KWRN LEADERSHIP Council

Leadership Council

The KW Rainbow Network Leadership Council always strives to deliver our Network Members an organization to be proud of and an experience second to none. The Network’s mission to Empower Leaders leads us in our day-to-day actions and decisions.

The Leadership Council meets regularly as a group, and more often in committees (both formal and informal) to both grow and protect our Network’s day to day operations. From it has grown the Rainbow Mastermind, our Website, the Rainbow BOLD training program, and Rainbow Camp!

From a small event of ten to a Network of 1,950 and growing — growth presents opportunities and their challenges. We strive to be worthy of our position to serve you. Get to know us, get to know the committees. We welcome your ideas, input, and experience!

Mark Benson

REALTOR® | Naples, FL

GROWTH & MEMBERSHIP Committee | Marketing & Promotions Committee

Mark Benson is a native Floridian, born in Miami, Florida and who moved to Naples in 1992. He has been a full-time Realtor in Southwest Florida for 25 years. Mark works with buyers, sellers and investors in Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva Islands

He has earned the numerous Designations & Certifications: Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR); At Home with Diversity (AHWD); Certified Residential Specialist (CRS); Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI); Master Certified Negotiation Expert (MCNE); Transnational Referral Certification (TRC). Additionally, Mark is a member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing (ILHM), is a Keller Williams Luxury Homes specialist, and the original Founding Member of the KW Rainbow Network!

Christopher Broughton

Associate Broker | Albany, NY

Industry Relations Committee | Marketing & Promotions Committee | GROWTH & MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Christopher Broughton was a Boston resident before becoming a transplant to upstate New York’s Capital City in 2006. At KW he runs the Broughton Properties Team, practicing real estate full time with his dedicated agent squad. Experienced and fun to work with, his team is truly one of the best at helping their clients and investors — and in fact is often a Top KW Team year over year!

Prior to KW, Christopher spent 15 years working in advertising, directing, trafficking, and managing campaigns for Digitas Boston (for clients such as AT&T, Disney, and L.L. Bean). In 2000 he started his own marketing firm as Principal (while buying and investing in real estate), and in 2006 relocated to Albany NY for love!

Soon after joining KW in 2007, Christopher was an early founding member of the KW Rainbow Network as one of its inaugural Leadership Council members. To this day, Christopher proudly serves the Network by furthering its initiatives to foster fellowship and through KW, making LGBT home ownership a reality for this diverse and growing community.     

Valerie Crowell

Broker Associate | San Francisco East Bay, CA

Education & Professional Development Committee

Valerie Crowell is a third generation Real Estate Broker having started in the industry in 1972 at 14, answering phones at her father’s business. In 1976 she began her industry experience in earnest, starting in the policy department of a title insurance company. After more than 30 years and becoming one of the most respected Commercial Title Officers in the industry – handling some of California’s largest transactions including the financing for the KSL resorts, the Bank of America building and Kelly Moore’s financial restructuring, Valerie began her Real Estate career in the spring of 2008.

Starting with one of the largest REO agents in the east bay, she expertly navigated those transactions with compassion and understanding. Two years into her business, Valerie moved to Keller Williams in Walnut Creek. Valerie’s vast real estate knowledge and dogged pursuit of fair and reasonable solutions make her the perfect fit in an organization whose core values include the precept of Win-Win or no deal.

In her off time, Valerie is a volunteer with the local Doberman Pinscher rescue, evaluating temperament and transporting homeless dogs to their new life. She has always been athletically inclined and currently participates in distance cycling and powerlifting. She believes that sport teaches us the discipline and teamwork we need to live prosperous lives. She has completed numerous century rides and holds over 25 powerlifting records. She lives in Concord with her rescued Doberman Bill and her crazy puppy Frida. She is most proud of her seven AIDS/Lifecycle rides. She has raised over $40,000 to help end the scourge of HIV and AIDS and treat those currently suffering from the virus.

Kimberly Davis

REALTOR® | Dallas, TX

Diversity Committee

Kimberly Davis is a native of North Texas. A 1991 graduate of McKinney High School and 1996 graduate of Texas Women’s University with a degree in Education, she is the leader of The Kimberly Davis Group – Frisco, Plano & The Colony’s most innovative real estate team. Kimberly has hand picked the members of her team to ensure that they possess the same ethics, ambition and customer service skills that have led to her success.

Her honors as an agent include being named by KW as the #1 agent in the Entire TX/NM region, #1 agent in Plano (10 years running), and she remains in the top 1% in KWRI (18 years running). D Magazine has awarded her Top Realtor status 2001-2019. She is active in her community as a member of the Collin County Association of Realtors, Lambda Legal, NAREB, GLBT Chamber of Commerce, the Minority Business Entrepreneurs, and the Junior League of Plano.

She is versed in new construction, REOs, Short Sales, and traditional resale. By staying current with education and market trends with regard to real estate, the financial market, the mortgage industry, etc, Kimberly and her team are positioned to better educate her clients. Kimberly and her partner Cindy have been together 21 years, and are proud parents to 9 year old Tristan.

John Harper

REALTOR® | Palm Springs, CA

Education & Social Committee

John Harper currently runs the Harper Group powered by Keller Williams. He has been a resident of the greater Palm Springs, CA area since 2012 and a Licensed Realtor® with Keller Williams since 2006, starting at Keller Williams Beverly Hills. While in that office, he served as a proud member of the ALC.

