Chicago Brokerages Shuffle Leadership and Snag Agents

@properties Christie’s International Real Estate is making some changes in its residential brokerage leadership.

Jim Barcelona was tapped to be the executive vice president of brokerage services at the Chicago-based firm, following the retirement of Thomas Downing, @properties said in a press release. Barcelona was previously vice president of brokerage services at the company’s Naperville, St. Charles, Downers Grove and Elmhurst offices. He oversaw $1.3 billion in annual sales volume at those offices, @properties said. @properties was the top ranked brokerage in Chicago in The Real Deal’s 2025 rankings, with $7.85 billion in sales in Cook County.

Barcelona joined @properties in 2018, according to the release. He began his career in commercial brokerage in 1999 before jumping to residential. He worked at Coldwell Banker, where he was a managing broker, from 2013 to 2018, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Taking Barcelona’s place at the suburban offices are two @properties agents. Mike Long is taking over as vice president of brokerage services at the Naperville and Downers Grove offices, while Kevin Rynes will head the Lake Forest and Elmhurst offices.

Long has worked in residential real estate for more than 25 years, according to the release. He joined @properties in its Naperville office in 2020, after moving from Naperville-based John Greene Realty, according to his LinkedIn.

Rynes previously spent two years as @properties’ vice president of agent development, according to the release, and brings over two decades of residential experience that includes managing multiple Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices offices on the North Shore.

Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty also expanded its roster by adding two prominent agents to its North Shore and Northern Suburb offices, the company said in a press release. Elizabeth de Wet joined the firm’s Lake Forest office. She previously held roles at @properties and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services.

Martin Vehlow joined Jameson Sotheby’s Evanston office to serve buyers and sellers throughout Lake County and the northern suburbs. Vehlow is a lifelong Lake County resident and has been selling real estate there since 2019, according to the release. Before joining Jameson Sotheby’s, he was with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Fulton Grace also added a new agent this month. Tiffany Jimenez joined the Chicago-based residential brokerage, Chicago Agent reported.

Jimenez is the 2026 president of the Women’s Council of Realtors’ Chicago chapter, according to the organization’s website. She also serves on the Chicago Association of Realtors’ The 77 Committee, which is focused on diversity in Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods.