KDE Photography Inc.

“There is nothing better than sitting at the closing table after a transaction and hearing about my client’s goals for their lives moving forward, and how they plan to make a home their own,” says Niko Maniakouras of Niko Law LLC.

Niko Law LLC specializes in real estate law, trusts and wills, and property tax appeals—the latter being something every member of his firm can handle in Cook and Will Counties. Niko was drawn to real estate law, specifically, because it gives him the opportunity to connect with people while still contributing his legal expertise.

“The real estate process allows me to connect with my clients on a personal level while performing legal work that helps them achieve homeownership,” he says. “Ultimately, I want to help people achieve one of the happiest moments of their lives.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

Photography: KDE Photography Inc.

Niko Maniakouras Real Estate Attorney
DuPage Real Producers

Join us in celebrating these agents in the August edition of DuPage Real Producers.

Spotlight on this month's features:
✨ Bridget Carroll
✨ Karen Joy Spangler
✨ Bobbi Banfield
✨ Nicole Myles

Our Business Partner Spotlight is: Niko Law LLC

Photography: KDE Photography Inc.



The Bridget Carroll Team - Keller Williams Premiere Properties
Naperville Team Homes - Coldwell Banker (Karen Joy Spangler & Bobbi Banfield)
The Myles Team - Re/max Action
Niko Maniakouras Real Estate Attorney
DuPage Real Producers

“The fundamental principles of strong communication skills, business, and collaborating with others provided an invaluable foundation for me to parlay my education into professional opportunities and eventually real estate,” says Stacey Harvey, principal at the Griffin | Harvey Group.

“After being named Rookie of the Year at my first firm, I hoped for someone to collaborate with,” says Stacey. “Lindsey and I met and got to know each other quickly. As moms juggling family life and career ambitions, creating a partnership was perfect for us."

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

Photography: KDE Photography Inc.

DuPage Real Producers



Griffin Harvey Group - Compass Real Estate

“When you work for someone, you learn what traits to take on,” says Angie Corcione of the CORteam in Elk Grove Village. “That was my learning process, and I hope to demonstrate those same winning traits to my team.”

Like for many children of immigrants, the tireless pursuit of your dreams was something that was passed down to her. Angie’s father moved to the US from Italy at age sixteen, enlisted in the US Army for a short time, then moved back to Italy where he met and married Angie’s mother. They decided to move back to the US to start a family, eventually settling in Addison. Angie’s father worked for the Chicago Transit Authority for many years, while her mother ran a daycare out of the family home.

“I look up to my parents for instilling in us a hard work ethic and teaching us to stay humble,” says Angie. “They taught us that if you want something, you do it; you go and get it.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

Photography: KDE Photography Inc.

The COR Team
DuPage Real Producers

These REALTORS are heating up in this month's June edition of DuPage Real Producers.

Spotlight on this month's features:
✨ Stacey Harvey & Lindsey Griffin
✨ Chris Grano
✨ Angie Corcione



Griffin Harvey Group - Compass Real Estate
Chris Grano, Realtor
The COR Team
DuPage Real Producers
KDE Photography Inc.

“When I look back, it’s amazing to compare where I was to where I am now,” says REALTOR® Moe Hannon of Keller Williams Premiere Properties. “I am so incredibly grateful I had the chance and the will to keep fighting.” Over her lifetime, Moe has had to “keep fighting” through many battles— illness as well as personal struggles. Now she’s able to reflect on her amazing journey of resilience.

Moe, who grew up in Wheaton with her sister and two brothers, spent much of her childhood as a competitive swimmer, beginning at age four. At age nine, she qualified for the Junior Olympics. Every aspect of her life revolved around being in the water, often spending as much as twenty hours a week in vigorous training. It eventually caught up with her body. By the time she was thirteen, Moe had had two shoulder reconstruction surgeries and had been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a cardio-vascular autonomic disorder that is often brought on by a traumatic event, like her intensive surgeries.

“Although the surgeries were medically necessary for my everyday health, in my pre-teen mind, they were only to help me swim harder and faster. So at the time, I was disappointed, aggravated, and angry with myself, my doctor, and my mom for allowing them because I never was the same swimmer again. But they were necessary,” says Moe.

