The newest member of the ERA leadership team doesn’t start her day without coffee. In fact, she jokes, “I often say I’m going to bed just so I can wake up and have my coffee!”

Running is another part of her morning routine – not as much fun as coffee, she confesses, but both habits reflect the boundless energy and enthusiasm Sue Yannaccone brings to her career in real estate.

As the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer for ERA Real Estate, Sue has nearly 20 years of industry experience. Most recently the SVP of Network Services for HSF Affiliates, the holding company for the Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Prudential Real Estate and Real Living Real Estate brands, Sue is no stranger to change, evolution and bringing organizations to the next level.

In fact, Sue was recently named to HousingWire’s Women of Influence list for 2015, which recognizes women who are leading real estate forward. Sue was among 40 women spanning all aspects of the housing industry who were honored for their achievements in their respective fields. You can read the full HousingWire article here.

The addition of Sue’s role reflects our brand’s continued commitment to driving growth at every level of the organization – from fueling agent productivity, to helping brokers improve profitability, and helping companies expand market share through M&As as well as penetration of new market segments.

Indeed, Sue is very excited by ERA’s growth potential as well as the collaborative team culture that combine to create what she describes as an incredibly dynamic brand. “Over the last few years, I have watched ERA assume a stronger leadership position in the competitive real estate landscape as Charlie and his team revitalized the brand. The reimaging, along with the unique culture and the strong level of support from Realogy create a powerful spring board to take the brand forward.”

So what brought Sue to this point in her career?

Growing up, Sue’s family moved a lot and she became fascinated with the buying and selling of homes. A graduate of Clemson, Sue studied finance with a concentration in real estate and started her career in commercial real estate but quickly realized her passion was on the residential side.

Thus, she transitioned into her role as director of contract administration for GMAC where she worked closely with brokers and internal legal counsel, brokering deals that could help both sides achieve their goals.

Her own leadership style has been informed by both her mentors and her experiences: she operates with an open door policy, believes in providing the tools to help her team realize their potential, and maintains a strong moral compass.

Perhaps the most valuable advice she received along the way was to always “ask the next question,” and keep an eye on what was next.

Right now, for Sue, what’s next is leveraging her knowledge and experience to continue to facilitate and propel growth for the brand. That, along with another cup of coffee!