Mainstreet HQ, Downers Grove – Each year the Mainstreet 20 Under 40 award goes to REALTORS® who are 40 years or younger and have demonstrated industry leadership, community involvement, commitment to advocacy and business success. Everyone stood out to the Selection Committee in their own unique way.
Mainstreet is committed to identifying and developing the real estate leaders of tomorrow. We want to thank all this year’s applicants.
Congratulations to all Class of 2024 Mainstreet 20 Under 40 honorees. Each one of you demonstrates the core values Mainstreet prioritizes: integrity, service, leadership and equity.
Please meet this year’s honorees below:
Tyler Burlison, eXp Realty, LLC, Orland Park - Tyler grew up in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago as well as Crown Point, IN. He played competitive sports, alongside his three brothers, which instilled in him a strong competitive drive that he brings to the table every day for his clients. He is a graduate of Indiana University where he received a BA in Actuarial Science. During college, he worked under Tony Mitidiero and gained an immense amount of industry experience before getting licensed. Soon thereafter, Tyler launched his career as an agent with The Competitive Edge Team at eXp Realty. He services all of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, striving to provide a seamless and well-informed experience for each of his clients.
Stela Dropca, Domin’are, Lemont – Stela is originally from Moldova, where the dream of homeownership is more difficult than most countries with mortgage interest rates beginning at 9%. In a letter of recommendation, the President of Moldova AID cited Stela’s dedication to volunteerism with their organization as, “positive, proactive and adaptable.” As the Broker/Owner of Domin’are, Stela is always focused on helping clients find the home of their dreams. She works with a team of experts to guide buyers and sellers every step of the way, leveraging extensive industry knowledge towards ensuring the best home buying experience for all her clients. Stela takes the stress out of selling homes by providing clients with the best position possible in their preferred market to ultimately sell to the highest bidder.
Moe Duric, Baird and Warner, Schaumburg - Moe approaches his work with genuine passion, treating every client like family. Available around the clock, he tailors his services to all client’s real estate needs. Home buying or home selling is a significant life event and Moe understands the complexities involved. His commitment is to understand client priorities and guide them through the process with personalized care. Client satisfaction is his top priority and he strives to provide the best service, information and results. Beyond real estate, Moe is deeply passionate about helping animals. He has three rescue dogs—Rocky, Hero and Owen—and donates a portion of his commissions to local animal shelters. Using his REALTOR® platform, Moe advocates for animals in need of forever homes.
Jason Gatz, Compass, Hinsdale - Jason is a REALTOR® focused on assisting clients in selling their existing property or helping those ready to make the leap, break up with a landlord and purchase a home. When he is not busy with helping people buy and sell real estate, Jason also is on the Board of Directors at NAHREP DuPage as the Membership Director. Jason enjoys taking time to get to know the needs of his clients and wants to help them find their next home. He also works with a wide range of home loan experts who specialize in finding a mortgage for anyone. Something unique about Jason some people may not know is that he is a dog groomer, further bolstering his connection within his and the surrounding communities of canine enthusiasts.
Michael Glenn, Village Realty, Inc, Frankfort - Having shifted his focus to real estate in 2018, Michael capitalized on his prior licensure as a REALTOR® Broker. His commitment and proficiency have earned him numerous accolades, notably ranking in the Top 1% of all Brokers in the Chicagoland Market. A fervent supporter of Chicago sports teams and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football, he is a dedicated sports enthusiast. With his local insights and unwavering commitment, Michael Glenn is dedicated to guiding clients towards achieving their real estate objectives. Whether buying, selling or renting Michael's fervor and market expertise position him as the optimal partner for navigating the real estate journey.
Jocelyn Hernandez, Results Realty ERA Powered, St. Charles - Meet Jocelyn Hernandez, a seasoned real estate investor, accomplished entrepreneur and a dedicated REALTOR®. With a passion for real estate and a wealth of expertise, Jocelyn offers a comprehensive range of services. She brings over five years of invaluable experience in the real estate industry, making her a trusted and well-connected figure within the field. What sets Jocelyn apart is her multifaceted background. With previous roles as a property manager, studies in architecture and experience as a general contractor assistant, she offers a uniquely holistic perspective.
Angel Kimmel, Realtopia Real Estate Inc, Lockport – Angel is a real estate agent in the Chicago Suburbs, more specifically Lockport. She has been licensed since October 2021 and is a 2023-2024 Mainstreet YPN Committee. Prior to real estate, she worked in foreclosure law for seven years. The experience with foreclosures helped Angel navigate the real estate industry. When not at work, she is passionate about volunteering and being involved in the community. Specifically, joining her local women’s club. It is an amazing group of women who get together to make a difference in their community and make long-lasting connections to people she now calls friends.