“My heart condition led me to pass out anywhere and everywhere ... in the shower, at school, but mostly in the pool. At that point I was a liability because there were no warning signs; it would happen almost instantly.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

Photography:
KDE Photography Inc.

DuPage Real Producers

“Ballet taught me many lessons about commitment and discipline,” says broker Krysti Cioch of Platinum Partners REALTORS® in Downers Grove. “It not only taught me to work hard for myself, but also for the people around me. When you commit to things like that it involves everyone around you, and you all have to work toward the same common goal.”

Growing up in Richmond, Illinois, a small town on the border of Wisconsin, Krysti watched closely as her mother, a first grade teacher, and her father, a local business owner, engrained themselves into their community. Her parents became her models for how to interact and engage with people.

“My dad is a natural-born salesman and is the person who showed me how to talk to people,” she says. “To this day I go to my dad for advice about running my business and to brainstorm sales tactics for trickier properties.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

Photography:
KDE Photography
KDE Photography Inc.

Platinum Partners Realtors

DuPage Real Producers

When veteran REALTOR® Laura McGreal of in Downers Grove found her career calling nearly twenty years ago, she didn’t hesitate to begin to build the success she now enjoys. “I started at the bottom, working sixty or more hours a week, giving up most of my nights and weekends while in my twenties, which was not easy,” she shares.

Originally from Tinley Park, Laura was encouraged by her parents to prioritize education and work hard so that she would never have to entirely depend on others. After graduating with a finance degree from Eastern Illinois University, Laura felt conflicted about where to take her career next. But a chance meeting set her path.

“I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, but I ended up meeting a home builder at a job fair,” says Laura. “I felt more excited about the opportunities with them [that company] than some of the banking jobs I was interviewing for. I took the leap and started my career in real estate.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

Photography: KDE Photography
KDE Photography Inc.

DuPage Real Producers
atproperties

“I originally wanted to become an actuary and do risk management for insurance companies,” says Jessica. “But I realized I thrived most when I was out of the office and helping people versus working behind a computer screen all day.”

“Honestly, being a REALTOR® couldn’t be a better fit!” she adds. “After all, real estate is a market, so I get to put my stats skills to use, and I still get a healthy amount of computer time.”

The shift from book sales to real estate was a big adjustment for Jessica, especially with having to move from the mild winters of North Carolina to the cold and snowy ones in Illinois. What’s more, Jessica didn’t know a single person here except for her husband, Zac, whom she’d met in the Southwestern Advantage program.

“It was a gamble to try and build a referral-based real estate business in an area where I knew no one,” says Jessica. “Zac and I both moved here to become 100 percent com- mission-based salespeople. Neither one of us had any immediate connections. I’m proud to report that we both still have the same jobs, now almost ten years later, and have planted some wonderful long-term roots here.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue.

Photography: KDE Photography ✨
KDE Photography Inc.

Jessica DeVries, Southwestern Real Estate
DuPage Real Producers

Thank you to S&G Custom Homes & Daniel Dragomir of Keller Williams Infinity for the opportunity to capture this amazing home. Don't miss your chance see it in-person today from 1-4pm!

1133 Edgewater Dr. Naperville, IL 60540 Preview of 1133 Edgewater Dr. Naperville, IL 60540. Presented by S&G Custom Homes & Remodeling and Daniel Dragomir of Keller Williams Infinity.

Feeling lucky to have these amazing REALTORS in our midst this March! 🍀💚

Spotlight on this month's features:
✨ Laura McGreal
✨ Jessica DeVries
✨ Krysti Cloch

A big shout-out to our esteemed partner, DuPage Radon Contractors.

Photography:
KDE Photography
KDE Photography Inc.



Jessica DeVries, Southwestern Real Estate
Platinum Partners Realtors (Krysti Cloch)
Dupage Radon Contractors
DuPage Real Producers

“We have been very lucky to be able to achieve a lot, and it’s all thanks to our real estate investments. I want to help other people do the same,” says investor-turned REALTOR®, Tatiana Hernandez of Keller Williams Premiere Properties in Glen Ellyn.

