Diaz and Vincelli Join Better Homes and Garden Real Estate Wilkins & Associates

Stroudsburg – Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates hired two Salespersons for their Bushkill and Stroudsburg offices respectively. 

Christian Diaz joined the Bushkill sales team and will work from that office.  Diaz, an August 2014 graduate of the Pocono Real Estate Academy took all the required courses, passed the State exam and has been issued a Pennsylvania Salespersons’ license. 

Diaz lives in East Stroudsburg with his wife, Jesenia, who is currently attending real estate school and after completing the required course and passing the exam and both will work together as a team.  The Diaz’s are bilingual with their second language being Spanish.  Diaz is originally from Queens, New York, where he was successfully employed as a rental agent for an independent broker.  Earlier in his career, Diaz owned and managed delicatessens and small supermarkets prior to his working in the real estate industry.  In the past, Diaz has volunteered as a Cub Scout Leader.  Said Diaz, “I very much look forward to being part of our Pocono Community and was very much drawn to the Wilkins team because of their commitment to their neighborhoods.”

Said Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO, “Christian is definitely the kind of Realtor that we want.  When a gentleman dresses up in a suit and tie for a 7:00 p.m. interview, along with his wife who will work as his administrative assistant, you’ve got to know that we want those type persons representing us with buyers and sellers and that they’re serious about being successful.”  Diaz was recruited by Lynn Wilklow, Sales Manager of the Bushkill office.

Kelley Vincelli, Salesperson, has joined the company and will work as a fulltime Realtor in their Stroudsburg office.  Prior to joining Better Homes and Gardens, Vincelli was employed by Keller Williams.  Said Christine A. Wilkins, Exec V.P./GM, who recruited Vincelli, “This young lady wants a strong and dedicated management team to offer support, which the Better Homes and Gardens brand does.  Furthermore, Kelley is eager to form her career in an office environment that’s very conducive to offering one-on-one and online training and insight to move her up to the next level of service.”  The Wilkins organization prides themselves on offering in-depth training to new and seasoned Realtors and coaching to new recruits.

Prior to real estate, Vincelli worked six years at Staples where she dealt with the general public on a daily basis.  While always enjoying real estate, Kelley completed the required courses online in 2013-2014 and after passing the required examination, received her real estate license in early September 2014.   Kelley is a 2007 graduate of Freedom High School.  Vincelli then attended Northampton County Community College completing courses in General Studies, Criminal Justice, Journalism and Psychology.

Said Vincelli, “I love the Better Homes and Gardens’ Mission Statement where they say, ‘we love what we do and do what we love’; that’s me.  I love real estate and now can do what I love.”

Both Realtors will shadow and be mentored by other fulltime Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates agents.  Both Realtors will also be invited to attend the free of charge online classes offered by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Corporate in the Greenhouse.

Said Thomas R. Wilkins, “You couldn’t pick a better time to get into the Real Estate business.  The market has definitely picked up.  Sales (rentals and sales) have no place to go but up.  The banks are beginning to loosen their credit requirements, the rental market remains extremely strong—and I must make note that today’s tenant will be tomorrow’s buyer—in my mind, there’s no better place to learn real estate than with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.  The number of sales tools that we offer for buyers and sellers, and the support we give to agents to educate themselves in the latest technology, how to proactively list and sell real estate in this type of the market and to be young enough to make real estate your career for the next 20 years, just simply cannot be any better than with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates.  Today is the perfect time to mold your future.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates employs over 50 Realtors and expect that number to grow to 90+ Realtors and Assoc Brokers over the next 18 - 24 months.  With 4 offices now in the Pocono Mountains including Milford, Bushkill, Stroudsburg and Mt. Pocono, the Wilkins organization is looking to further expand their offices to include upper Lehigh Valley, Wayne County area, Lake Wallenpaupack and Scranton areas. 

All offices are open 7 days a week and BHG can be viewed online at www.wilkins1.com.  In early December, Wilkins will launch their new website at www.BHGwilkins.com .  The new website is “the friendliest site in real estate featuring the friendliest search for real estate”.

Tom Wilkins scheduled to teach Accredited Property Management Course

Scranton - Vintage Real Estate Academy announced that Thomas R. Wilkins will teach Non-Residential Property Management, an accredited Property Management course beginning January 22^nd, 2013.  This 4 day, 30 hour accredited course will run for 4 consecutive Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The classes will be held at the Clarion Hotel, 300 Meadow Street, Scranton, PA. 

Wilkins, who is owner of Wilkins & Associates-PROPERTY MANAGEMENT and NEPA Management Associates, has been involved in the property management business for the past 20 years.  From the ground up, Wilkins successfully developed an all inclusive and diversified property management company that interfaces with his primary company Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates.

