In an industry where technology solutions often miss the mark, Lone Wolf Technologies is taking a bold step: actually listening to real estate professionals. The formation of their new Proptech Advisory Board isn't just another corporate announcement – it's a recognition that the best solutions come from understanding real challenges.
Think about it. How many times have real estate professionals been handed "solutions" that create more problems than they solve? As Vanessa Bergmark, CEO of Red Oak Realty and board member, pointedly states, "Technology should make real estate professionals better, not busier." This gets to the heart of what makes this initiative different.
26 leaders shaping the future of proptech
The advisory board brings together 26 leaders who live and breathe real estate daily. We're talking broker-owners who understand the complexities of running a modern brokerage, agents who know what it takes to serve today's sophisticated clients, and MLS leaders who see the bigger picture of market dynamics. This diversity of perspective is crucial because real estate technology needs to work at every level of the industry.
Nina Dosanjh of Vanguard Properties captures the significance perfectly when she describes it as "creating a space to understand our evolving needs." This isn't about developing technology in a vacuum – it's about co-creation with the people who will actually use it.
What's particularly noteworthy about this board's composition is its blend of experience and innovation. From established brokerages like Real Estate One to forward-thinking firms like West+Main Homes, the member list reads like a who's who of real estate leadership. But more importantly, it represents a cross-section of different business models, market sizes, and geographical regions.
The timing couldn't be more critical. Real estate professionals face unprecedented challenges: shifting market conditions, evolving consumer expectations, and an increasingly complex technological landscape. By bringing together this brain trust, Lone Wolf is positioning itself to develop solutions that address real needs rather than perceived ones.
A new approach to real estate technology development
Looking ahead, this initiative could set a new standard for how proptech companies approach product development. As Jimmy Kelly, CEO of Lone Wolf, emphasizes, "Real innovation comes from understanding real challenges." This collaborative approach might just be the key to creating technology that truly serves the industry rather than disrupting it for disruption's sake.
For real estate professionals watching this development, it signals a potential shift in how technology partners view their role in the industry. Rather than pushing solutions from the top down, there's a move toward understanding and addressing the real challenges that agents, brokers, and MLSs face daily.
The real test will be in the execution, but the foundation being laid here – bringing together diverse perspectives and prioritizing industry input – suggests a promising direction for the future of real estate technology.
The inaugural Proptech Advisory Board members include:
- Erika Almstead, Central Virginia MLK
- Mike Barnett, Texas REALTORS
- Nikki Beauchamp, Sotheby's
- Vanessa Bergmark, Red Oak Realty
- Bill Bonner, EXP
- Kendall Bonner, EXP
- Melissa Cunningham, BHHS Fox & Roach
- Laurie Weston Davis, Better Homes & Gardens Lifestyle Property Partners
- Nina Dosanjh, Vanguard
- Sarita Dua, Keller Williams Sunset Corridor
- Dan Elsea, Real Estate One
- Andrea Geller, Compass
- Melissa Greer, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Yost & Little Realty
- Ashley Harris, Real
- Christian Harris, Real
- Wendi Iglesias, Keyes
- Jonathan Kauffmann, Nest Realty
- Scott Lincicome, Better Homes & Gardens Lifestyle Property Partners
- Jay Luebke, ERA
- Anthony Malafronte, Real
- Tami McFarlane, Restaino & Associates
- Amy Powell, Engel & Volkers
- Joe Rogers, MLS United
- Ruth Santos, PenFed Realty
- Mark Slade, Keller Williams
- Jackie Soto, eHomes
- Stacie Staub, West+Main Homes
- William Thompson, New Jersey Realtors
