2017 Inman Influencers List Recognizes WAV Group Leadership and Clients

The impact of the annual reveal of the Inman Influencer List is like a social media cannon shot: you can hear the buzz everywhere. Once again, WAV Group Founder Victor Lund is on the list, and for the first time, Kevin Hawkins, a 30-year communications and marketing veteran who heads up the WAV Group Communications division, also appears.

It's a list that both founders of WAV Group, Marilyn Wilson and Victor Lund, have appeared on multiple times, but the rush one gets being on this prestigious list never gets old. And neither does surprise of those "missing" – exceptionally worthy influencers who didn't make this year's list. Either way, it feels like the entire real estate industry all at once clamors to click-through to discover who is and is not on the list.

Most importantly to the WAV Group (and our sister company, RE Technology) are the leaders of our clients that have been honored by Inman by inclusion on this year's list—industry stalwarts such as:

• Mark McLaughlin (Pacific Union)
• Bob Hale (HAR)
• Pam O'Connor and Paul Boomsma (Leading RE)
• Chris Bennett (CoreLogic)
• Keith Krach and Glenn Shimkus (DocuSign)
• Ryan O'Hara (Move)
• Art Carter (Chair of RESO and head of CRMLS)
• Jeremy Crawford (RESO)
• Susan McHan (Opes Advisors)
• Ben Caballero (HomesUSA.com)
• Jim Harrison (MLSListings)
• John "OB" Jacobi (Windermere Real Estate)
• Stephanie Pfeffer Anton (Luxury Portfolio)
• Andrew Flachner (Real Scout)
• Ben Kinney (Ben Kinney Companies)
• David Friedman (Boston Logic)
• Russ Cofano (EXP)
• Jim Walberg (Pacific Union)
• Glenn Kelman (Redfin)
• Rebecca Jensen (MRED)
• Marty Frame (RPR)
• Luke Glass (MOVE)
• David Charron (MRIS)
• Jed Carlson/Molly McKinley (Adwerx)
• John Aaroe (John Aaroe Group)
• Joe Rand (BH&GRE Rand Realty)
• York Baur (Moxi Works)
• and a host of others

We are truly thankful to have the opportunity to work with so many great executives that contribute far more to the industry than we do.

The truth is that when Inman or Swanepoel names someone as "one of the real estate industry's most influential leaders for 2017," it's a big deal. Just 24 hours after the release of the list, there were thousands of Facebook shares, and tens of thousands of comments of congratulations from family, friends, business colleagues and even competitors.

Cool factor

What makes the list so interesting is how Inman describes what the list recognizes. It writes that the 2017 Inman Influencers list "salutes a mix of industry professionals who shape, change and influence the industry ... They bring a mix of credentials, viewpoints and backgrounds from all walks of the real estate business. Some are creative, intuitive and gifted. Some have power, reach and charisma. And some are controversial, rabble-rousers and disrupters."

Kudos for Inman for including in its recognition the "rabble-rousers and disrupters," as they can have tremendous influence on our industry, regardless if you agree or disagree with their point of view or business models. This gives an added "cool" factor to the Inman list and helps differentiate it from others.

It's also very balanced, listing, as Inman notes, "both (the) young and hardened, made up of connectors, power brokers, high earners, CEOs, hackers, troublemakers and startup founders. It's a list of entrepreneurs, big and small; the 'old school' and the new; controversial and quiet plodders.

As Brad Inman, who originated this list, says, "They are not cut from the same cloth, they do not speak the same language and they do not always necessarily share the same values. But they influence the industry by their work, through their followers and by expressing their opinions." It's hard to disagree with that.

Who's missing?

You could create a second list of "2017 Top Influencers Missing from the Inman Influencer List" that is as large – if not larger – than the Inman list. There's a laundry list of leaders from companies that arguably as well deserving, if not more, because of their real influence on the real estate industry in 2017.

But no list like this is perfect, nor does it claim to be. And clearly there is more art than science used to create this list. As Inman notes: "In selecting this year's Inman Influencers, Inman considered recommendations from readers, editorial staff and outside suggestions. Thousands of real estate professionals make a difference in the real estate industry every day, but (those) ... on this year's list are some we believe stood out." So it's a judgment call and Inman and his top staff made the call.

For WAV Group and the many leaders of our clients who made the list, we share the same thrill to be on the list and are honored and proud to be advocates of moving our real estate industry forward.

View the complete Inman Influencer list here.

Final question: Who do you think was missing from this list? Share your comments below.