“I am with Prudential because of the power of the big company and what it offers in this market environment. Prudential CT is strong, well known throughout the state, nationally, and internationally; yet, Prudential CT functions as a small dynamic company in that the owner and leaders of the company are local unlike a Coldwell Banker. If I need the help of Owner Peter Helie, or President Candace Adams, they will be there. And, Prudential CT in Westport is managed by the most astute and forwarding thinking player in CT, Melissa Riley.” Amy Curry
“The main reason I joined Prudential Connecticut Realty in Westport is Melissa Riley. She is a phenomenal manager. Not only has she provided me with the necessary tools to start building a strong Internet presence but she follows up and continues to support my efforts. She is always available to answer questions and provide me with advice and positive criticism when needed. It is very refreshing to find an office manager who is true to her promises and supports her Realtors 110 percent.” Claudia Tergis
“I have had many managers in my 15 year career in real estate. Melissa is the most organized, upbeat, fair, and internet savvy manager I have encountered. She is great fun, too! I am always telling agents in competitive firms about her and our strategically smart company!” Candace Blackwood
“The reason I decided to sign with Prudential was that immediately I could see the incredible support provided to new agents. The accessibility to education and training throughout the Prudential Realty organization is phenomenal. The reason I chose the Westport office is easy…….Melissa Riley! Melissa’s warmth, professional manner and enthusiasm made me feel comfortable and confident enough to get started.” Lauren Dunne
“As a manager, Melissa is simply the best. Not only is she knowledgeable, Melissa is ready and willing to share it all. Her energy has no bounds, and her heart is always in the right place. There is no better environment to work in than one headed by someone so knowledgeable and competent.” Monica Davis
“Within 15 minutes of meeting Melissa Riley, I knew I wanted to be on her team. Melissa is a professional business women with in-depth knowledge of the real estate industry and a bright, entrepreneurial mentality. A natural leader, her positive energy and her ability to multi-task allow her to effectively coach her team members both collectively and on an individual basis. Melissa is extremely focused and takes a proactive, innovative approach to challenges. She has embraced the marketing power of internet based social networking and generously shares her expertise. In addition to her professional attributes, Melissa possesses a quick wit that makes working with her a pleasure.” Nancy Maher
“Melissa is the personification of professionalism in real estate. She exhibits outstanding coaching and leadership skills. She does her very best to help agents expand their knowledge of real estate and point the financial rewards upward. Joining the Westport Prudential CT Realty office and experience the difference it will make with your business.” Chuck Heiser
“After many interviews with major real estate companies in the area, I had the good fortune to meet Melissa Riley. Her supportive attitude, knowledge of the industry and understanding of Internet and creative marketing techniques, instantly hooked me on joining her team. I haven`t looked back. Through her seemingly infinite patience and encouragement, educational and informative meetings and think tank sessions, and ability to create a happy and exciting work environment, I cannot recommend Melissa enough. I owe much of my success to her. If you are considering a career in real estate or a move to a better company, do your research, meet with many companies and office leaders, and then make the decision to join Prudential, and Melissa Riley.” Christopher Rich
“Melissa`s experience and enthusiasm in real estate should be commended. She is a dynamite Office Leader who brings a wealth of knowledge to the office. She shares her insight both on an individual support level and with very informative sales meetings. Melissa makes our office environment a very pleasant and productive place to work. We have the best agents which is a tribute to Melissa`s recruitment of fine agents. It is imperative in this industry to have an Office Leader that you can trust to be there for you in those more difficult transactions. I have worked with many managers in my 10 years in real estate and I can honestly say that “Melissa should be cloned” so other offices could benefit as we have!” Mary Lou Bevvino, GRI, ABR, ABRM, Ecertified
“Over my eighteen-plus years in real estate I have had many “office managers”. Melissa, with her boundless energy, sense of humor and phenomenal support during difficult times is at the top of the list of Office Leaders with whom I`m pleased to work. Melissa demonstrates personal discipline as well as the capability to drop anything she may be doing to make time for any of her agents. Her vast knowledge of the business enhances her ability to do her job and show the necessary leadership. There are times when personal situations might affect her sales agents` performances and Melissa is always ready to share an understanding ear and usually a bit of advice. Melissa`s strengths are evidenced in keeping a unified office attitude and sharing news and information during our regularly-scheduled, well-fed office meetings. There are always surprises around every corner when working with Melissa. One of my biggest personal challenges in the office is not having too much fun when she`s there.” Barbara Franzen
