Howard Hanna promotes longtime execs to support ‘ongoing growth’ 

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Howard Hanna appoints chief of staff, SVP of operations

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services has made two executive appointments "designed to optimize its leadership structure to support ongoing growth," the family-owned brokerage announced this week. Both roles will be held by longtime leaders at the firm.

Leah Gibbons, a 33-year Howard Hanna veteran, has been named chief of staff. She has held several brokerage operations and marketing roles during her tenure at the company, serving most recently as SVP and chief marketing officer.

In her new role, Gibbons will work with CEO Howard "Hoby" Hanna IV and the brokerage's executive leadership team on core initiatives and strategic planning as Howard Hanna continues to expand its operational footprint.

"I've had the opportunity to see Howard Hanna from many different sides of the business," Gibbons noted in a news release, adding that she is "excited to bring that perspective to this role as our company strategically grows and evolves."

Phyllis Brookshire, who most recently led operations for Howard Hanna Southeast, will now serve as SVP of operations. She previously served as president of Allen Tate Company for over a decade, served as COO at York Properties and is a past president of the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors.

Brookshire will prioritize bolstering and scaling the brokerage's operations across its markets with a focus on processes, tech adoption, field support and integration of new markets and acquisitions, the company said. 

"As we continue to grow, we have an incredible opportunity to make it easier for our teams in every market to do what they do best," Brookshire said. "By streamlining our operations and deploying scalable systems across the Howard Hanna enterprise, we are ensuring our agents and regional staff have the premier operational support they need to dominate their respective markets."  

The firm has already completed three major M&As over the past year and is focused on strengthening regional operations while maintaining its commitment to independence, EVP of Howard Hanna NYC Michael Rossi told Real Estate News last month. 

Discovery Land Co. names East Coast president

Discovery Land Company has appointed Alicia Goldstein to serve as president of its Eastern U.S. operations, a newly created role that will also include oversight of the company's Caribbean portfolio.

Goldstein, who has worked closely with the real estate developer in previous roles, brings over a quarter century of experience spanning luxury residential and mixed-use real estate, hospitality, development, marketing and sales. She is the founder of the development and investment advisory company Chrysos Partners and has held senior leadership positions at Related Companies and Access Industries/Faena Group, according to a news release.

In her new job, Goldstein will work across multiple teams to establish Discovery's first corporate presence on the East Coast.

As the company expands, "we saw an opportunity to add a senior leader with the experience to help us manage that growth," CEO Brett White said. "Alicia has already worked closely with Discovery at Playa Grande," he added, "so we have seen firsthand the judgment, energy and experience she brings to complex projects."

Goldstein will officially step into the job this fall and will be based in New York, the company said.

Editor's note: AI was used in the initial drafting of this content, which was then thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked and revised by a Real Estate News editor.