Microsoft operates in its own world, but don't be fooled by its business-casual appearance. Underplaying its executives' roles with khaki-pants titles, Microsoft keeps outsiders from really knowing how powerful certain executives are, and perhaps what their real roles are. Take Bryan Mistele, for example. He's the general manager of HomeAdvisor Technologies, Inc., Microsoft's technology spin-off serving the mortgage lending and real estate industries.

A general manager position doesn't sound much like a top tier executive such as a CEO, but that is exactly the position than Mistele filled for HomeAdvisor. But his real mission was point man. His job was to negotiate his team through the product development (his real love) of HomeAdvisor's lending and customer management platforms, strategic partner alliances, investor relations, and the successful launch of the platforms.

Now he's done that. The company has completed the initial testing of both its lender and Realty Desktop platforms, quietly as usual. But look at who's using it. Chase Manhattan, GMAC, and Interealty and other partners are rolling out customized versions of the lender and real estate customer management platforms. Interealty alone already provides services to approximately 100,000 real estate professionals online. Kick in the mortgage brokers and direct lenders and you've got quite a few customers through only three or four pilot partners.

Not only is HomeAdvisor flush with $100 million in outside equity funding, but Mistele's also overseen the installment of the new troops, a team brought in to finance the operation and take it to the next level. In case you are thinking IPO, think again. That is a ways off. First, they don't need the money. They have Microsoft as a major investor and this eye-popping round of equity financing. That shows a lot of faith. A look at some new senior level personnel also shows that HomeAdvisor is no ordinary startup.

Among the key folks are:

• David Rinn - an eight-year Microsoft veteran and former senior director of finance. He now serves as HomeAdvisor's new CFO.
• Dick Ward - former senior vice president of Homespace and a former national director of the National Association of REALTORS. He is the new director of real estate business development.
• Dave Chase -a nine-year Microsoft veteran who ran Encarta.com. He'll be leading the marketing efforts.
• Eric Hautala - former head of MSN's e-commerce. He'll be on board as the director of operations.

Notice that the job descriptions have put on a jacket and tie. There's a reason for that. HomeAdvisor wants to have more outside world appeal, where job titles are considered important hierarchy markers. After all, they're wearing bankers' suits now.

That's why it is the perfect time for Mistele to exit the company. He'll be the new point man (CEO) in Microsoft's newest venture - a Mobile Services unit, which plans on working synergistically with HomeAdvisor Technologies platforms via wireless technologies. That tells you right there where the real estate and every other business with field operations is going.

Lest Mistele's departure be misunderstand, remember that he's not a "suit." He's a "creative." He likes the minefields and khakis, and his work history shows that. A Harvard MBA, Mistele joined Microsoft in 1995. He developed MSN's MoneyCentral from its inception, and once that was one of the premier "money" portal sites on the Internet, he left to lead the launch of HomeAdvisor Technologies, Inc. So his leap to a new wireless platform design company makes perfect sense. It's the dream job - creating a wireless platform to past and future creations. When the company helps implement broadbandwidth wireless access, which appears to be the plan, he'll have the satisfaction of one day downloading MoneyCentral, viewing a virtual tour of a home, and completing a loan all on his cell phone, and knowing he helped make that happen.

All this means that HomeAdvisor's looking not for a general manager, but a CEO. So anyone who is interested in the job, can pack a suit, but don't forget HomeAdvisor's khaki roots. Better throw in a pair of those, too, when you go for your interview.

Published: August 28, 2000

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Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.