Brokerage Beat: ENRG is on a mission; gains at CB, Compass, Sotheby’s 

Editor's note: The brokerage business is a busy one, with frequent moves, mergers and milestones. Here we highlight some of the latest activity among brokerages across the U.S.

ENRG looks to 'elevate the industry' with new role

A real estate company launched by former eXp and Real executives has brought in a new managing director of brokerage services as it looks toward expansion.

Donnie Pingaro, a three-decade real estate veteran and longtime South Florida brokerage owner, has joined ENRG, an upstart firm founded in January 2024 by Erinn and Peter Nobel. The Nobels told Real Estate News last year that they wanted to "professionalize the industry" by creating a firm that offered revenue sharing while de-emphasizing the recruiting aspect.

After co-founding — and then exiting — another new brokerage company in 2024, the Nobels said in December that they were "recommitting" to their vision for ENRG. The addition of Pingaro as managing director appears to align with that commitment. The firm noted in an email that Pingaro's "move to ENRG is a key part of our mission to build a brokerage that is ethical, agent-focused, and truly elevates the industry."

In addition to running his own firm serving the exclusive Fisher Island community, Pingaro previously led Florida brokerage operations for Side and sits on the advisory board of the American Real Estate Association. He was also the first non-Asian elected to the board of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), according to ENRG.

In moving to ENRG, Pingaro said, "I'm here to help agents do their best work, serve their clients, and build careers they're proud of."

Top-ranking teams in Minnesota, Connecticut align with Coldwell Banker

MKT Real Estate Advisors, a 10-person team operating out of two Minneapolis offices, has moved to Coldwell Banker after nearly a decade at Keller Williams.

Led by Michael Kaslow, the team closed $191 million in sales over the past five years and ranked No. 8 in sales volume and transaction sides in Minneapolis in 2024, according to a news release. 

Kaslow has been a licensed real estate agent for over 20 years, and he said his team "is in growth mode," which factored into the move. "We were drawn to Coldwell Banker's Global Luxury network, the Listing Concierge program, and the large network of powerhouse agents," Kaslow said. 

Jillian Tallal, the sales manager at Coldwell Banker Realty's Minneapolis Lakes office, said Kaslow's team has "the people, the support, the experience, and the heart to deliver the real estate experience their clients deserve," adding: "We couldn't be happier to have them join the Lakes family."

In the Northeast, a family-led team in Connecticut has joined Coldwell Banker's Fairfield office. The Fowler Sakey Team, which closed $67.5 million in sales volume last year, is the state's third-largest team, according to a news release.

Rachel Fowler founded the 11-member team in 2010 with daughter Carrie Fowler Sakey and daughter-in-law Sara Fowler. Carrie described their team as a group of "people who truly care about our clients and always have each other's backs" and that joining the brand "is the perfect fit for us and our clients."

Steven Thomson, the branch vice president of Coldwell Banker Realty's Fairfield office, said the Fowler Sakey Team's "reputation for integrity, professionalism and results is unmatched" and added, "we look forward to supporting their continued growth and success."

Sotheby's launches Hungary office, adds 15-member team in Beverly Hills

Sotheby's International Realty now has nearly 200 offices throughout Europe following its latest expansion into Hungary. The company also announced the addition of a top-producing team to its office in Beverly Hills, California, this week.

Sotheby's newest branch is located in Budapest, Hungary's capital city, and will serve luxury buyers and sellers throughout the metropolitan area and the Lake Balaton region. Owner Andrew Manukovski, who also owns Sotheby's Realty offices in Kazakhstan and Cyprus, will lead the firm alongside CEO Viktoria Toth.

"We see immense potential in showcasing the country's most extraordinary properties to a global audience," Manukovski said.

In California, Ernie Carswell & Associates has joined Sotheby's International Realty - Beverly Hills Brokerage after eight years at Douglas Elliman. Led by 25-year industry veteran Ernie Carswell, the 15-member team closed more than $300 million in sales over the past two years.

Carswell co-founded his firm, which initially operated as Teles Properties, in 2007. His team came to specialize in luxury properties in the Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Encino, Hollywood Hills, Sunset Strip and Pasadena neighborhoods.

Carswell said in a news release that he was drawn to Sotheby's "legacy of refinement, luxury, and reliability" and that teaming up with the brokerage "has been my destiny for my entire career."

"I am privileged to lead a team of driven, skilled, and collaborative professionals and look forward to elevating our service through the unparalleled global platform of the Sotheby's International Realty brand," he added.

Compass welcomes 6 new agents in Aspen

A longtime group of Aspen real estate agents has joined Compass after more than a decade at Douglas Elliman. The six agents have worked together for over 20 years, according to a Compass news release, pulling in a combined annual sales volume of nearly $200 million. 

They include: Marian Lansburgh and Jennifer Engel, who formed the Engel Lansburgh Team in 2015; Raifie Bass, a 30-year real estate veteran; Wendy Wogan and Lauren Garrity, both Aspen natives with a multigenerational connection to the local real estate market; and Julia Herman, who specializes in "high-touch" luxury sales and rentals.  

"This is a powerhouse group of agents who are not only top producers but also deeply collaborative," said Rory Golod, Compass' president of growth and communications.

The sextet said joining Compass reflected an evolution of their businesses that would allow them to scale. "Marian and I have built something really special together, and Compass gives us the tools to take it even further," Engel said. 

"Making this move with people I've worked with for decades felt like the right move," added Bass. "And I'm excited to experience the Compass difference, more tech, less hassle."