JWC Media
a luxury lifestyle website that delivers a colorful and passionate telling of neighboring events, fashion, beauty, finance, and the pursuit of leisure.
By Contributor
PRODUCED BY KEMMIE RYAN
EDITED BY SHERRY THOMAS
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CHEYANNE LENCIONI
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR & MAKEUP BY LEANNA ERNEST & MEG KOMLENAC
With a background in finance, design, and fashion, Dawn McKenna’s sophisticated marketing, branding, and social media presence has made her and her team, the Dawn McKenna Group (DMG), a leader in luxury real estate and the No. 4 team in the nation among all brokerages. She is joined by Lauren Walz, McKenna’s first addition to DMG, who works with McKenna serving DMG’s Western Suburbs clients and growing DMG nationally— now No. 1 in Illinois, Southwest Florida, and Park City, Utah.
What’s most rewarding about real estate?
Working with people to find their dream homes and setting the stage for their continuing stories. It always comes back to the people and the relationships we build along the way.
What do you think separates DMG from other real estate professionals in the business today?
As a team, we listen, we learn, we grow. We are experts in our field but also closely tied to our clients wants, needs, and goals and do everything we can to help reach those goals.
How do you leverage marketing to differentiate yourself from the competition?
Our agents are real people with interesting lives, stories to share, and valuable experience in the field. We promote them to the marketplace, so that our clients get to know a friend; not just a sales representative.
In real estate, what will never be replaced by technology?
The personal connection. At DMG our agents know their territories and the lifestyles they offer because they live there and live those lives. They connect on a personal level.
What would you tell an agent that wants to work in the luxury market?
Be more energetic and knowledgeable about your market than the other agents. Your business and knowledge must extend outside of real estate into industries and topics such as taxes and tax planning, financial modeling, design, and current economic events. Clients lean on you for answers and intel on how global markets of all kinds are impacted and impact real estate. You need to have this knowledge and a team of experts behind you.
Dawn McKenna and Lauren Walz are with Coldwell Banker’s Dawn McKenna Group, 8 East Hinsdale Avenue in Hinsdale. To contact McKenna, call 630-546-3763 or email [email protected]. To contact Walz, call 708-846-5676 or email [email protected]. For more information about Dawn McKenna Group, visit dawnmckennagroup.com, follow them on Facebook at thedawnmckennagroup, or on Instagram @thedawnmckennagroup.
