Keller Williams Boosts Executive Ranks with Key Appointments

Keller Williams Realty, Inc. (KW), the world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count, announced executive appointments across the KW Commercial and KW MAPS Coaching divisions and KW Cares, a 501(c)(3) public charity created to support KW associates and their families.

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Cynthia Lee, President, KW Commercial (Photo: Business Wire)

“We’re excited to announce the appointments of Cynthia, Alicia, Cody, and Rachel, who are serving and bringing immense value to our market centers and agents to ensure our entrepreneurs thrive in the face of market headwinds,” said Mark Willis, president and CEO of KW.

“These high-caliber leaders are committed to our shared success and growth at Keller Williams,” said Willis. “In partnership with our agents, we are building careers worth having, businesses worth owning, lives worth living, experiences worth giving, and legacies worth leaving.”

Cynthia Lee, President, KW Commercial

As president of KW Commercial, the company's commercial real estate division, Lee will continue to execute the long-term strategy to grow and strengthen the KW Commercial brand. Since Q4 ’21, she has served as the executive leader of strategy and growth at KW Commercial.

“Commercial agents can now dream big and achieve a life by design,” said Lee. “With us, agents go on a journey that maximizes their prosperity and productivity through unique training and live events, while fostering an atmosphere of accountability and the strong culture for which KW is known.”

Lee is a licensed broker and an industry expert in franchising. She holds the Certified Commercial Investment Member designation – the highest designation in commercial real estate – and oversees KW's largest market center commercial division.

“For decades, our commercial real estate industry has grappled with a quasi-inclusive environment and the lack of a comprehensive, ground-up training program,” said Lee. “We’re changing that.”

Alicia Shepherd, Vice President, KW Commercial

In her new role, Shepherd is focused on developing and coordinating KW Commercial’s various resources further to cement its industry leadership in commercial real estate training.

“At KW Commercial, we can support any agent at any level of success,” said Shepherd. “Agents no longer have to consider outdated institutional firms to give their businesses the most professional and competitive edge.”

Shepherd also serves as CEO of Launch Commercial Real Estate Network, a commercial real estate services firm, founder and lead trainer for Nucleus Commercial, a commercial real estate training firm, and head commercial coach for KW MAPS Coaching, KW's coaching division.

Since Q4 ’21, Shepherd served as the division leader of education and training at KW Commercial. She has coached, mentored, and trained thousands of commercial practitioners to grow thriving businesses.

Cody Gibson, Vice President, KW MAPS Coaching

As KW continues to reimagine the coaching landscape, Gibson has been appointed as the new vice president of KW MAPS Coaching.

“Having grown up in KW, it’s an honor to now be named vice president of MAPS Coaching,” said Gibson. “Coaching is the bridge that allows us to move from where we are to where we want to be in our lives and careers.”

A real estate business leader and trainer with 20-plus years of experience, Gibson also serves as an operating principal across six KW market centers, and as the CEO of the Portland Real Estate Group and the United Home Group, which operate 125 offices in 26 states and two countries with 295 partners.

“Whether you’re managing a solo agent venture, building a local real estate team, leading an expansion, or launching or growing a market center, our MAPS coaches provide a powerful, tailored experience to support your aspirations and journey to success,” said Gibson.

Rachel Elder, Vice President of Development, KW Cares

As vice president of development, Elder partners with KW Cares’ staff and board to create and implement new fundraising strategies that support the organization's mission.

"I am honored to be part of KW Cares, where I witness firsthand the remarkable empowerment, support, and uplift we provide to KW agents and their families," said Elder. "Our efforts are making a transformative and enduring impact on lives."

Before joining KW Cares, Elder was a consultant at Beacon Nonprofit Consulting. She has extensive experience in university fundraising models, major gifts, capital campaigns, volunteer management, and fundraising on a local and national scale.

Elder has a Certificate in Fund Raising Management (CFRM) from Indiana University and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). She has served on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Austin Chapter, and volunteers with the Austin Independent School District and Generation SERVE.

“I continue to be inspired by the work and the culture of KW,” said Elder. “A true sense of family helping family exists here.”

About Keller Williams

Austin, Texas-based Keller Williams is the world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count. It has more than 1,000 market centers and 174,000 agents. The franchise is No. 1 in units and sales volume in the U.S.

Since 1983, the company has cultivated an agent-centric, technology-driven, and education-based culture that rewards agents as stakeholders. For more information, visit kwri.kw.com.

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