Sara Kolpek, Platinum Partners Realtors, Downers Grove - With a background in education, Sara’s passion for teaching others made for a smooth transition. Determination, trustworthiness and creativity are values she demonstrates with all her clients. As a child life revolved around her mother’s career in the real estate industry. Today, she is in a partnership with her mother’s brokerage. Beata, Sara’s mother, has decades of experience and still to this day brings fresh ideas to our marketing and business plans.
Edgar Martinez, RE/MAX Ultimate Professionals, Shorewood - Meet Edgar Martinez, broker with RE/MAX Ultimate Professionals. Edgar’s passion for real estate began when he and his wife bought their first house. It was a hobby that turned into a passion, which has now brought him to today, helping others obtain the American dream of homeownership. Edgar was born, raised and still lives in the Joliet area which helped his clients' real estate needs close to home. He utilizes his expertise and experience to make sure clients check everything off their wish list. As of last year, Edgar now has his PSA (Pricing Strategy Advisor), MRP (Military Relocation Professional), and ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative) and C.2.E.X. (Commitment to Excellence) certifications.
Mike Matariyeh, Keller Williams Preferred Rlty, Orland Park – As a former member of Mainstreet’s YPN Committee, Mike is no stranger to the 20 Under 40 award. He is motivated by his passion of getting anything he starts completed. He currently holds an MBA in management and an MIS degree. Additionally, Mike is licensed in four states: IL, IN, MO and KS. He works within a diverse community and his customer base reaches people from all backgrounds. Speaking of local communities, Mike also volunteers with local mosques and refugee groups to help people find temporary housing while working towards homeownership. Rather than think outside the box, Mike would tell you he wants to build a new box to make it better. Born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, Mike has always had the ability to close the deal.
Melissa Mathis, Wenzel Select Properties, Ltd, Downers Grove - Melissa Mathis is a great example of learning and perfecting real estate from the ground up. Starting as an administrative assistant in 2010, she quickly learned the basics of helping clients buy, sell and rent residential real estate. Melissa has held her real estate broker’s license with Wenzel Select Properties, Ltd. since March 2013 and continues to expand her expertise through continuing education and everyday hands-on experiences. She has completed her Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation class, giving her the upper hand in servicing buyers. Melissa is known by her colleagues and clients as being attentive, supportive, knowledgeable and available. Prior to earning her Real Estate Broker’s license, Melissa attended College of DuPage and focused her studies on social work. Melissa was born and raised in Downers Grove and currently resides in nearby Lisle with her husband, Clinton and two cats, Moto and Fox.
Katerina Pavlova, Pavlova Properties, Countryside - Katerina Pavlova is a dedicated real estate agent, committed to assisting her clients in finding the home of their dreams. She can help people from all over Eastern Europe, speaking five languages fluently: English, Macedonian, Serbian, Bulgarian and Bosnian. Rooted in her extensive knowledge of local communities, both as a real estate agent and a neighbor, she expertly navigates the intricacies of most home marketplaces. Katerina has a global network of contacts, employs state-of-the-art marketing techniques and practices using cutting-edge technology. All these tools and techniques ensures every real estate journey for her clients is both memorable and enjoyable.
Marty Rinehart, Real Broker LLC, Rolling Meadows - Creative, Intentional, Loving, Marty Rinehart began his real estate career in November 2019. He loves people and believes he could serve them in finding opportunities which will lead to future fulfillment and financial status. He is uniquely creative, a very skilled digital marketer, great at math and loves to dance and sing. Marty has consistently preached “collaboration over competition.” He has mastered the art of networking and frequently attends REALTOR® events at the local, state and national level. Marty is a past member of Mainstreet’s YPN Committee and a YPN RPAC 10 for 10 Pledge making a commitment to invest $10,000 to RPAC over the course of 10 years. Holds the RENE, SRS, ABR, PSA and SFR designations.
John Sintich, Keller Williams Preferred Realty, Orland Park - John left a stable career in healthcare after starting real estate as a "side hustle." He quickly learned that to serve his clients properly with their biggest financial decision, he needed to be all-in. John took a gamble one-month after his first daughter was born and quit his job in healthcare to go full-time in real estate. Since then, he's been fortunate enough to land in the top-five solo agents in his office of over 400 agents. He has also been awarded a 2023 Mainstreet Production Award and currently serves as the 2023-2024 Vice-Chair of Mainstreet's YPN Committee.
