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Charleston Real Estate Agent Megan Callaghan Named to REALTOR Magazine’s Prestigious 30 Under 30 Class for 2019

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has announced that Megan Callaghan, an agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Great Expectations Realty, has been named to REALTOR® Magazine’s 2019 Class of 30 Under 30 rising stars in residential real estate.

Callaghan was chosen from candidates across America who were judged on their skill, success, creativity, community involvement and leadership in their careers.

“I am truly honored and excited to be named to the 30 Under 30 Class of 2019,” said Callaghan. “I set 30 Under 30 Class membership as a goal of mine when I joined the industry in 2013. For me, this honor and my overall success as an agent result from my drive to go beyond the call of duty for every client. Such consistency and reliability help me be the ‘Forever Agent’ for clients and their referrals.”

Callaghan, who serves the greater Charleston market, is the first real estate professional from West Virginia to be named to a 30 Under 30 list. “We are proud of Megan as she is so deserving of this recognition,” said Michael Callaghan, broker, Great Expectations Realty. “In a short period of time she has grown her business with hard work and dedication. As important, she loves the business and helping people buy and sell homes. Such joy helps her be her very best for clients.”

Callaghan generated $6.4 million in sales volume in 2018 and was active in the West Virginia Association of REALTORS as well as in Generation Charleston, which helps recruit young professionals to the Charleston area. “We are losing population every year, mostly among younger generations. I got involved with Generation Charleston to recruit and retain young professionals in the area. I think the first step to committing to West Virginia is homeownership.”

Gino Blefari, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, congratulated Callaghan on her achievement. “We are proud of Megan and the passion and professionalism she pours into every real estate transaction,” Blefari said. “She is a wonderful ambassador of the entire real estate industry and a powerful example of leadership.”

REALTOR Magazine will feature its 30 Under 30 Class members in its May edition.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Forest River

Devastating Fire Makes Forest River RV Plant a Total Loss

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A devastating fire has made a Forest River RV plant in Elkhart, Indiana a total loss.

The plant, Forest River’s plant #59, went up in flames on March 12.

More than 40 firefighters in 15 crews battled to contain the blaze, which produced billowing smoke that could be seen for miles and showed up on area weather radar.

There were no fatalities, as the building was quickly evacuated.

Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire, as the investigation has been hampered by safety issues at the site.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Acquisitions Marmon Group

Fontaine Modification Acquires Truck Upfitter ProBilt Services of Ohio

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Fontaine Modification has acquired truck upfitter ProBilt Services of Ohio, Inc., along with the company’s 30,000 sq. ft. facility located less than half a mile from the Kenworth assembly plant in Chillicothe.

The facility, which also has parking for more than 100 trucks, becomes Fontaine’s ninth U.S. modification center.

Fontaine Modification is a Marmon Highway Technologies (MHT) company, and part of The Marmon Group, a Berkshire Hathaway Company.

The team at Fontaine’s new Chillicothe facility will provide fleet in-servicing and vehicle modifications to Kenworth trucks. A ship-thru agreement with Kenworth means customers can have their modifications completed and their trucks made “ready to work” without additional transportation time and expense. Services include equipment and graphics installation, pre-delivery inspections, cab modifications and custom vehicle modifications.

“We’re excited to acquire this well-run operation with a good crew of technicians and a long list of happy customers,” says Paul Kokalis, Fontaine Modification president. “We look forward to putting our more than 30 years of truck post-production leadership to work for Kenworth customers around the country.”

Fontaine operates two additional modification centers in Ohio, one in Springfield and another in Avon Lake. The company also has three locations in North Carolina, two in Texas and one in West Virginia. Fontaine plans to retain ProBilt’s Chillicothe team.

“We’re proud of our Chillicothe team and the business relationships we have made there,” said Toney Fitzgerald, principle owner of ProBilt. “While we are sad to leave Chillicothe, we trust Fontaine Modification will nurture and grow this business to its full potential. This move allows us to focus on our home operation in Denton, Texas.”

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Lubrizol

Lubrizol Plans Collaboration with CP Kelco

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The Lubrizol Corporation has formed an exclusive global collaboration with CP Kelco, servicing the personal and home care markets with PURLLON(TM) Cellulose Liquid and KELCO-VIS(TM) Diutan Gum products.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, CP Kelco is a market leader offering innovative products and solutions using nature-based chemistry.

The new relationship combines Lubrizol’s formulation expertise with CP Kelco’s broad knowledge of more sustainable solutions. This allows our technical teams the ability to expand our formulation expertise, bringing innovative solutions with increased naturality without compromising performance.

With this collaboration, Lubrizol will exclusively service the personal and home care markets for CP Kelco’s innovative Fermentation Derived Cellulose & Diutan Gum technologies.

