SARATOGA, CA – Alain Pinel Realtors (APR), the largest privately-owned residential real estate company in California, has named Dr. Bard Williams as their new Vice President of Training. Williams has a long history of creating, managing, and delivering successful, visionary professional development programs along with experience in marketing and sales for some of the largest technology companies in the world.
Williams began his career as a teacher while simultaneously developing sales and communication skills selling residential real estate. After more than 10 years as a professional educator and earning a doctorate from the University of Georgia, Williams was recruited by Apple to manage relationships with leaders in government and education, creating programs to help educators and administrators learn to teach with technology. Williams was later promoted to senior management where he managed marketing and training teams. Williams left Apple to start a successful education and technology marketing company, Techthree, working with companies including Adobe, Palm, and Hewlett-Packard, along with several universities. Just prior to joining APR, Williams spent five years as Director of Marketing at TiVo where he managed marketing relationships with key partners such as Netflix and Comcast, supported retail marketing worldwide, and managed a team of field trainers. Williams has published more than 14 books, mainly on the topic of teaching with technology.
“Bard’s background as an educator coupled with his expertise in teaching with technology makes him a valuable addition to the APR team,” said Rainy Hake, COO and Executive Vice President. “His visionary professional development programs will bolster and strengthen our ever-evolving technical, sales, and career development training – an already robust curriculum that sets our agents apart as the most educated in the field.”
Hake, the youngest COO of the top real estate companies in the nation, has also recently brought in new Vice Presidents of both Marketing and Technology to steer APR’s notable brand. In 2014, Hake hired Tom Flanagan from Rhode Island’s Residential Properties Ltd to oversee the firm’s changing technology, and earlier this year brought in Heidi Ditloff from Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate in New Jersey to apply her strategic insight and leadership to APR’s award-winning marketing.
"APR has a strong brand with a clear vision. I welcome the challenge to take an already excellent training and development program to the next level,” said Williams. “A demonstrated commitment to innovation coupled with bright, motivated agents and staff made this an easy decision. I look forward to helping the entire APR team continue on their learning journey with a keen eye on innovation and continuous improvement in their already exemplary customer service."
About Alain Pinel Realtors
Alain Pinel Realtors (APR) is the fifth largest residential real estate firm in the United States and the largest privately-owned residential real estate company in California based on its closed sales volume. The firm has 1,400 agents in more than 30 offices throughout Northern California. Celebrating a quarter century in Bay Area real estate, APR was founded in 1990 by CEO and President Paul L. Hulme, and is based in Saratoga, California. Visit us at apr.com, china.apr.com, facebook.com/AlainPinelRealtors, and @AlainPinel.