Starting in Mt. Pocono in 1989, Wilkins began his property management team with a small condominium complex in Mt. Pocono.  From that one account, he has grown the company into one of the largest and most respected management companies in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Wilkins is an accredited teacher licensed by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission as a Real Estate instructor.  This course will expose the student to the basic concepts of non-residential property management, Management Ethics, Management Agreements and income collection.  Wilkins has extensive knowledge and expertise in that field.  His blog and writings can be found in such real estate publications as RIS Media, the Pocono Record, Northeast Business Journal, Lehigh Valley Business Journal and other periodicals both on a regional and national level.  Online, Wilkins’ articles can be found on the following sites:

http://poconorealestatehappenings.blogspot.com; https://www.realtown.com/PoconoRealEstate/blog; http://www.biggerpockets.com/users/thomasrwilkins

For more information on the course, please call Robert Walker at Vintage Real Estate Academy at (888) 712-719.

Wilkins and Associates has two Agents selected for Scholarships

Scotrun – James Martin, Realtor and Nicole Murray, Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates were each awarded scholarships by the Pocono Mountains Association REALTORS to further their education in the real estate industry.  The value of each scholarship is $350.00. 

 “Each year the Member Services Committee accepts recommendations and reasons why individuals in the real estate industry should be awarded the scholarship to better their education.  These scholarships, typically in the form of educational classes, can either benefit that agent towards their broker’s license or some sort of designation.” said Dennis Mooney, Vice President/Sales Manager and a member of the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS (PMAR) Board of Directors.  “This year, both recipients were from the Wilkins organization.”

Murray, who was voted Realtor of the Year in 2011, is a member of the PMAR Board of Directors, Co-chair of the MLS Committee and has donated hundreds of hours of her own time to various committees in PMAR.  Her being awarded the scholarship was something that will certainly not go to waste but will be used to get her closer to her Broker’s license.

Martin has been in the business for 4+ years and devotes personal time by serving on the Social Events Committee and other committees, and is a huge advocate and full-time volunteer for Meals on Wheels.  Martin has served Meals on Wheels for the past 3 years and has never turned down delivering foods to those who need it most, regardless what the weather conditions were.

Said Thomas R. Wilkins, President/CEO, “Both of these individuals give back 150% of themselves to our local community.  That’s what it all about.  I stand proud to have them as a part of our organization.”

The Wilkins organization, in 2013, will be celebrating their 25^th year in business.  Even with the downturn in the economy and taking the Company through very difficult times, Wilkins maintained their integrity and never sacrificing customer service during a time when customer service really means the most in any business relationship.  Their agents never lost sight of bettering themselves through education.  Now, Wilkins is looking to expand their Management and Real Estate business to the Lehigh Valley and Scranton areas.

Said Wilkins, “We are ever so cautiously, but aggressively, expanding our Management division to the Lehigh Valley area while cooperating with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate—Valley Associates, a new Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate franchise in the Lehigh Valley; and expanding the brokerage and Management division through Parasole Property Management & Assoc where Wilkins bought into a start-up company owned by Ronald Parasole.  Parasole will operate the day to day operations from Scranton and service the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazelton areas.  Wilkins will handle bookkeeping and accounting from the Park Avenue office.

All of the Wilkins offices are open 7 days a week.

 

PHOTO  -  (l to r) Nicole Murray, Realtor; Dennis Mooney, VP; Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO & James Martin, Realtor

Ridner Joins Expansion of Wilkins & Associates Property Management

Stroudsburg - Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO announced October 29th that the Company had hired Carrie Ridner for the position of Property Manager. Wilkins & Associates PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (NEPA) is contracted with dozens of condo complexes, town-home communities and property owners associations throughout Northeast, Pennsylvania. WA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT has been in the management business for over 25 years.

Ridner has been employed in the Property Management profession for over 20 years. She holds two national designations from the Community Association Institute and will be graduating from Ashford University in May of 2013 with a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Business Administration.

Before returning to college in 2010, Ridner spent 10 years as a Community Manager for Penn Estates POA. Penn Estates is a private gated community with 26 miles of roads, 1,750 homes and a number of amenities. Ridner was responsible for the day to day operations which included an in-house maintenance crew, security force, clubhouse, and more. In addition, Ridner handled the daily supervision and coordination of 15 full-time and 20 part-time employees, as well as being instrumental in arranging Board of Directors' workshops and meetings, Annual budgets, various community events and a host of committees including the Real Estate Committee, ABR Committee, Building and Grounds, Long Range Planning and Financial committees.

Prior to working at Penn Estates, Ridner was Community Manager at Masthope Mountain Community located in Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, a four-season single family private community located in the northern tier of the Pocono Mts offering a variety of amenities such as skiing, boating, swimming, horseback riding and much more.

Said Wilkins, "Having Carrie on our team is going to give us the ability to be on the fast-track beginning the 1st of January, 2013. We already have proposals to a number of Associations, apartment buildings and condominium complexes in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and ABE areas. Carrie is going to handle those accounts." Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Allentown are new areas to the Wilkins Company, but are areas they have wanted to expand into for a while now.