In the early years of their marriage, she and her husband, Mauricio, bought and flipped properties for profit. The couple’s individual real estate passions blended perfectly: while Tatiana holds an aptitude for interior design, Mauricio loves construction. It’s a combination that continues to fuel their investments and Tatiana’s connection with clients.

Originally from Cali, Colombia, Tatiana moved to the US shortly after graduating from high school. Once here, she tried “the college thing” but it just didn’t stick.

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

Photography: KDE Photography
KDE Photography Inc.

Keller Williams Premiere Properties: Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Elmhurst
DuPage Real Producers

“The hero I most identify with is Batman,” says Joseph DeFrancesco, managing broker at Dapper Crown Real Estate in Bloomingdale. “He works hard every day and wants to save the world; he puts others before himself.”

He may be half-joking when comparing himself to the Dark Knight, but Joseph’s goal as a REALTOR® is similar: since he became a real estate agent about eight years ago, Joseph has prioritized the needs of others above his own. You can see it in the way in which he interacts with clients and in the Dapper Crown approach to business.

“Our philosophy is simple,” he says. “We aim to provide nothing but the best, for less. By offering market-low listing commissions, we help sellers keep more money in their pockets. What others try to make on one deal, we’ll make on three. Volume is how we’ve been able to grow.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue.

Photography: KDE Photography ✨
KDE Photography Inc.

DuPage Wellness
Dapper Crown

The art of working with stone dates back more than 2.6 million years ago, and of course, its artisans and stone- masons have carried on and developed the craft over the centuries. Renato Otten, the visionary founder of Select Surfaces, not only has deep knowledge of the his- tory and evolution of stone working but also firsthand experience with the craft; his family has deep roots in the industry. Renato has always held a very specific vision for Select Surfaces: a commitment to quality and to raising up the next generation of craftspeople, and to always move toward new programs that will positively impact their clients.

“We're a stone fabrication and installation company. So, anything that you want clad in stone, we can do it,” states Renato. Select Surfaces’s primary focus is kitchen countertops, but they also do fireplaces, tub decks, vanities, custom furniture, and much more.

“We are a comprehensive solution provider with the ability to offer turnkey kitchen updates at a fraction of the cost and time compared to our competitors,” shares Renato. “We offer what most kitchen companies cannot in-house.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

Photography: KDE Photography
KDE Photography Inc.

DuPage Real Producers
Select Surfaces Chicago

Team Baker, anchored in Downers Grove and Lombard, stands as a testament to how successful collaboration can be in the realm of real estate. Inspired by their admiration for the TV show The Apprentice, Paul and Jodee Baker opted for the moniker "Team Baker" vs. “the Baker Team” to symbolize that a joint effort is greater than any individual pursuit.

“We want other agents to know that they shouldn’t be afraid to put themselves out there,” Jodee emphasizes, in-kind with their collaborative and mentoring mindset. “You can successfully balance your business, family, and volunteering, and it's rewarding.”

Paul's journey into real estate started in 2007 following the closure of his family's business, Herbert's Mens Shop. Less than a year later, Jodee joined the industry part-time; she transitioned to full-time in 2013. Their individual paths, rooted in lessons from their own hometowns and diverse work experiences, met through a shared pursuit of excellence.

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

Photography: KDE Photography KDE Photography Inc.

Team Baker - Platinum Partners Realtors DuPage Real Producers

🎉✨ Welcoming New Year's Day 2024 with a Touch of Winter Magic! ❄️🏡 As the calendar turns, so does the excitement for a fresh start! The enchanting winter vibes are in full swing, and our committed REALTORS® are all set for the frosty adventures that lie ahead, infusing your home-buying journey with warmth and joy. 🏠✨

Meet the stars shining bright in this season's tale:
✨ Team Baker
✨ Deepak Mehta
✨ Sergio Zgrzebski

A special shout-out to our esteemed partner, Select Surfaces.

Capturing the essence through the lens:
📸 KDE Photography
KDE Photography Inc.

