Four Long & Foster executives named as 2023 Newsmaker Honorees

Long & Foster Real Estate is proud to announce that four members of its leadership team have been recognized by RISMedia as 2023 Real Estate Newsmakers. The honorees include Jeffrey Detwiler, chief executive officer of The Long & Foster Companies, Larry “Boomer” Foster, president of Long & Foster Real Estate, Kathleen Wilks, chief marketing officer of The Long & Foster Companies, and Cindy Ariosa, senior vice president & regional manager of the Baltimore/Eastern Shore/Western Maryland region.

All recipients of RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmaker awards were chosen based on online nominations on RISMedia.com by industry sources and RISMedia’s in-house editorial team. The individuals selected by RISMedia were placed in various award categories according to their contribution to the real estate industry. Resilience and innovation were the operative words in the 2022 market shift and these individuals found many ways to not just survive – but thrive.

“It is an honor to be ranked by RISMedia as one of the industry’s best, especially among such other talented real estate leaders,” said Detwiler. “I’m especially proud that three members of my leadership team – Boomer, Kathleen and Cindy – have also been recognized on this prestigious list for their ability to excel in this shifting market.”

Detwiler was named as a “Luminary”, for his work in leading the enterprise with effective strategic planning and execution. By investing in smart growth, he’s added new agents, increased sales, pushed into new areas and opened Insight Home Inspections. Under his leadership, Long & Foster Real Estate was also invited to join Forbes Global Properties in 2022, an invitation-only membership network of top luxury real estate firms.

Recognized as a “Trailblazer”, Foster launched an enhanced agent productivity and marketing platform in 2022, created for agents to manage their businesses more efficiently. His agent-focused approach drove the planned expansion of the company’s Agent Services Group—a concierge program that supports agents so they can focus on their clients. Foster was also featured in Washingtonian magazine as the Face of Washington’s Leading Real Estate Company and recognized as a smart entrepreneur.

Wilks was honored in the “Influencers” category. She has guided Long & Foster’s position as a preeminent East Coast real estate brand. In 2022, Long & Foster joined the ranks of Forbes Global Properties, and Wilks publicized this development to the firm’s 9,000-plus agents. She also worked to enhance communications across the organization via new channels and platforms, tapping into company leadership and industry experts to produce valuable content. She grew social media engagement significantly and developed a new video partnership for agents to promote themselves to clients.

Ariosa was recognized on the “Achievers” list. She has been with Long & Foster for more than 20 years and has grown the company in her region from 22 to more than 40 offices.  Specializing in business development, coaching, technology, recruitment and retention, Ariosa has led 1800 sales associates to reach over $5 billion in sales. She served as the Bright MLS Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board in 2022 and is again serving in that capacity in 2023.

To view the complete list of RISMedia’s 2023 Real Estate Newsmakers list, click here.

Long & Foster Real Estate is the nation’s No. 1 real estate company as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.