Vice president and general manager of Personal, Home and Health Care, Deb Langer states, “We are always looking for ways to expand our offerings to our partners and the team is excited to elevate our sustainable portfolio with CP Kelco® Fermentation Derived Cellulose and Diutan Gum products.”

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Anna, Texas Real Estate Veteran Joins Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, part of the HSF Affiliates LLC family of real estate brokerage franchise networks, today announced local real estate veteran Kimberly Ann Christensen has formed a brokerage and joined the network in Ana, Texas.

The company operates as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Extra Mile Realty symbolizing the effort Christensen and her agents commit to clients and the real estate process.

Christensen opens shop with immense knowledge of the Anna real estate market. She was raised in the city and owned and operated brokerages there. She is also a national-class real estate trainer with a knack for teaching motivated newcomers to the business. Still, the magic is in her familiarity of Anna, her hometown. “There isn’t a house in Anna I’m not aware of,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve been in nearly every one of the original homes because I’ve lived here all my life.”

Extra Mile Realty unites with one of America’s fastest-growing real estate brokerage networks, which now counts nearly 50,000 agents and 1,450+ offices in just over five years as a brand, including global expansion to Berlin, Germany; and London, England.

Christensen and her team now have access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ active referral and relocation networks, and its abundant resources and services. That includes the Global Network Platform, a powerful tool suite driving lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production/distribution and more. In addition, the network provides global listing syndication, professional education and the exclusive Luxury Collection marketing program for high-end listings.

“As an independent broker, I couldn’t build or buy what I now offer to my agents and other local real estate professionals,” she said. “Of course, we also have the benefit of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand and its wonderful reputation. The network’s namesake is Berkshire Hathaway itself, and it’s built on Berkshire Hathaway’s core values of Trust, Integrity, Stability and Longevity. The network is an ideal match for our new company and we’re proud and excited to represent Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in greater Anna and beyond.”

Christensen estimates she will have 30 real estate professionals representing Extra Mile Realty by year end, and over the next few years, plans to open offices in neighboring Van Alstyne and Melissa. She said she will hire local top performers yet, playing to her strengths, she will also focus on a new generation of real estate achievers.
“I would rather train my own superstars of tomorrow than hire someone else’s superstars,” she explained. “This helps me shape corporate culture, which is so important to our long-term success. I intend on having a good mix of experience and enthusiasm in a fully supportive, team environment. I envision a team in which everyone generates at least $3 million in sales volume annually.”

That team will always have lofty aspirations, Christensen added. “We want to be consumers’ first choice for premium service and local expertise,” she said. “There is no reason why we can’t achieve a 50% share of the Anna market.”

Gino Blefari, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, welcomed the brokerage. “Kimberly is so well respected in Anna as a real estate professional and servant to the community and its causes,” Blefari said. “She is an unofficial ambassador to greater Anna and loves the area and its people. Such joy will keep Extra Mile Realty vibrant and growing for years to come.”

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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HomeServices of America

HomeServices of America is US’s #1 Largest Real Estate Company

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Berkshire Hathaway’s HomeServices of America keeps reaching new milestones in its growth, and today has announced that it is the US’s largest residential real estate company based on transaction sides, according to the REAL Trends 500 report.

In 2018, the company’s sales associates closed 346,629 residential transactions reflecting a 5.6% increase over 2017. The REAL Trends ranking is based on 2018 closed transaction sides for the country’s top-500 brokerages.

“2018 was a year of incredible growth and strategic expansion and we couldn’t be more proud that we have achieved this No. 1 industry ranking,” said Ron Peltier, executive chairman of HomeServices. “This milestone is a testament to the commitment and hard work of thousands of employees and tens of thousands of talented agents and sales managers across HomeServices who deliver an exceptional real estate experience to their buyers and sellers.”

“This is a turning point in our history and we congratulate our incredible employees and agents who work tirelessly to help their clients achieve the American dream of home ownership,” added Gino Blefari, CEO of HomeServices. “This achievement is a culmination of years of hard work and while we are celebrating this moment, we are not resting on our laurels. HomeServices is dedicated to continued growth both organically and through strategic acquisitions and we are committed to modernizing the home-transaction experience for buyers and sellers and the process by which our agents serve them.”

Headquartered in Minneapolis, HomeServices has nearly 44,000 real estate professionals operating in nearly 900 offices across 30 states and the District of Columbia. In 2018, the company’s sales associates facilitated nearly $136 billion in residential real estate sales, nearly 347,000 home-sale transactions, and nearly 323,000 mortgage, insurance, title, and escrow transactions.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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McLane Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

McLane and Popeyes End Restaurant Distribution Deal

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Berkshire Hathaway’s McLane Company, Inc., a leading supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions, has announced that its McLane Foodservice and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen have mutually agreed to end their restaurant distribution relationship, effective July 2019.

McLane has been supplying the southern California, Arizona and southern Nevada geographies for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurants. While both entities appreciate their long-term relationship, each company believes this move will best serve its financial and operational needs in these geographic markets.

