Long & Foster Real Estate is proud to announce that Mari Kotze, associate broker and sales manager for the Cabell Childress Group, affiliated with the Midtown Richmond office, has been accepted into the Richmond Association of Realtors (RAR) Leadership Development Academy.

The Leadership Development Academy is designed to develop visionary, service-oriented REALTOR members for professional, civic and community leadership roles. The program, which runs from September to December of 2024, exposes a diverse cohort to a variety of topics through seminars, events and experiential learning sessions.

Working with professional leadership coaches, participants identify critical leadership skills and how to tap into their strengths as a leader – in their career and their community. The program also offers an overview of the significance of community involvement and insight into the leadership roles within a REALTOR organization.

“We are so happy Mari was chosen for the Leadership Development Academy, “said Dawn Bradley, senior vice president and regional manager of the Richmond and Charlottesville regions. “She is extremely detail-oriented as well as patient, professional, and cares so much about her clients and the agents in her office – she’s well deserving to be selected for this prestigious program.

Kotze has been in the real estate business for 10 years and holds an associate broker license. As sales manager of the Cabell Childress Group, she leads a successful team of 23 agents. The elite team has been with Long & Foster since 2008, consistently outperforming their previous year. In 2023, their sales increased 13%, having sold 300+ homes and $142M in sales volume. So far in 2024, they have $87M under contract.

Active in her community, Kotze has volunteered, fundraised, or sponsored several organizations, including Evergreen PTA (2023-2024), Huguenot Little League (2023-2024), Big Brothers Big Sisters (2023-2024), M4K (2022-2034), St. Baldrick’s Foundation (2020-2024), Toys for Tots (2020-2024), Central VA Food Bank and Meals on Wheels (2018-2020), Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (2013-2014), Autism Speaks (2011-2013), Virginia Commonwealth University’s Domestic Violence Awareness Group (2008-2009).

Long & Foster is one of the nation’s top real estate companies as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.