Lenz “graciously” exits annual Elliman awards competition to get new “Stratosphere Award”

From left: Dolly Lenz, Jacky Teplitzky and Michael Shvo

It’s time to let the other kids have a turn.

Prudential Douglas Elliman’s star broker Dolly Lenz, who has been awarded the company’s top agent prize for the past eight years in a row, has said she will no longer compete for the honor.

Elliman released a statement today stating that Lenz “has graciously agreed to no longer compete for the top sales agent award, allowing other member of the company’s sales force to vie for the top individual prize.”

Instead, starting in 2011 Lenz will receive a newly created “Stratosphere Award” honoring her “unprecedented sales achievement and exemplary contributions to the company.” The award is part of “a new designated class of rankings in which she currently is the sole member,” Elliman said.

“Dolly is in a class by herself and the stratosphere award is formal recognition of her peerless level of achievement,” Dottie Herman, Elliman’s president and CEO, said in a press release.

The release continues with Lenz stating: “It feels like they’re retiring my number, but seriously, I see plenty of talent in this company and I think it’s important that they be given the opportunity to achieve the ultimate recognition for their efforts.” 

But in the past, other Elliman brokers have questioned the legitimacy of Lenz’s dominance at the awards ceremony. People have said that Lenz should not win for top individual sales broker as she doesn’t actually work alone. In 2008, broker Jacky Teplitzky claimed the rules had been changed to give the award to Lenz. And former Elliman broker Michael Shvo claimed that he outperformed Lenz in 2003, but she was given the award anyway, which some say is one reason he left the company.