“When I joined Prudential, after being a high school English teacher, I never expected to be so at home with the values of a major corporation. The literature I taught to young people was often about misperception and irony. This time, I was the one learning the lesson. When we moved to the center of town, we were happy because in addition to having a beautiful office, there were shops and lots of good food nearby. Then Melissa came, and we had even more reason to be excited. Smart, compassionate, and competitive, she recognizes individual strengths, focuses on strategies for personal and professional growth, and creates an environment fostering productivity. An astute businesswoman, Melissa expects professionalism and lots of hard work. As a person, she thrives on a positive approach to problem-solving, a genuine respect for integrity, and the absolute necessity of humor.” Martha VanDerMay
“At Prudential CT Realty we have established ourselves as a firm where only the very best will do. Prudential succeeds with the best agents and the best Office Leaders. Melissa Riley epitomizes the “can-do attitude” and raises the bar for our office! Leading by example, she proves day in and day out that hard work and commitment to the highest professional standards will ensure success. We have come to count on her energy and “above and beyond” approach, and we benefit from her involvement in our careers. Melissa is a tremendous asset to our firm and I feel privileged to work with her. You owe it to yourself to work with a leader, work with Prudential and Melissa Riley!” Lis Reed
“Hello Melissa! Your class, “Promoting Yourself on the Internet”, had me focused on every word you said. The most amazing part of that is the fact that, I, a non-tech savvy person, understood you! You spoke in plain and simple language. Your sense of humor also made the class a pleasure. Thank you for all the knowledge.” Gail DeAntonio
“Hi Melissa, I thought your class was excellent! There was a pertinent information every minute. I loved the fast pace and all the easy to follow practical tips. I had been meaning to work on my webpage for sometime but you know good intentions etc. Anyway your enthusiasm and class motivated me to get going. I followed your suggestions and incorporated many of your ideas. I`ve seen a dramatic increase in traffic. I still need to find opportunities to get linked to more sites. Without going to one of the expensive websites like Number One Agent it`s not easy to get the positioning.” Dave Thompson
“Melissa, I very much enjoyed your class. There was so much info to get through, I felt incredibly overwhelmed when I left. Your understanding of the information is clear and your easy responses to questions showed me that if I put my mind to it I can master it too. The aspect that I enjoyed most was your skills at speaking and keeping us interested. I only wish that every class would be as good. I look forward to your blogging class that I signed up for during the class. Thank you.” Ed Cox
“Melissa, attending your class on the power of the internet was eye-opening and must have knowledge for the future growth of our business. The class was packed with valuable information and I m looking forward to your upcoming blogging course. This is the type of information that will bring each of us to the next level.” Nikki Travaglino
“Melissa, I thoroughly enjoyed your class on Marketing Yourself on the Internet and would recommend it all my fellow agents. Loved your spunk! I did go back to the computer an pull up my website and view the number of hits it had had; plus rewrite the first paragraph in hopes of getting more hits. A am a member on Facebook, Truilia, and have an enhanced site on Realtor.com. Lots of computer time can be spent….it`s time management we all need.” Jane Lionelli
“Hi Melissa, I wanted to take a minute and tell you how much I enjoyed your class. I learned so much from such a short time and can hardly wait for the next class. You are truly inspiring and knowledgeable. I will certainly be telling all my fellow Prudential agents what I learned and how impressed I was with your energy and enthusiasm. I couldn t wait to put my new knowledge to work. I have actually started my first blog, have added myself to four websites that could possibly help me with my business and updated my existing website. I am far from an expert in creating websites and blogging, but I left your class understanding so much more than I ever thought I could. I really am looking forward to your next class. Thanks again.” Hedy Hartley
“Thanks Melissa, Your class was just full of great ideas and information. I must admit that I work very hard to stay on top of all the best marketing tools on the web, but with most, I am overwhelmed with the needed expertise and the knowledge to navigate successfully and quickly. I have committed myself to improve in this area. Even if it is just a little everyday. Thanks again and I will be there for Blogging. I will be the one with the blank look on my face!” Angela Ruel
“I have been in the real estate business in Westport for 35 long years and I can honestly state that there is no Manager currently working in Westport who compares to Melissa Riley. She is an internet master who shares her knowledge with her agents in an effort to help them build their business. She is positive, provocative, energetic and empathetic. Always available to offer a shoulder or a solution, her door is always open. It is a joy to work with her.” Majorie Brous
“I cannot say enough good things about Melissa`s leadership. She is extremely hands-on and hard working. She is innovative, pro-active and wonderfully upbeat. The leader of a team sets the standard for the personality and ethics of the office has made it the most desirable place to work. Melissa has a remarkable ability to recognize the myriad array of personal strengths that the individuals on her team possess and to help each of us capitalize on them. She does not have a one-size fits all approach to coaching. I have all the excitement of entrepreneurial spirit with the prestige of the Prudential name, the cutting edge technology it provides and the joy of a knowledgeable, warm-hearted and trustworthy mentor in Melissa who takes a holistic approach to nurturing the successful careers of her team members.” Kit Norton-Burke
