Gary W. Keller - Keller Williams Realty

Keller Williams Realty

Observing the need for residential real estate agencies that were both employee- and customer-friendly, Keller co-founded Keller Williams Realty in 1983. Keller Williams Realty was built on an operating model that relied on economies of scale and a cultural model that relied on the principles of profit sharing, interdependence, and success through the efforts of others. The company began franchising in 1991 and expanded to Canada in 1998, with sales and commissions growth topping 700 percent since 1995. Keller Williams has successfully leveraged this business model since the 1980s to grow from a single office in Austin to become the second-largest real estate company in the United States and Canada, with over 79,000 agents. Keller believes the company will pass Coldwell Banker and become number one by the end of 2012.

Despite the sharp downturn in the real estate market, since 2005, Keller Williams Realty has seen substantial growth in number of agents, market centers, closed units and closed gross commission income, under Keller's direction. In 2009, Keller Williams market centers generated combined profit of $80.1 million, in a year when almost every major franchise lost money. The company achieved this level of profitability by meeting its objectives of boosting agent count and agent productivity. From 2008 to 2009, agent count increased from 74,200 to 76,700, even as the overall market declined. Through its efforts, Keller Williams emerged from the recession in a strong competitive position. While its top three competitors (Coldwell Banker, Century 21, and RE/MAX) closed a combined 160 offices, Keller Williams grew its office count from 660 in 2007 to 680 by 2010. While Keller Williams boosted its agent count, these competitors shed 38,000 agents.

As chairman, Keller provides strategic direction for the company, while serving as a visionary leader within the North American Real Estate Industry.