Long & Foster Names New Leadership Team in McLean, Va., Office

March 24, 2015
Susan Westbrook has been named as the McLean office's new managing broker, and Rachel Foster has been appointed as the sales manager.

Real estate veteran Susan Westbrook to lead the team with support from Realtor Rachel Foster

Long & Foster Real Estate, the largest independent residential real estate company in the United States, has appointed a new team to lead its top-producing McLean, Va., office. Longtime real estate professional Susan Westbrook has been named as the office’s new managing broker, and Rachel Foster, a real estate and education professional, has been appointed as the sales manager.

Westbrook brings to her new position a background in real estate sales and management, home building and residential land acquisition. After a short time in the life insurance industry, Westbrook joined a local homebuilder, where she moved from sales associate to principal broker and sales director for the builder’s small real estate brokerage. Her interest in residential land acquisitions and homebuilding led to a focus on business-to-business real estate sales under the direction of William “Kip” Laughlin of Laughlin Realtors.

In 2005, Laughlin Realtors merged with W.C. & A.N. Miller, which became part of the Long & Foster family in 2007. She’s worked on Long & Foster team since then, becoming the assistant manager in McLean in 2010 and the office’s sales manager in 2012. As sales manager, Westbrook worked closely with Lonnie Plaster—then managing broker at the location, merging Long & Foster’s two McLean offices into one dominant location. She also supported the office and its agents in bringing the sales volume to over $1 billion in both 2013 and 2014 and in recruiting over 50 new agents to the branch.

“I’ve lived and worked in McLean for nearly all my life, and I’m excited for the opportunity to serve the office’s highly professional agents and their clients, “said Westbrook. “I look forward to sharing my real estate knowledge and expertise with the team while continuing to develop agent support and education initiatives, as well as new community outreach opportunities.”

Westbrook has lived in McLean for 50 years, attending Langley High School and George Mason University, where in 1980 she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. She is the mother of two sons, ages 21 and 30, and a 27-year-old daughter. In her spare time, she volunteers with several nonprofits, including the VTV Family Outreach Foundation, the 32 National Campus Initiative and the Angel Fund, all formed in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre that claimed the life of her cousin. Westbrook enjoys summer and winter sports at Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County, Md., where her family has owned a weekend residence for 30 years.

Foster, who is the niece of Long & Foster Founder P. Wesley “Wes” Foster and sister of Long & Foster Real Estate President Larry “Boomer” Foster, shared Westbrook’s enthusiasm for her new position at the company’s McLean office. “I’m thrilled for the new opportunity and eager to help the many sales associates who call Long & Foster’s McLean office their home,” Foster said. “I look forward to helping our agents to build their careers in real estate and their buyers and sellers to achieve their homeownership dreams.”

Foster joined the family business of real estate in August 2013 after a nearly 20-year career in education. She spent most of her previous career in professional development and administration, working with teachers to help them hone their craft. Her experiences in the field of education position her well for mentoring, managing and leading Long & Foster’s real estate agents, ensuring they continue to be the best in the business. Her unique insights in the field of real estate education will be valuable to brokerage’s ongoing efforts to improve the way the company prepares and supports its Realtors so that they continue to be the best in the business. In her new position, Foster plans to create and implement the highest quality educational and mentoring programs, provide support for her colleagues and continue to serve the community.

She is active in the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR), including participating in the 2014 NVAR Leadership Institute. She also currently serves as the vice-chair of the Northern Virginia Young Professionals Network. In addition to her work in real estate, Foster is committed to her volunteer work with groups like Family PASS, Childhelp and the Capital Area Food Bank.

“Leading Realtors in today’s competitive environment requires not only real estate knowledge and expertise, but also a true dedication and commitment to the industry, and we’re thrilled to have Susan and Rachel—both of whom exemplify those traits—leading our McLean office,” said Lonnie Plaster and Karen Kidwell, senior vice presidents and regional managers of Long & Foster’s Northern Virginia and West Virginia region. “Susan has already made a tremendous impact on the lives of our agents in McLean, and we’re confident that she’ll achieve even greater results at the helm of the office, especially with the backing and support of Rachel, who brings the Foster family commitment as well as valuable education and training experience.”

For more information, visit www.LongandFoster.com.