Brokerage leaders recognized for their continued commitment to advancing the industry
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — February 1, 2025 — HomeSmart is pleased to announce that five members of the brokerage’s executive leadership team have been selected as RISMedia’s 2025 Real Estate Newsmakers — a dynamic group of key influencers making headlines as a result of their newsworthy contributions to the real estate industry and their efforts to positively affect the consumers and communities they serve.
RISMedia, the leader in U.S. real estate news and information, announced its more than 300, 2025 Real Estate Newsmakers on February 1, 2025. This eighth annual class of Newsmakers are showcased in the following categories: Influencers, Trailblazers, Futurists, Achievers, Crusaders and Luminaries, in addition to RISMedia’s annual Hall of Fame inductees.
“This year’s Newsmakers shine a spotlight on the innumerable ways this industry bravely confronted the sea change brought about by the historic commission lawsuits, and went to work helping their companies, agents and homebuyers and sellers understand and adapt to the fundamental shift in the way real estate business is conducted,” said RISMedia Founder & CEO John Featherston. “Our 2025 Real Estate Newsmakers demonstrate the grit, tenacity and resilience that dedicated real estate professionals have long been known for.”
HomeSmart’s recipients include:
Matt Widdows, Founder & Chief Executive Officer – Trailblazers
Under Widdows’ leadership, HomeSmart once again ranked in the top 10 (sides and volume) in RISMedia’s 2024 Power Broker Report. He also led the company through the rollout of several new features and updates in RealSmart Agent, HomeSmart’s fully integrated, proprietary tech platform — including SmartDocs, RealSmart Vendor and new Buyer/Broker tools — to help facilitate agent compliance with recent process changes and transaction efficiency.
Katie Cooper, Chief Operations Officer – Luminaries
In 2024, Cooper led the strategic overhaul of the company’s media approach, resulting in a 400% increase in media reach within just six months. She also oversaw the implementation of a new social media strategy, boosting engagement by 155% and expanding their reach by over 218% in just 45 days. In her position, Cooper also oversaw and contributed to the implementation of new training initiatives for agents and internal leaders, enhancing professional development across the firm’s 26,000+ agents nationwide. She implemented the launch of “Helping You Find Home,” a new buyer guide that supports agents in demonstrating the value of buyer representation. She was also a key contributor, organizer and featured speaker at HomeSmart’s Annual Growth Summit.
Todd Sumney, Chief Industry Officer – Influencers
In the wake of the NAR settlement, Sumney developed the “Working with Buyers (and Sellers) in 2024” training curriculum, which he delivered nationwide, ensuring agents have the tools and knowledge to navigate the changing landscape. He also trained agents virtually and in person throughout the U.S. on a weekly basis since the NAR settlement and led monthly mastermind sessions for top-performing agents and franchise partners, facilitating collaboration and growth.
Rich La Rue, Designated Broker & Vice President of Corporate Brokerages, Western Region – Influencers
Since returning to Arizona in 2020, La Rue has reshaped HomeSmart’s presence, overseeing more than 7,200 agents and leading a team of brokers at the flagship Phoenix brokerage. He connects with agents through his regular video series and The Real State podcast, providing guidance on market shifts and best practices. La Rue’s work isn’t confined to HomeSmart. His leadership roles with the Arizona REALTORS®, the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS) and the National Association of REALTORS® demonstrate his dedication to shaping the future of the industry.
Erin Campbell, Vice President of Learning & Development – Crusaders
In 2024, Campbell designed and deployed HomeSmart’s mentorship program across all corporate locations. She created and executed multiple educational courses that provide advanced strategies, insights and brand-building tactics, crucial for growing business in today’s dynamic market. Campbell also launched the SmartBuyer Representation course, offering comprehensive training on buyer representation, and designed and implemented internal staff training programs for HomeSmart’s leaders and support teams.
About RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers:
RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers is designed to recognize those individuals making headlines as a result of their newsworthy contributions to the residential real estate industry, and their efforts to positively affect real estate professionals and the consumers and communities they serve. RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers are chosen based on nominations received through an online nomination process on RISMedia.com, and by nominations from RISMedia’s in-house editorial team and other industry sources. Nominations for RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers are collected on an ongoing basis throughout the course of the year. There is no fee to nominate a Newsmaker or be recognized/featured as a Newsmaker. Due to deadline and production criteria, RISMedia’s 2025 Real Estate Newsmakers Online Directory may not currently be in its final format. Please check back for ongoing updates.
About HomeSmart:
HomeSmart is a revolutionary real estate enterprise powered by its proprietary end-to-end technology platform, providing integrated real estate solutions to agents, brokerages, franchise partners and, ultimately, the consumer. HomeSmart’s cloud-based platform empowers its users to succeed by providing a full suite of technology offerings covering nearly every aspect of the real estate transaction. The brokerage’s business model has fueled rapid expansion to more than 25,000 agents across 250+ offices in 48 states.
For more information on HomeSmart and its opportunities for buyers, sellers, agents or franchise owners, visit HomeSmart.com.