Yassine Taib, Rhome Property Management, Schaumburg - Yassine Taib, born and raised in Morocco, moved to the US at the age of 13. He began his real estate career in 2016 at 22 years old, after deciding to forgo law school upon his brother's advice to obtain a real estate license. Yassine is particularly proud of becoming the go-to real estate agent for the Moroccan community, helping his fellow countrymen overcome their fears of entering the housing market. His versatile background and fluency in French and Arabic have enabled him to connect with diverse markets and achieve elite status as a real estate expert within the Moroccan community. Yassine specializes in converting renters into homebuyers, managing over 150 units. Additionally, as a board member of the Maghrib Association of North America, he assists immigrants from Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Libya settle in the USA by hosting homebuyer seminars, aiding with rental applications and translating leases. Yassine's dedication to his community and his ability to connect with a broad audience are key factors in his success.
Jacob Tazelaar, RE/MAX Ultimate Professionals, Shorewood – Driven, team-player, humble; Jake started his career in real estate in August of 2021. He chose to start a career in this industry because he has always loved people and have always wanted a career where he can help others. Jake comes from a large family and is the youngest of seven children. His parents recently adopted three his little cousins, as well as his nephew. He is always helping his parents take on the challenge of raising four more kids in what should be their retirement years.
Ashley Toepper, Exclusive Realtors, Peotone - Ashley is a resident of Monee and loves all the amenities available in the wonderful surrounding areas to her family. Her children are all enrolled in local schools and her spouse is involved in the community infrastructure. Ashley has found her home in real estate, helping families just like hers, settle into the area and hit the ground running to take advantage of the community offerings. Her specialty niche is equestrian properties! She always knew growing up that having horses at home was the goal. She takes pride in her wealth of knowledge and resources to not only help my clients during their buying and selling process but also after, in guiding them to have happy, healthy horses at home. When she is not being a mom or spending time on the farm with her horses, Ashley also enjoys creating content on social media as well as exploring music as a hobby.
Erica Williams, @properties Christieís International Real Estate, Arlington Heights - Erica Williams began her real estate career in 2016 while working as a Project Manager for her mother’s wood flooring company. With a degree in Communications from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and experience in Digital Marketing and Project Management, Erica found her passion for helping clients navigate one of the most significant milestones in their lives. She is passionate about building consumer trust in REALTORS®, emphasizing transparency, a "client first" attitude and collaboration with colleagues. She attributes much of her success to her mentor, top agent Mary O'Malley, whose guidance has been invaluable. From teaching Erica how to write her first contract to demonstrating the importance of integrity in business, Mary’s mentorship has shaped Erica's approach to real estate.
Caitlin Wright, @properties Christieís International Real Estate, St. Charles - Caitlin Wright's passion for real estate runs in her blood. With a family deeply rooted in the industry—her grandfather was a loan officer turned appraiser, her aunt in commercial real estate and her mother with nearly 20 years in residential—Caitlin finally took the plunge into real estate herself in 2020, right before the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. Despite the challenging start, Caitlin found it to be the most rewarding rollercoaster ride of her career. One of her proudest achievements is starting a team with her mother aptly named "The Wright Choice," dedicated to providing white glove, 5-star service to every client. Caitlin holds a Bachelor of Science in Textiles, Apparel and Merchandising with a Minor in Marketing from Northern Illinois University. Her commitment to community service is equally impressive; she actively volunteers with Cradles to Crayons in Chicago. Additionally, she contributes to @ Gives Back, an internal philanthropy at @properties, by donating a portion of each commission to support community programs in Chicagoland. Caitlin also collaborates with Habitat for Humanity, helping build homes for those in need.
Latavia Zollicoffer, LZ Real Estate Group LLC, Westchester - Latavia Zollicoffer launched her real estate career in 2018, four years after purchasing her first property. At the age of 33, during the nationwide pandemic, she boldly opened her own brokerage, a testament to her unwavering commitment to real estate. Her dedication is evident in her completion of various certifications and designations, including ABR, SRS, PSA and C2EX. The "L" in LZ Real Estate Group stands for limitless, reflecting her belief in conquering all challenges and striving for boundless achievements. Latavia attributes her success to her upbringing and background in corporate America. Her mother’s achievement of being the first in her family to purchase a home became a wealth-building foundation that inspired Latavia. Beyond real estate, Latavia is a devoted wife and mother of two boys. She enjoys crafting, roller skating and volunteering for the Helping Hands Homeless Foundation in Chicago, where she supports marketing efforts to aid the homeless.