Prior to becoming a Realtor, John spent 20+years working at Showtime Networks in New York in market research and analysis, business development, programming and advertising (helping to launch the new media group, the Sundance Channel, and helped to bring QUEER AS FOLK to your living room.) He was an active member of the LGBT group while at Showtime. In 2011, John relocated to Los Angeles, and worked at NBCUniversal Television.

At NBCU, he was responsible for the management and administration of domestic pay cable deals for HBO, Starz/Encore, and Showtime Networks in order to maximize the revenue on deals valued at over $1 billion. He worked with the budding digital and streaming divisions as well, overseeing the companies’ PPV and digital contracts. John was one of the founders of Out at NBCU, their in-house LGBTQ affinity group.

He shares a home with his three dogs – Frankie and Lady, and their father, Jack. He is proud to be a part of the KW Rainbow Network’s Leadership Council.

Hunter J McNair

Broker, Owner of Hunt Houses NC | Raleigh, NC

Community Relations Committee & EDUCATION & SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Hunter McNair is a “Triangle” North Carolina native, and the proud owner and founder of Hunt Houses NC in Raleigh. His team’s core values have always included supporting LGBTQ+ charities and education — both at home and across the country. Hunters’ team is known for their annual 12-hour Facebook live stream “#HuntForRelief” which has raises over $10,000 for charities annually. Hunter also created and hosts the inspiring “Rainbow Mastermind” that now takes place at every Family Reunion and Mega Camp, and created “Rainbow Camp”, which takes place two days before KW’s Mega Camp.

He is joined in business with his husband and other half, Justin, who serves as his team’s operations manager. Together they make an amazing team proudly supporting their community, both at home and across state lines. Hunter serves on the KW Rainbow Network Leadership Council as the Community Relations Chair, always finding new ways to grow member leadership and exposure to the world of Real Estate.

Bill Knecht

Real Estate Broker | Tampa, FL

Culture & Social Committee

Bill Knecht is a Realtor with Keller Williams Tampa Properties in Tampa, Florida. With 22 years of experience in real estate, Bill consistently ranks in the top 20% of agents. He is versed in serving the entire Tampa Bay area.

Bill has held leadership roles throughout Keller Williams, including multiple stints on his market center Associate Leadership Council and various teaching roles. He is proud to have been one of the early leaders in the establishment of the Keller Williams Rainbow Network.

Bill is a sixth-generation native Floridian, and a graduate of the University of South Florida with a B.A. in English Literature. Bill and his husband Joe (now a Realtor after a career in banking) live in Tampa’s Riverside Heights neighborhood with their Cocker Spaniel, Latte. When not working they enjoy their mid-century ranch home, gardening, and travel.

Lisa Ortiz-Rodriguez

Associate Broker | New York, NY

Diversity Committee & Community Relations Committee

Lisa Ortiz-Rodriguez is the founder and owner of Ortiz Rodriguez International and brings more than 20 years of legal and real estate experience to the table. Following a successful career in the legal field, in 2003 she decided to bring her skills to the world of Real Estate.

Lisa is dual licensed in New York and New Jersey and is an Associate Broker with KW New York City and the Broker of Record with KW City Views. Lisa is also a skilled real estate investor; her clients have benefitted from her experiences as a strong advocate and negotiator.

This commitment to her client’s real estate goals has afforded her numerous industry awards. Lisa proudly serves on the ALC, the KW Rainbow Network Leadership Council, she is the President of the NYC Chapter of NAGLREP, a part of KW Industry Leaders and is an investor in two KW market centers. Lisa has also been honored by being named a Keller Williams Cultural Ambassador.

When Lisa isn’t helping her clients with their real estate goals, she’s committed to giving back to the community and supports effective and civic-minded organizations like Make- A-Wish Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Habitat for Humanity. Lisa’s other passions include playing the piano, traveling, skydiving, zip lining, scuba diving, swimming, horseback riding, salsa and flamenco dancing and investing in real estate.

Scott Wesley Bryant

Associate Broker | Scottsdale, AZ

Growth Committee

Brandon Beston

Associate Broker | Denver, CO

Diversity Committee & Community Relations Committee

Legacy Leadership

MARK BENSON

REALTOR® | Naples, FL
GROWTH & MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
INDUSTRY RELATIONS COMMITTEE
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE
Years Active: 2004-2022

CHRISTOPHER BROUGHTON

Associate Broker | Albany, NY
INDUSTRY RELATIONS COMMITTEE
GROWTH & MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE
Years Active: 2007-2022

Dave Gervase

Principal | Fort Lauderdale, FL
Networking & Social Committee
Industry Relations Committee
YEARS ACTIVE: 2004-2021

Bill Knecht

Real Estate Broker | Tampa, FL
Networking & Social Committee
YEARS ACTIVE: 2004-2020

ROB MILLS

Real Estate Broker | San francisco, CA
Networking & Social Committee
YEARS ACTIVE: 2004-2019

DYLAN DUCKWORTH


TEAM LEADER | TWIN CITIES, MN

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE

YEARS ACTIVE: 2020-2023

ERIC VAZQUEZ


ASSOCIATE BROKER | MIDDLETOWN, NY

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE DIVERSITY COMMITTEE


YEARS ACTIVE: 2012-2023

Proud PARTNERS

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