🏡🎇

Team Baker - Platinum Partners Realtors
Deepak's real estate world
Sergio Sells Chicagoland - Keller Williams Premiere Properties
DuPage Real Producers
Select Surfaces Chicago

At Great Western Flooring, you will find the message is simple: it’s all about collaboration. In recognizing how flooring can play a pivotal role in transforming properties set for sale or renovation, the Great Western Flooring team can guide their REALTOR® partners and respective clients in the right direction, empowering REALTORS® to confidently address questions about flooring types, repairs, and maintenance.

“There is such a natural partnership in what we do with REALTORS®” states Kate MacConnell, the design consultant at Great Western Flooring and a familiar face within the world of flooring.

“Sometimes that perfect-sized house in the perfect neighborhood needs an update to the interiors. We focus on helping REALTORS® and their clients see the potential and transform a dated space.”

Learn more about COMFORTEMP in this month's issue. ✨

Photography:
KDE Photography Inc.

Great Western Flooring

DuPage Real Producers

🏡❄️ Embracing the Winter Wonderland! ❄️🏠 December has arrived, and so has the magic of the holiday season! Our dedicated REALTORS® are geared up for the chilly months ahead, bringing warmth and joy to your home-buying journey. 🏠✨

Here are the stars of the season:
+ Jeff Stainer
+ Ann Pancotto
+ Madison Verdun

Our partner spotlight is Great Western Flooring.

Photography:
KDE Photography Inc.

Jeff Stainer
Ann Pancotto-Top Real Estate Broker at Compass
Madison Verdun, Realtor
Great Western Flooring
DuPage Real Producers

With a passion for providing top- notch service, Eric has become the driving force behind his company’s reputation for excellence in the HVAC industry. His career in HVAC began over two decades ago. He jumped into the trades right after graduating from high school and served as a pipefitter for over ten years before launching ComfortTemp.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after high school. I tried HVAC and ended up loving it,” he says. “I like the challenge and it’s a great way for me to use my mind and my hands.”

Comfort Temp’s breadth of services includes the repair, maintenance, and installation of residential and commercial HVAC units. They install furnaces, boilers, condensers, and hot-water heaters throughout DuPage, Will, and Cook counties. The team also provides indoor air-quality solutions like humidifiers, dehumidifiers, UV lights, and air purification. This diversity of services keeps Eric busy and in the field, where he prefers to be.

“I am not a desk guy,” says Eric. He likes that every day is different, and enjoys working in new environments and solving every new HVAC problem he faces.

Learn more about COMFORTEMP in this month's issue. ✨
ComforTemp Heating and Air Conditioning

Photography:
KDE Photography Inc.

“I always said I should write a book about the interesting things I’ve seen as a REALTOR®—from skunks in window wells of basements to cats attacking my pant leg to snoring teenagers still in bed, I’ve seen it all at house showings,” says Jennifer Drohan of Keller Williams Infinity in Naperville.” This career is anything but mundane.”

It certainly hasn’t been a boring path to real estate for Jennifer. Growing up in Naperville, Jennifer excelled as an athlete in gymnastics, cheerleading, and spring- board diving. She also waited tables—an experience she encourages all to try—at Colonial Café and Ice Cream starting at age fifteen.

“I think everybody should have to wait tables in their lifetime,” she says. “It truly teaches you to focus and work hard. If you don’t do it well, you won’t make any money.”

Learn more about this journey into real estate in this month's issue. ✨



The Jennifer Drohan Group - Keller Williams Infinity
KDE Photography Inc.
DuPage Real Producers

🏡🍁 Hello November! 🍂🏠
Snow is here already and these REALTORS® are ready for the winter months ahead! Our features for this month are Jennifer Drohan, Cathleen Callen, and Kim Scott.

Our partner spotlight is ComforTemp Heating & Air Conditioning.
ComforTemp Heating and Air Conditioning

Photography:
KDE Photography Inc.



The Jennifer Drohan Group - Keller Williams Infinity
Cathleen Callen: Your Hometown Realtor in the Western Suburbs
Baird & Warner - Naperville
DuPage Real Producers

Margaret Gehr, the founder and co-owner of Naperville-based Chicagoland Home Staging (CHS), started her business in 2005 and it steadily grew over the next five years. One day, out of the blue, she received an email from Kathy Lobkovich, now managing partner of CHS, who was interested in getting into the business. At that moment, Margaret wasn’t quite ready then to add another person, but just three months later, it was clear she needed some help. So, she replied to Kathy, despite her being a complete stranger, and luckily this “blind date” turned out well.