Ridner, given the title of Property Manager, will also be responsible, along with Wilkins, for the marketing of new accounts, developing proposals and bids for accounts and making sure that the associations are then brought into the Company. Currently, the Wilkins organization has a full fledged accounting office under the direction of Rosemarie Lobe-Waller, CFO; one Senior Property Manager and two full-time Property Managers.

The Wilkins organization is involved in a number of facets in the real estate industry.

Also starting in 2013, Wilkins along with Christine Scrofano-Wilkins will integrate the real estate side of their company more into the property management area. Said Scrofano-Wilkins, "The interfacing of various parts of the real estate market together with the property management has been very successful for us as we have tried new programs in 2012. We are definitely prepared to move forward in 2013 into actually combining those departments and the services each offer so one is able to interact smoothly with the other."

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates is also one of the Wilkins companies. Their corporate office is located at 304 Park Avenue in Stroudsburg.

Formerly known as NEPA Management Associates, Wilkins & Associates PROPERTY MANAGEMENT is one of the largest property management companies in Northeast Pennsylvania. Said Wilkins, "We may be the largest, but our services are extremely competitive. That's because we customize management accounts for each and every one of our clients. Affordability, while not compromising customer service, has been the key to our success. Because we have the real estate side of the business, we don't rely solely on Management income which is what other management companies are forced to do. This gives us an edge in bidding as well as handling the accounts."

Wilkins & Associates PROPERTY MANAGEMENTis open 6 days a week, Monday - Saturday. While their main office is located at 304 Park Avenue in Stroudsburg, payments of dues, rent and such by owners can be made at any of the Wilkins offices. Those other branch offices include Bushkill and Mount Pocono.

WILKINS - SCROFANO WITH WILKINS A POCONO REALTOR ATTEND POSH COCKTAIL PARTY FOR TOP 25 WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Scranton - The Northeast Business Journal invited the 2012 Top 25 Women in Business to a gala cocktail party which was attended by all 25 recipients as well as past women who have been honored previously.

Christine Scrofano-Wilkins, Sr. Vice President of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates (seated first row, 3rd from the right) and a partner in a number of real estate holdings including billboards throughout the Poconos attended along with husband, Thomas R. Wilkins, President and CEO of the Wilkins organization.

The cocktail party was a preview to the luncheon that the women will be honored at scheduled in mid-June.

The Northeast Business Journal, host and judge of the Top 25, have been presenting the awards for the past 15 years. Another very popular award that the business magazine gives is the "Top 20 Under 40" which features the "Top 20" men and women in business under the age of 40.

SCROFANO SR VP WITH BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS WILKINS NAMED TOP 25 WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Scranton - Scrofano, a Sr. Vice Pres with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates in the Pocono Mts was named one of the TOP 25 Women in Business in Northeast PA for 2012. Scrofano has been with the Wilkins organization for 10 years when she started as a Rental Agent. Today, Scrofano assists in day to day operations of the Real Estate Department and promotion of the company's overall health through modern media of the personal, professional, individual and company achievements among other Senior Management responsibilities.

Said Scrofano, after being selected as recipient, "It's important for all women to balance their personal and family life along with their professional careers. Family is my priority. I've been fortunate and blessed to have my son. No matter what you do in life, especially success in your business doesn't mean the same unless you have a family to share and grow with." she explained.

Scrofano is a member of numerous civic and professional committees including various committees at the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS® (PMAR), several of which she Chaired, an alternate member of the Stroud Township Zoning Board, graduate of Leadership Pike, Charter member and past President of Delaware Valley Kiwanis Club of which she is also a founding member and recently organized the Locks of Love Valentine Edition fundraiser to donate hair, including her own.

In 2010, Scrofano decided to enter the political arena as a candidate for Stroud Township Supervisor and won the Republican nomination for Supervisor in the primary, being known as the "first woman in Stroud to run for Stroud Supervisor". While unsuccessful in the general election, by a small margin, Scrofano established herself as an elect-able woman in and with the Monroe County Republican Party.

Scrofano contributes her success in the real estate field to her three mentors. The first, Charles A. Polillo, Sr. instilled in her the same work ethic that she has today. Barbara Samet, a well known community leader and former owner of Pocono Real Estate Academy, showed Scrofano her strength as a woman in the business world. The third is her husband and business partner, Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates. Said Scrofano, "Tom believes in me which gives me the courage and confidence to go out and work harder to reach my full potential, personally and as a team."

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates operate three retail offices in the Pocono Mountains. The Company is 25 years old and in addition to real estate, the Wilkins organization has sister companies, NEPA Management and Wilkins & Associates--PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, Wilkins & Associates Commercial Brokers and Pennsylvania First Settlement Services.