Built to Last: Denver RE/MAX Brokerage Celebrates 40 Years of Business by Giving Back

For decades, RE/MAX of Cherry Creek has been a top destination where ambitious entrepreneurs can build a thriving business. But before it was known as a real estate giant in the Denver-metro area, the innovative brokerage – which turns 40 in September – was part of cocktail chatter.

That’s how Ken Malo first learned of the RE/MAX brand just a few years after earning his real estate license in 1973, the same year RE/MAX was co-founded by Dave and Gail Liniger. The Linigers had barely opened the doors to the first RE/MAX brokerage when Malo heard about a new real estate model at a party from another agent.

“I was excited about this new brand that offered a [maximum] commission concept and the freedom to run my business on my own terms,” Malo says. “No one else was offering that opportunity at the time.”

Malo liked the RE/MAX concept and along with four other brokers – Nancy Brauer,  Doug Hughen, Ed Stevens and Bill Suhr – founded RE/MAX of Cherry Creek in Denver in 1981. With time, RE/MAX of Cherry Creek took another step and morphed into a group ownership model based upon a successful brokerage in Fort Collins, Colorado. This concept created a unique operating model where every agent was also able to become a co-owner in the brokerage, giving them an equal voice in the office’s decisions.

“Agents care more about the office when they have a stake in it,” says Mike Finesilver, one of RE/MAX of Cherry Creek’s first agents, who recently retired. “There’s a strong attitude of teamwork at the office that you won’t find many other places. I’ve always attributed that to the fact that everyone is a co-owner.”

As the brokerage prepares to celebrate its milestone 40-year anniversary, RE/MAX of Cherry Creek leaders and agents look back at the culture and brand that are key to the business’s longevity.

Continuing to build from a strong foundation

Over the years, constant innovation has helped propel RE/MAX of Cherry Creek forward, including offering the next generation of leaders the opportunity to pursue their own vision. The original founders of RE/MAX of Cherry Creek have since retired, and Bailey Dolian, President and Employing Broker, and Kristopher Coe, Managing Broker and Executive Director, now carry the torch. Under their leadership, the brokerage’s reputation has continued to grow in the community. RE/MAX of Cherry Creek has been named a Top Place to Work by the Denver Business Journal (DBJ), was a finalist in the DBJ’s Small Business Awards, and was ranked third for both Sales Production and Number of Transactions (for offices with 76-100 agents) by the Denver Metro Area of Realtors.

“We have the utmost respect for our brokerage’s founders and the people who held leadership positions before us,” Coe says. “Our founders came up with a creative brokerage idea and a different mentality of how to run a business. They kept RE/MAX of Cherry Creek alive, strong and vibrant. To carry their legacy forward is a remarkable honor.”

According to Dolian, there is an unparalleled camaraderie among the agents of RE/MAX of Cherry Creek.

“The fact that we have brokers that have been with us for 35 years or longer, almost going back to the inception of the company, speaks volumes to the integrity of our business,” she says.

According to agent Christine Dupont-Patz, the brokerage’s longevity builds instant trust with prospective clients.

“Working with RE/MAX of Cherry Creek gives my clients the reassurance of the established RE/MAX brand but also of a cornerstone in the Denver real estate community,” Dupont-Patz says. “Our reputation for professionalism, integrity and service means we will continue to be there for our clients.”

Autonomy for Agents

The brokerage’s unique business model means every company decision, big or small, comes down to a vote. For example, late last year the brokerage voted to purchase a new office space in a more modern building a few blocks from their current location.

“I think at many other companies it’s a top-down approach with these types of decisions,” Coe says, “but for us, we made the choice as a team.”

Another question that comes up for a vote? Whether or not to renew the RE/MAX franchise agreement. Each time, the answer has been a resounding yes.

“Of course, a major part of it is the brand recognition, coupled with the technology and support offered from RE/MAX headquarters. We know we won’t find that anywhere else,” Dolian says.

Agent Kristina Davis came to RE/MAX of Cherry Creek from the marketing world, seeking a role that would allow her more face time with clients. She says the brokerage’s model allows her to call the shots in her business, while still offering support when needed.

“The uniqueness of RE/MAX of Cherry Creek’s model is one that truly allows an agent to do what they feel is best for their business,” Davis says. “I find it invaluable to be able to run my business the way I want to run my business but have the expertise of the marketing and staff to complement my business.”

Carrying forward a tradition of service

The brokers of RE/MAX of Cherry Creek also agree on the important role community support has played in their success over the years. To show their gratitude, the company is marking their milestone anniversary with a yearlong charitable campaign called #RMCCGives. Every two months in 2021, RE/MAX of Cherry Creek is raising funds for a different nonprofit. In addition to spotlighting the organizations on social media, several brokers in the office have also pledged to make a donation to the featured nonprofits with each closed transaction.

Charities were selected following the submission of videos sharing agents’ personal ties to each organization’s mission. The five nonprofits chosen offer a diverse range of critical services to the populations they support, including children in foster care and individuals experiencing homelessness.

The impact of the #RMCCGives project is global – while four of the organizations operate in Denver, a fifth offers education to students in Tanzania. The stories behind each agent’s nomination share the common thread of volunteerism and philanthropy that is core to the culture of RE/MAX of Cherry Creek.

“Our affiliates are passionate about a wide variety of causes and are dedicated to making a difference,” Dolian says.

“Our support from the local community has been the key to our longevity, and the reason our brokerage is still here today,” she adds. “They have helped us build an office truly unique within the industry.”

RE/MAX of Cherry Creek has always been an office that takes pride in its legacy, while being unafraid of change. This constant evolution is why the office, and brokers such as Ken Malo, continue to thrive even after four decades in business. Malo sums this attitude up perfectly in his advice for new agents that join RE/MAX of Cherry Creek:

“Don’t get complacent. You still need to hustle every day.”

Get RE/MAX News delivered to your inbox! Sign up for News Alerts in the footer below.