Shirley Gary, owner and CEO of Engel & Völkers Buckhead Atlanta and Engel & Völkers Atlanta North Fulton, has been named the inaugural winner of Engel & Völkers Americas’ newest award: The Development Services 2020 Project Award, based on her team’s exemplary work in support of the new construction market.  The award was created to recognize the global brand’s North American leaders in creating and executing innovative services for their home builder clients.

Engel & Völkers is the only brokerage with a global new home builder division, called Engel & Völkers Development Services.  The Project Award was created to honor the shop that best leverages the Development Services training, materials and supporting partners to win and successfully execute assignments encompassing anything from builder/developer advisory to project representation to taking over sales on behalf of the builder.

“When Engel & Völkers opened its global Developments Division, the company’s goal was to change the industry by doing something globally that most brokerages had only done before on a local level,” said Stuart Siegel, executive vice president of Engel & Völkers Americas and global head of Development Services.  “Our collaborative international team gives builders more options, and drives more growth within our network. The Development Services division puts our clients first in a very dynamic way and gives them greater access to land, project ideas and industry experts.  Shirley Gary is a vital part of this division and sits on its leadership board.”

“I am excited and proud to win the inaugural Project Award from Engel & Völkers Americas,” said Gary.  “Our firm is uniquely positioned to help our builder clients connect with each other across the globe to share best practices and resources.  I opened my own brokerage with the idea that I could shift gears and adapt quickly to market conditions to best meet the needs of my clients.  In 2020, we adapted by utilizing iBuyers with our builder clients to help builders convert more traffic than normal.  Our builders had potential buyers who couldn’t move forward without first selling their existing homes.  We helped those buyers by introducing them to an agent concierge who could bring cash buyers to the table and bridge the gap from owning the old home to purchasing the new one.

“As we have moved through the pandemic and now into a market where builder inventory is lessened and new home construction prices are rising, my team and I continue to understand and anticipate our builder clients’ needs as well as the anxiety and excitement home buyers experience as they close on their dream home,” Gary continued.  “Market changes are dynamic, stressful and by no means easy.  That is where we excel.  We are trained professionals who adapt quickly and move as necessary to best serve our clients.”