On Wednesday, Gov. Ned Lamont proclaimed March 27 “William Lavis Day” in Connecticut, and the brokerage celebrated its 50th anniversary with a memorable anniversary celebration.
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William Raveis Real Estate celebrated its 50th anniversary Wednesday with a lavish birthday bash for nearly 1,500 people and a proclamation from Connecticut’s governor recognizing the company’s presence in the state since 1974.
Governor Ned Lamont officially proclaimed March 27 as “William Lavis Day” in Connecticut to honor the company’s 50 years of service.
“The governor’s announcement is a testament to all of William Raveis’ dedicated salespeople, managers and employees,” the company’s proud founder, Bill Raveis, said in a statement to Inman. “Having helped millions of homeowners for fifty years is incredibly rewarding. Giving back to our communities and contributing to the economy is the right thing to do.”
Bill Lavis addressed the crowd Wednesday.Photo: AJ Canaria Creative Services
William Raveis Real Estate was founded by the 27-year-old Raveis in 1974 in an office above a grocery store in Raveis’ hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut.
Over the next 50 years, the company grew to 140 offices in nine East Coast states and more than 4,500 agents. Bill Raveis remains chairman of the company, while his sons Chris and Ryan Raveis serve as co-presidents.
Over time, the company also expanded to offer mortgages and insurance in addition to traditional brokerage services.
The firm was named a Top Brokerage Firm by Inman in 2023, a Top 100 Global Brokerage Firm by Luxury Portfolio International, and recognized by RealTrends as the #1 independent brokerage firm in the Northeast, Florida and South Carolina.
The brokerage celebrated its 50th anniversary milestone this week at its annual convention, which drew nearly 1,500 attendees to Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. The event features business training sessions, industry keynote speakers including Amy Jo Martin and Tom Ferry, and entertainment including “Raveis the Musical,” Decadia Band and singer-songwriter Mike DelGuidice.
“We always do our best for our agents and our team, but this year is going to be exciting,” Lavis said.
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