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By Contributor
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With a background in finance, design, and fashion, DAWN MCKENNA’s sophisticated marketing, branding, and social media presence has made her and her team—Coldwell Banker’s Dawn McKenna Group (DMG)—a leader in luxury real estate and the No. 20 Mega Team in the nation among all brokerages. She is joined by the first addition to DMG, LAUREN WALZ, who works with McKenna to serve west suburban clients and to grow DMG nationally. As a result, the firm is now No. 1 Mega Team in Illinois, southwest Florida, and Park City, Utah.
What excites you most about the future of your industry?
Walz: I’m most excited about AI’s potential to transform the way we work. I have started to dabble with it and can already see how it will allow us to spend more time doing what we do best—building relationships and making meaningful connections with clients. That’s where the real impact will happen, and where our expertise will truly shine.
What conversations are you passionate about bringing to the table?
McKenna: I’m passionate about helping younger generations reframe how they view their home—not just as a place to live, but as an asset class and part of a wealth-building strategy. Real estate is unique among investments as it offers a wide range of exit strategies, from selling and refinancing to renting or leveraging equity. And unlike stocks or bonds, you can actually enjoy it while you own it. It’s both a lifestyle and a long-term wealth-building tool. I love sparking conversations that help people see its full potential.
How do you define confidence—and how have you built it?
McKenna: Confidence is the front-facing display of behind-the-scenes preparation. It’s about taking an honest look at yourself, recognizing areas for growth, and consistently working to improve. It also means having the humility to admit when you’re wrong and the courage to make changes. Confidence is built through experience and after 22 years and more than $6 billion in sales, I’m deeply confident in the services and advice the DMG offers. That confidence comes not only from helping clients, but also from buying and selling my own properties over the years. It’s a foundation built on practice, perspective, and a genuine passion for real estate.
For more information, visit dawnmckennagroup.com. You may also follow the DMG team on Facebook at thedawnmckennagroup, or on Instagram @thedawnmckennagroup.
Source: No. 20 Mega Team in the nation, No. 1 Mega Team in Illinois, No. 1 Mega Team in Southwest Florida, No. 1 Mega Team in Park City, UT by closed volume ranked by RealTrends Verified Thousand 2025, as featured in The Wall Street Journal.