“One of the greatest pleasures of my job is working with Melissa Riley. Leading over 65 sales executives in our office, Melissa has impacted positively the agent productivity and office culture. Her personal integrity, endless energy and creative spirit continuously motivate a large sales team in a dynamic market place. Melissa allows you to take ownership of your business, yet simultaneously provides excellent business coaching behind the scenes. She capitalizes on your strengths, acknowledges your success and supports you through challenges. I continue to chose Prudential Ct. Realty for the company`s professionalism, education and technology. Melissa Riley is a major reason I continue to enjoy my real estate career at Prudential CT Realty!” Carol McCullough
“Working with Melissa Riley as my manager is an honor and a privilege. First, she creates a positive energy and a professional environment. It is just great to work in our office. She truly cares about each individual, not only their business success but their personal successes as well. Melissa knows the real estate business, and knows it thoroughly, an attribute not as common among real estate managers as one might think! She also knows the business world. She is innovating, motivating, knows how to build a solid team and most importantly, striving and laughing. With 25+ years of experience in real estate, I consider myself fortunate to be a member of her team. What good fortune that our paths finally crossed!(Thank you, Peter!)” Dian Vince
“I had been researching all the agencies for the past year since I decided to become a full time Realtor . I wanted to be a part of a company that demonstrated the utmost professionalism and was up to date on all the technological advances beneficial to my chosen profession. My search kept taking me back to the same place Prudential CT Realty. While examining the website, I was directed to the manager/leaders website which made a lasting impression upon me. The specific goals and requirements she expected were right in line with my views on how business should be transacted. However, the most impressive point expressed was about the personal support she offered to help her team accomplish their goals. Her extensive up-to-date knowledge of real estate and the market in our area is endless and she shares this with all of us every day. I find that Melissa`s energy, support and enthusiasm carries over into our office. Our agents are positive, professional and they help each other without hesitation. I have never seen such teamwork in a real estate office setting and that also goes for the two wonderful assistants Jean and Irene who have hearts of gold and the patience of Job. I really knew the first time I spoke to Melissa by the attitude she projected that I wanted to be a part of her team at Prudential CT Realty. I am more positive than ever that I made the right decision to move my business to Prudential CT Realty. The leadership of Melissa Riley brings professionalism and integrity to the Real Estate business and that is exactly the person I insist upon having as my leader. I look forward to growing as a Realtor and as a person under Melissa`s leadership at Prudential CT Realty, truly the best real estate company around.” Margaret McKay
“At my kick off meeting the agents were absolutely raving about your training class. Now everyone wants to take it but of course they are filled up. I am planning to go to the class on the 28th and then the blogging one in Feb. Some of them are just sooo excited- thank you for doing SUCH A GREAT JOB!!!! Shelley Kirschenbaum, Office Leader
“I want to say how much I enjoyed your classes and how much I LEARNED!! I am pretty computer savvy, having worked as a programmer, analyst, trainer, consultant for nearly 30 years before getting into real estate, but I was amazed by how much I have to learn about internet marketing and blogging. I can`t wait to get started – but I understand your admonition to plan ahead and only do this with sufficient thought and the conviction to carry it through.” Sandra Failing
“You don`t need any coffee because Melissa is sure to keep you awake and entertained while she is teaching any of her technology and marketing classes. She is knowledgeable and she relays her expertise in a “user friendly” style to agents of any level of expertise. I would highly recommend taking any of Melissa`s classes if you want to keep on the cutting edge and apply the latest marketing techniques.” Sheila Tinn Murphy
“…Melissa Riley`s seminar was on “Promoting Yourself on the Internet”. I kid you not when I say that in the 22 years I`ve been in the business, I have never attended a more comprehensive, better paced, better documented course. She shared valuable, useful information with us in an entertaining and highly pragmatic format. I know that I`m prejudiced in that I`ve adored Melissa for the past decade, but normally being a very critical participant, this program was really exceptional. I look forward to taking her “Blogging” class in the middle of February, and would gladly join any other session she would offer.” Karen Iuliano
“From my early beginnings in real estate back in Texas in the 80`s, to spending most of my career life in executive positions in global corporate relocation, I have had the opportunity to observe many leaders. I joined Prudential Connecticut Realty last year after interviewing with a number of Fairfield County real estate companies. Without a doubt, I was immediately “hooked” by Melissa`s wit, savvy and candor, coupled with her deep industry knowledge and her unmistakable professional, yet human approach to business and life. After my interview with Melissa and I walked out of the office and knew this was the leader under whom I would re-start real estate for the second time. It is with great pride and appreciation that I am now part of her team and a dynamic office. A wise person once said: “The Speed of the Leader determines the Rate of the Pack”. There is no question that Melissa`s leadership, creativity and overwhelming support to each and every agent in our office is evidence of this.” Heidi Craik
