business by initiating several innovative programs earlier in his ERA career. He is highly-respected within the ERA brand and exemplifies the ERA spirit of teamwork. I am grateful for Steve’s contributions in shaping our brand and appreciate his continued dedication to ERA Real Estate.”

As an ERA service broker, Simmons opened and staffed full-time real estate offices in Augusta and Savannah, Georgia, while also leading training and monthly sales meeting rallies within his territory of Eastern Georgia and a large area of South Carolina. Along with the ERA corporate team, Simmons was responsible for developing the brand’s Home Warranty Program and the Guaranteed Sales Program, known today as the Sellers Security Program. Both programs gave ERA brokers an edge over the competition. Then came the greatest competitive edge, the “Moving Machine,” also known as the fax machine. Simmons helped ERA brokers implement the game-changer.

“The premise was that within six minutes, you could transmit and show a listing to a customer or broker in another ERA office,” recalled Simmons. “It was huge and noisy but it was the first commercially used fax machine in real estate and we were proud of it. Our recruiting slogan to brokers was ‘Let us help you make the move’ and it worked. We grew the company with the moving machine and it allowed ERA brokers to communicate with each other and handle relocations from one area to another. It also built a strong spirit of collaboration which is still alive and well today.”

After much success in growing the ERA brand, Simmons returned to Amelia Island to focus on growing his business. Over the years, the award-winning ERA Fernandina Beach Realty has expanded to include two offices and more than twenty affiliated real estate sales professionals. Simmons remains very active in ERA brand activities and programs.

“I have always been proud of my ‘partnership’ with ERA,” said Simmons. “It has been a blessing. From beginning to end, ERA continues to have great leadership and the brand and I continue to share the same philosophy – If you strive to satisfy the needs of others, your needs will always be met.”

About ERA Real Estate

ERA Real Estate is an innovative franchising leader in the residential real estate
industry with nearly 45 years of experience in developing consumer-oriented products
and services. The ERA network includes approximately 36,000 affiliated brokers and
sales associates and approximately 2,300 offices throughout the United States and 30
countries and territories. Each office is independently owned and operated. ERA Real
Estate is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global provider of
real estate services. ERA Real Estate information is available at: ExploreERA.com.

Media Contact:
Melissa Drake
973-407-7904