Kentwood Brokers Honored

By Larry Hotz, Senior Editor

Every year it seems The Kentwood Company sweeps the most awards at the Denver Board of Realtors. This year was no exception.  Kentwood Realtors received the highest number of awards for individual performances and John Fitzpatrick, managing broker Of the Kentwood Company was named Broker/Manager of the Year. Gretchen Faber received the Realtor of the Year award.

John was not able to attend the awards luncheon this year so he sent a videotape instead.  He is quite a character.  He mentions that he’s going to miss the roadkill chicken lunch.  He also makes reference to his annual hosting of adult

beverages to his long-term Realtor friends. The fact is that John Fitzpatrick is one of the most respected real estate brokers and managers in our market.  He owned and operated his own company before being recruited to Kentwood.  Unlike some managers, John knows what it’s like for real estate agent to be out in the field because he is one.  He is a prolific listing agent in Cherry Hills Village.

Agents from the Kentwood Company also received four of the five top awards for individual sales volume.  Dee Chirafisi, Sandy Weigand, Edie Marks and Chuck Gargano ( in order) were in the top five of all Realtors.

Kentwood was also recognized as the top producing office in terms of sales volume.  Other agents were also honored including Bobbie Lou Miller Isand John Burns.

Denver Realtor of the Year is Gretchen Faber of Kentwood Company Cherry Creek office.

Later this year, our own Gretchen Faber was named Realtor of the Year At The Denver Board Of Realtors.  Gretchen is a delightful lady with an infectious personality.  She is a prolific blogger and writes Lifestyle Denver.  Gretchen manages The Kentwood Companies’ Cherry Creek office.  She’s very active with the Denver Board of Realtors as well as The National Association of Realtors.

I’ve only worked at two real estate companies during the last 30 years.  I guess I’m not very good at changing seats at where I work.  It’s not that I’m afraid of change.  But I do enjoy being associated with the best Realtors in the Denver market.  That is what the Kentwood Company offers.

When I first joined the firm, there were six partners while sold real estate.  The structure was more like a law firm in that the owners were also practitioners.  Every agent had a private office and an assigned assistant.  The firm held meetings weekly in a plush board room is also used for closings.  And, we all would tour each other’s listings on Wednesday mornings.  All that made it an old-fashioned real estate company.

Ultimately, it wasn’t just the fact that the Kentwood Company maintained the highest market share, it was the caliber of my colleagues at the firm that made me loyal to this firm.  They are a very good group.