After working together for a couple of years and realizing they had complementary skills, Margaret offered Kathy the opportunity to become a partner, and in 2011 they joined forces. The rest is history. “It’s hard to believe it’s been fifteen years since Margaret replied to my email—it only took her three months to answer me!” says Kathy, with a smile. “It has been a wild ride ever since. Not only has our business grown, but so has our lasting friendship,” she adds.

“The last few years [in the industry] have been a bit of a roller coaster ride,” notes Margaret. “In my eighteen years in this business, I’ve never seen such a crazy real estate market. One week we would be completely booked, and the next, the schedule would be less hectic,” she recalls, describing the last few years. “Fortunately, we have been able to pivot and keep our team together: we took this time to evaluate our services and find ways to improve and expand our offerings to help our clients.”

Learn more about Chicagoland Home Staging in this month's issue. ✨

Chicagoland Home Staging Inc
KDE Photography Inc.
DuPage Real Producers

“I am a very high-energy, type A personality,” says Nikki Ricci of Coldwell Banker Realty in Oak Brook. “You will never hear me say ‘I am tired’ at the end of the day.”

Nikki’s unstoppable energy and determination have been instrumental in building lasting relationships with her real estate clients and friends. Her passion for family and pride in her heritage drives her to provide ethical and professional services. Her success as a REALTOR® is deeply intertwined with her genuine care for people, established from her childhood experiences as an immigrant from Italy.

Nikki’s journey began in January 1955 when she, along with her parents and older brother, set sail from Italy onboard the U.S. Constitution and disembarked in bustling New York City. Next, they headed to Chicago, where family eagerly awaited their arrival in Little Italy. Her early years were spent immersing herself in the close-knit Italian community.

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

📸 KDE Photography



Nikki Ricci Homes
DuPage Real Producers

“My dad would always say, ‘People don’t say they’re going to work to have fun. They say they’re going to work for a reason,’” says REALTOR® Brittany Simon of Compass. “Even if you enjoy your profession, there will come a point where you have to be disciplined and driven to achieve results.”

This childhood lesson from her father set the foundation for Brittany’s approach to life and career. She watched as her parents worked extremely hard to attain their dreams, teaching by example that success is earned, not given. Brittany saw this was especially true in the real estate world, as proven by her mom and stepdad who worked in the industry.

“When I was sixteen, my stepdad was building houses near ours in Downers Grove,” she says. “I would often sit the open houses. I also had an inside look into how houses are designed and built. Even then, I found the ability to help people with a basic need very interesting, yet I honestly thought I would never go into the business. But all roads kept pointing back to real estate.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate in this month's issue. ✨

📸 KDE Photography
KDE Photography Inc.



Brittany Cummings Simon - Real Estate Broker
DuPage Real Producers

Theres been a lot of new stuff happening at KDE Photography, and that includes bringing back Feature Fridays!

Every week we highlight a home we've recently worked on that left us feeling inspired 🤩 liked this stunning Wheaton property!

Andrea a was born in Romania and immigrated with her family to the US when she was two years old. Her entrepreneurial parents started restaurants in Chicago: first, a small location with a storefront bakery and eventually, a 6,500 sq. ft., two-story eatery on Michigan Avenue and Wacker. The family businesses thrived over the years.

“My parents would put in eighteen-hour days, seven days a week, managing fifteen to twenty people at a time; it was not easy,” says Andrea. “They always showed me
and my brothers that hard work pays off, and no matter what comes your way, to always have faith and trust in God. This definitely helped shape me into the person I am today. I watched their work ethic and have always tried to emulate it.”

Learn more about this journey to real estate on page 34 of this month's issue. ✨

📸 KDE Photography
KDE Photography Inc.

Andrea Achimas Real Estate Broker
DuPage Real Producers

This room is a dream 😍 We hope your weekend is as fun as this black & white space!