Despite this aspect of their relationship coming to an end, McLane will continue to play a part in Popeyes’s supply chain. KINEXO, a subsidiary of McLane that provides innovative supply chain solutions to respected brands in the foodservice industry, will continue to serve as Popeyes’s exclusive redistribution partner nationwide for numerous items from multiple suppliers used or sold in their restaurant outlets.

Additionally, McLane will continue to serve as a primary distributor to Burger King, which along with Popeyes, is owned by Restaurant Brands International.

One of Warren Buffett’s best deals in recent years was his 2014 financing of Burger King’s acquisition of Canadian restaurant chain Tim Hortons, which was renamed Restaurant Brands International.

The deal was financed by Berkshire Hathaway, and Berkshire’s role gave the conglomerate ownership and control over 4.18% of the outstanding Common Shares and 14.37% of the total number of votes attached to all outstanding voting shares of the newly created company.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen became a part of Restaurant Brands in 2017, when it was acquired for $1.8 billion.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Pure Electric Buses Now Rolling in Ecuador

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BYD (Build Your Dreams), a world leader and pioneer in battery and zero-emission vehicles, has delivered twenty of its pure electric buses to the city of Guayaquil.

The buses will be operated by private bus operator Saucinc.

The port city, which is known as “the Gateway to the Galapagos,” is swapping its entire fleet of diesel transit buses for pure-electric buses.

The move comes after a five month pilot program proved the viability of the buses. The test bus ran an average of 250 kilometers per day.

BYD’s K9 buses feature air conditioning and Wi-Fi, and will have a dramatic impact on air pollution and fuel costs.

The buses are projected to reduce 12.8 tons of CO2 and 2.9 million gallons of diesel annually.

In addition to the buses, the city already has a fleet of BYD ev taxis in service.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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BNSF

Record Flooding Impacting BNSF’s Midwest Service

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BNSF Railway has been significantly impacted by the record flooding that has reduced or stopped service in portions of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri.

BNSF teams remain focused on restoring service and states that several subdivisions, either partially or in full, remain out of service due to high water levels, flood-related damage to infrastructure or both.

Water levels have dropped in some locations, and we expect to have service restored on our Sioux City Subdivision, which runs between Sioux City, Iowa and Ashland, Nebraska, this past weekend.

With coordination through a 24-hour command center in Lincoln, Nebraska, BNSF is moving multiple belt trains full of ballast to washed out locations throughout the day and night.

Crews have made considerable progress with track repairs, including rail and tie replacement, in those locations where flood waters have receded.

Some locations in the area, however, will require more extensive repair work before restoration of service is possible.

Damage to the two rail bridges that cross over the Platte River near La Platte, Nebraska, was extensive.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
HomeServices of America

Intero Expanding in the Carmel and Monterey County Markets

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Intero is expanding its operations in California’s Carmel and Monterey County markets.

The company has announced the hiring of J.R. Rouse as the Vice President and Managing Officer of the Monterey Peninsula operation.

Intero is a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America.

J.R., a 20-year real estate veteran, moved to California in 1989, and spent the next ten years in Silicon Valley at iconic technology brands Silicon Graphics and Cybersource. He started his real estate career on the Monterey Peninsula in 2000 when he moved to Pacific Grove. Six years later, he opened his own real estate brokerage, J.R. Rouse Real Estate, and was quickly honored by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce as Entrepreneur of the Year. He managed his firm until he joined Sotheby’s International Realty in January of 2014.

During his successful career, J.R. has taken on many leadership roles at various local and state real estate organizations. He served on the Monterey County Board of Realtors in a variety of positions including Director (2002), Secretary/Treasurer (2003), President Elect (2004), and President (2005). During 2007 and 2008, J.R. served as a director of MLSListings Inc., and from 2008 to 2011, he served on the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee for the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.), acting as the vice-chair in his final year.

“I am so excited about being with a company that has alignment with my own personal and professional philosophies,” said J.R. Rouse, Intero Vice President and Managing Officer. “We will combine my professional connections and business drive with Intero’s marketing and operational support and we will build something very special on the Monterey Peninsula.”

The first step in the strategic plan to make Intero the number one brokerage on the Monterey Peninsula was to increase the size and location of the Carmel operation. This is in the works and soon Intero Carmel will move from its current petite location on Lincoln between 5th and 6th to its large and open office at 3 NE Ocean Avenue and San Carlos.

“We are beyond thrilled to have J.R. join our leadership team running our Monterey Peninsula operation,” said Tom Tognoli, Intero President & Chief Executive Officer. “He brings a level of enthusiasm and passion that is unprecedented in our industry.”

Joining J.R. in his move to Intero is Jan Pratt. Jan has been J.R.’s Assistant and Broker Associate for more than 13 years and is an integral part of his past success.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.