“I was determined to to find and join an agency that was right for me. After interviewing with several office leaders I found the leadership at Prudential CT Realty to be the best fit. Melissa Riley, always encouraging and supportive, impressed me from our very first meeting. I was trying to place myself back in the work force after having been a “stay at home” mom for many years. My previous business experience was at the IBM Corporation, where I was on a marketing team where only professionalism prevailed. I found this same professionalism at Prudential CT Realty under the leadership of Melissa Riley. It is evident that Melissa takes great care when hiring new agents, as she wants to ensure each agent contributes not only professionally, but that each agent will contribute to the camaraderie and spirit that exists under her leadership. At Prudential CT Realty, Melissa has created an environment where real estate agents strive to do well individually, while being encouraging and supportive of their fellow colleagues. Prudential CT Realty has been the right choice for me!” Bettianne Baldwin
“It is a pleasure to work under the leadership of Melissa Riley. After working for a local real estate firm for ten years, I decided to give my business a boost by moving to a larger firm with cutting-edge technology. I met with Melissa and was immediately impressed by her wonderful people skills, technology knowledge, and extensive background in real estate. I am continually amazed by the creative and positive environment she has created within the office. She is one-of-a-kind!” Pam Fernberg
“Melissa is such an inspiring leader. She focuses her energy where Realtors need the most help…on our attitude. She keeps us thinking positively, believing in ourselves, and moving through the daily challenges. I began my career at another company that didn`t have the leadership that exists at Prudential Connecticut Realty. The most important difference for me is Melissa`s knowledge, and willingness to focus on my strengths. This coaching aspect is the reason that I am building my Real Estate business to new heights and having a blast doing it.” Pam Toner
“When I chose to begin a new career in the real estate business, I knew that I wanted to align myself with a company that valued integrity and professionalism. Since I had always taken pride in providing the best customer service and attention to detail in my previous business endeavors, I had hoped to find a Real Estate company that would support my personal business standards. I have found this within Prudential Connecticut Realty and my Office Leader, Melissa Riley. Melissa exemplifies Prudential`s Core Values of Authenticity, Service, Relationships, Empowerment, and Growth on a day to day basis. Her management style is hands-on, involved, concerned and proactive. I strongly believe that her positive energy and enthusiasm have projected our office into the limelight of the Fairfield County Real Estate market. In fact, I don t think any other real estate company in Fairfield County can boast about their office being as productive, interactive, supportive and positive as the one that Melissa creates.” Mary MacKenzie
Regarding the Brian Buffini “Peak Producers” 12 week program in Westport’s Prudential CT Realty:
“Buffini Peak Producers is designed to help agents sharpen their skills and focus their time and energy on what is most important to building business – people. It is a highly structured program designed to strengthen relationships with past and present clients and develop new ones with other people who may just present an opportunity at some time. It is challenging but well worth the effort. I am confident it will help me take my business to a new level.” Ann Tonucci
“Buffini Peak Producers is an excellent way to re-focus your efforts on the basics of real estate. It is a high touch system in a techy world. It’s been an excellent catalyst to start the new year on a high note!!! Thanks to Melissa for bringing it to us.” Amy Curry
“Before starting the Buffini Peak Producer’s class I knew I needed to reach out to my past clients and do a better job filling my pipeline but was unsure how to do it. Now, I have the direction, great resources and Buffini made it easy. I feel motivated knowing I now have the right tools and to take my career to the next level. Thanks Buffini and our great mentor, Melissa Riley!” Lori DiBartholomeo (former “Rookie Of The Year” at Raveis)
“I have found the Buffini class to be the best systematic approach to realtor success. It’s an easy to use road map that fits into my busy work and personal life that has already yielded me success. The key here is to believe that the system works and complete the actions items in the time frame suggested. I am loving this and wish that I had more time to really go overboard on letter writing, items of value and pop-bys. For now I am working the systems with my top 25 clients and in just the past 3 weeks have 3 more buyers and 2 pocket listings that I will hopefully list in the next few weeks. Thank you Melissa and group for helping me get out of my comfort zone and into my success zone!!!” Angela Shibetti Swift
“Peak Producers has been an awesome way to refocus my efforts in a step by step fashion. It gets down to the basics and builds, week after week, to a steady hum of activities that help solidify my business. It lays the foundation of a professional and relational rather than transactional approach to dealing with my clients.” Marta Stroll
