Ray White Victoria and Tasmania celebrates its 2022 winners

For the first time in three years, nearly 1,400 Ray White Victoria and Tasmania members were able to come together in person for the network’s annual awards on Saturday.

The awards night celebrated the top offices and individual winners throughout the leading network. Ray White Victoria and Tasmania CEO Stephen Dullens (pictured above) said it was so pleasing to recognise the significant achievements of the 2022 financial year.

“It’s amazing to actually be able to gather together for the first time in three years and it’s so fantastic to join nearly 1,400 of our Victorian and Tasmanian members here tonight - an all time record,” he said.

“Despite another year of COVID-19 challenges, we collectively have so much to be proud of in the last 12 months.

“Think about it like this: 18 months ago we had never collectively achieved more than $1 billion of sales in a single month across Victoria and Tasmania - and we’ve now done that on eight separate occasions. A huge testament to the achievements of everyone in this room.

“We’re excited for the future because this new market will require different skills and, most importantly, different disciplines. Training, structure, process, vendor reporting, stockboards, data, technology and leadership.

“These are all areas where our group excels - but remember, none of these things happen on their own. It is up to all of us to ensure we work hard and work together to achieve the best possible outcomes, not only for us but, most importantly, for our customers.”

Mr Dullens also took the opportunity to acknowledge Sharon Jacka of Ray White Albury who sadly passed away last month.

“Sharon was a huge part of the Ray White Group for nearly two decades,” he said.

“She achieved some amazing results both in sales and as a principal, so much so that she was awarded Life Membership of the Ray White Group as well as the CEO Cup in 2013.

“Despite the hardships she faced, Sharon always approached life with a smile on her face and a positive attitude - a terrific example for us all. She will be sadly missed.”

Ms Jacka’s daughter, Andrea Lever has continued her mother’s legacy as managing director of Ray White Albury North.

Powerhouse business Ray White Ferntree Gully (pictured above) once again took out the top overall office spot in Victoria for settled commission and number of sales for the sixth year in a row.

The coveted top performer based on settled commission for 2021-22 in Victoria was Ben Thomas (pictured below) from Ray White Ferntree Gully, who took out the top individual spot for the fifth year in a row.

Gavin Staindl of Ray White Pakenham beat out the competition and was named Top Salesperson based on volume of sales.

Meanwhile, Ray White Balwyn principal Helen Yan was named as the No. 1 Principal of the 2021-22 year, for the fifth year in a row. Not only is Ms Yan the top principal in the Ray White Victoria network but has also been frequently named as one of the best agents in the state.

Bec Anderson from Ray White Phillip Island was named as the Top Regional Salesperson based on settled commission at the state awards, while Ray White Phillip Island was named as the Top Regional Office across Victoria for the year.

Sam Johnston of Ray White Glenorchy again took home the plaque for the Top Sales Agent in Tasmania, while the Glenorchy business won the top accolade as an office.

This year, the prestigious CEO’s Cup award went to Mark Guthrie, CEO of Ray White Cranbourne and Ray White Cheltenham. The CEO’s Cup celebrates an individual that has made a significant contribution to the wider Ray White Group.

Mr Guthrie is well respected inside and outside of the network and has grown his two businesses to some of the top performing offices in Victoria. He has had a life-long passion for real estate and been a leading figure within the Ray White network for more than two decades.

“Recognising Mark as the CEO Cup winner was particularly rewarding, given his significant contribution back to our network over so many years,” Mr Dullens said.

“His willingness to share and assist others is a brilliant example for us all.”

This year, two very deserving businesses were recognised in the highly regarded Business Achievement award category. Ray White Mildura principal Damian Portaro was recognised for the significant growth of the business in recent years, including achieving Chairman’s Elite status (the highest status within the Ray White Group) for both his own individual sales as well as at an overall business level.

Ray White Bendigo principals Rory Somerville and Brent Mason were also awarded the Business Achievement award, in part for the staggering 265 per cent growth experienced in their business over the last 24 months.

L-R: Ray White managing director Dan White, Mark Guthrie and Stephen Dullens.

In the auction category, Ray White Glen Waverley was again awarded the Top Auction Office gong, while Ray White Craigieburn’s Daniel Diamantopoulos took out the Top Auction Performer award along with ranking as No. 1 internationally in the category.

Ray White Forest Hill’s Aaron McDonald took out Senior Auctioneer of the Year and earlier in the month was the runner up in the Ray White Australia auction competition. Dylan Jansma from Ray White Cheltenham was recognised as the Novice Auctioneer of the Year.

Ray White Wantirna was recognised as having the most year-on-year growth in the Victorian network, while Alastair Surtees from Ray White Reservoir was awarded the Top Salesperson in the same category.

The Sales Rising Star award, which recognises the newest talent in the network, was won by Anita Wall from Ray White Langwarrin.

Property management was not forgotten on the night. Ray White Oakleigh was named as the Top Property Management Business and Top Property Management Growth Business in the network, the team is led by Pantelis Panayi and Penny Costa.

Ray White Cranbourne took home the Property Management Team of the Year award, while Tessa Barkley from Ray White Wodonga took out Property Manager of the Year. The Property Management Business Development Manager of the Year award went to Kevin Ljungberg from Ray White Carnegie.

Jacinta Jackson from Ray White Forest Hill was named Property Management Team Leader of the Year while Ray White Glenroy’s Stefanie Belevski was awarded Property Management Rookie of the Year. The Property Management Customer Satisfaction Office of the Year award went to Ray White Wodonga.

Ray White Wodonga, Ray White Warrnambool, Ray White Rye and Ray White Phillip Island were all give the Client’s Choice (Office) award while Matthew Wade-Taylor from Ray White Lara, Yvette Tancheff of Phillip Island, Ferntree Gully’s Lar Potimoy and Tessa Dayman and Lachie Kelly from Ray White Warrnambool were recognised in the individual category.

Ray White Croydon won the Customer Care Individual or Team of the Year award and Nick Fernandez from Ray White Craigieburn was awarded the Lead Generator of the Year.

Ray White Ferntree Gully, Lara, Mildura and Phillip Island were all finalists for the Community Service award but Ray White Frankston, headed by principal Ashley Weston won the top gong for another year.

The individual award for Property Marketing Excellence went to Ray White Cheltenham’s Kevin Chokshi in part for his strong performance on last year's season of “The Block”, while Ray White Carnegie took out the award for sales office with the best marketing. Ray White Deer Park was named the Best Presented Office.

Tanjil Williams from Ray White Rosebud won the award for Sales Associate/PA of the Year. The Operations/Administration Team of the Year was Ray White Lara while the Front of House Manager of the Year award went to Hannah McCormack from Ray White Bayswater. Tania Cek from Ray White Ferntree Gully took out the Office/Operations Manager of the Year award.

Brent Mason of Ray White Bendigo won the Agent/Broker Partnership (Loan Market Referrals) award, while the Top Office Loan Market Referrals award again went to Ray White Ferntree Gully. Kevin Chokshi of Ray White Cheltenham won Top Commercial Referrer.