DREAM TEAM

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), leaders in luxury real estate. Ranked among the top 20 Mega Teams in the nation across all brokerages by The Wall Street Journal RealTrends, DMG has established teams in the Western Suburbs, Chicago, the North Shore, Naples (FL), Park City (UT), Lake Geneva (WI), and New Buffalo (MI). She is joined by Lauren Walz, McKenna’s first addition to DMG, who works with McKenna serving DMG’s Western Suburbs clients.

How do you ensure that your personal brand stands out in such a crowded and competitive real estate space?
Walz: Being branded as a real estate agent is easy. Our goal is to be seen as something more. We want our clients, other agents, and potential clients to see us as professionals with a more holistic, informed viewpoint, and a skillset that helps them make smart decisions and close deals.
McKenna: My son, Jack, is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago (EEC). I go to as many of his ECC events as possible because not only do I get to spend time with him, but I learn about the macroeconomic, cultural, and business factors affecting the country, Chicagoland, and my clients’ properties. When I then discuss what I learned with my clients, they see that I am not your average real estate agent.

The luxury market has its own dynamics. How do you tailor your approach when working with high-net-worth individuals or luxury properties?
McKenna & Walz: Every client benefits from our exceptional services, which include hard work, deep market insight, and a creative approach to marketing. However, with luxury properties and high-net-worth clients, it is important to apply your knowledge and experience to additional issues those clients face, such as national economic conditions, tax issues, portfolio management, and even international investment trends.

What are some of the most unique or standout properties you’ve ever worked with, and what made them so memorable?
Walz: Locally, it was selling the ‘Woodside’ home (425 E. Sixth Street), built by William Robbins—founder of Hinsdale. Its historical significance to this town is profound, and passing the property to new stewards was a privilege and an honor.
McKenna: Selling the Home Alone house in Winnetka. Not only was it a great story, but this home was extremely nostalgic for me and the international media attention the listing garnered made it a truly unique experience.

Dawn McKenna and Lauren Walz are with Coldwell Banker’s Dawn McKenna Group, 8 East Hinsdale Avenue in Hinsdale. To contact McKenna or Walz, call 630-686-4886 or email [email protected] or [email protected]. For more information about Dawn McKenna Group, visit dawnmckennagroup.com, follow them on Facebook at thedawnmckennagroup, or on Instagram @thedawnmckennagroup.