On a crisp Monday morning, Doug Van Nortwick, co-broker/owner of ERA Sellers Buyers & Associates / Pargin Realty ERA, wandered into the ERA Real Estate corporate office in Madison, New Jersey with long hair (seven inches long to be exact), a wide grin and a tad bit of trepidation. In just a few hours, Doug would cut his treasured hair to raise money for Wounded Warrior Project. 
It all started back in February 2013 when Doug vowed not to cut his hair until the companies he leads with his brother, John Van Nortwick, won the coveted ERA Real Estate Gene Francis Memorial Award for “Top All-Around Company.” Nominated five times in six years, Doug and John were more determined than ever to make the fifth nomination a win.
A little over a year later, in March 2014, their aspiration came to fruition as they won the award, named after ERA Real Estate co-founder Gene Francis. It is the highest honor given to an ERA® company and reflects the qualities most respected throughout the global ERA Real Estate system and the real estate industry. Known for his forward-thinking business acumen as well as his philanthropic spirit, Francis established a defining culture of service to which all ERA companies aspire.
As Doug and John accepted the award at the 2014 ERA International Business Conference in Los Angeles, California, fellow broker/owner Gus Grizzard of ERA Tom Grizzard, Inc. challenged Doug to cut his hair, offering him $1,000 to do so. The idea stuck and Doug decided to turn it into an opportunity to give back. The son of a former United States Marine, casino Wounded Warrior Project is close to his heart.
Fast-forward one month to Doug flying into New Jersey, having raised a total of $17,000, to have his hair cut by Grizzard who flew into New Jersey from Leesburg, Florida and brokers Scott Lauri of ERA Levinson Realtors and Jennifer Darby Metzger of ERA Justin Realty Co.
Doug’s efforts garnered donations from many of his fellow brokers and ERA community members. It’s a testament to the collaboration and philanthropic spirit that the ERA Real Estate family enjoys and excels at. Emceed by Charlie Young, president and CEO of ERA Franchise Systems LLC and attended by Alex Perriello, president and CEO of Realogy Franchise Group, the haircut event was filmed and also live-streamed so that Doug’s supporters around the country and around the world could witness the cut. To read more about the event and ERA Sellers Buyers & Associates / Pargin Realty ERA’s award win, click here.
To view part one of the event, click on the video below.
To view part two of the event, click on the video below.
