Jonathan Nicholas
Jonathan serves as the Chief Innovation Officer for the CRB Council in Chicago, IL. After having worked with the Council as a volunteer, outside industry consultant, and Master Instructor; Nicholas was tapped to join the Council’s leadership team as an innovator tasked with “blowing-up the box,” forging new strategic alliances, and generating new opportunities for the Council and its members. Nicholas brings to the Council over 26 years of industry experience, relationships and history of innovation that had also served him well as the founding CEO of an industry virtual consulting firm since 2007.
Previously Nicholas served for seven years as the Executive Vice President of an International master franchise company, overseeing the day-to-day operations of over 100 franchised offices and 1800 sales associates. Under his oversight the organization grew to the top market share position by producing over $4.5 Billion in volume and over 36,000 transactions. A feat that could only be achieved by providing a myriad of support services and expertise that included: brokerage consulting/coaching, career track education, talent search/recruitment, public relations, media buying, brokerage management training and profitability insight to the master-franchisor’s affiliates.
A second generation REALTOR® Nicholas received his real estate license at age 18. At age 22 he opened his first brokerage company and quickly grew that company’s single family property management division to the largest in the state by controlling over 3000 REO properties. The company’s sales division was consistently ranked among the top 3 companies in market share, and number 7 overall out of over 360 companies in the MLS. He has been in brokerage management for over 23 years and in that time has owned three real estate brokerage companies, led three training organizations and in addition has participated in the acquisition, merger and development of other industry related companies.
As a speaker, change-master, and strategist on real estate topics both nationally and abroad, he feels his driving purpose in life is to “improve other people’s lives.” This enduring purpose requires him to be a change master to those he engages through his entertaining and motivational style. His talents as a catalyst are sought out by those looking for new insight, and methods to overcome the status quo. A blogger and technophile, Nicholas is a frequent contributor to the national media including: The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Chicago Tribune, This Old House, Bankrate.com and our own Real Estate Business magazine. Nicholas served as 2008 President of the CRB Council and on various committees for the National Association of REALTORS®.
Courses taught