At the annual Network Business Conference for The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. (PREA) Network, Linda H. Sherrer, founding broker, president and chief executive officer of Prudential Network Realty in Jacksonville, Florida, was named as the recipient of the prestigious "Broker of the Year" award. In front of nearly 4,000 of her colleagues, Sherrer received the award from PREA's president John Van Der Wall and Jean Hamilton from Prudential's Diversified Group.

"Linda has consistently proven her commitment to quality and growth throughout the years. In addition, she is a formidable leader and has been able to motivate Prudential Network Realty and instill a sense of pride in not only the company but in participating in the Prudential Real Estate Network," commented John Van Der Wall. "Linda is the portrait of how as a Network we can work support each other and institute strategies that will lead to continued success."

Sherrer was cited for her leadership in growing the Company from a start-up with her partner Thomas F. Petway III in 1988. They began with three agents working out of a garage in a model home at Epping Forest Yacht Club, Gate Petroleum's luxury home community, which served as their first listing. This modest start launched them into becoming one of the market's leading companies on Florida's First Coast. Prudential Network Realty was among the first companies to join the The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates network, and one of only a handful of start-up companies selected to become a member.

In 1997, Prudential Network Realty surpassed $320 million in sales volume with 188 full-time professional agents, 41 support employees at their corporate headquarters, six branch offices and two property management operations.

The Broker of the Year award is determined based on strict criteria such as: being a Prudential "Best Practices" network role model; having significant participation in PREA's networking events; demonstrating company profitability; and having prominent community involvement and charitable contributions. This is the second year PREA has given this award, establishing a new, coveted, annual tradition that will see the recipient passing the award to the next year's winner and a permanent display in their home office.

Sherrer has been particularly active in both the Prudential Real Estate Network and in local community activities. She served as an original Network Advisory Board Member for PREA, has conducted numerous seminars and presentations at industry national events, and represented Prudential at the 1998 National Women's Conference. She is Chairman of "Prudential Connections" in Jacksonville, a group of the various Prudential business units operating under the 'Prudential Partners,' a movement to provide increased cross-marketing opportunities between all the business units under the Prudential brand. As home to Prudential's South Central Operations, Jacksonville has more than 4,500 Prudential employees. Her other local activities include having served on the Boards of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, the University of North Florida, Memorial Hospital and Genesis Specialty Hospital, Easter Seals, the Women's Network, the U.S.O., the Museum of Science and History and Epping Forest Yacht Club.

Twenty Prudential Network Realty team members attended the PREA Business Conference on their own, led by Sherrer and Chairman E. Bruce Bower who said, "Linda's a deserving winner, and although this award speaks for the quality of our professionals throughout the Company who have helped us build a championship team, Linda is our leader and our role model, and we are proud the nation and the real estate industry now know what we are fortunate to experience on a daily basis."

In receiving the award, Sherrer lauded her management team, professional sales associates and support staff: "This award belongs to all of us, and celebrates the corporate culture of outstanding customer service and innovative approaches to business that our whole team has worked so hard to build and to sustain. I'm thrilled to be recognized and proud of our entire corporate family."

PREA, an industry leader in creating a simpler, more stress-free transaction through the application of innovative, technology solutions, is an international residential and commercial real estate affiliate network. It shares the Prudential brand name with the insurance, securities, and financial services groups that compose the nation's largest such organization. In 1997, PREA consisted of more than 1,400 offices, 37,000 sales associates, 411,000 transaction sides and $67.6 billion in sales volume.

Published: May 20, 1998

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