Mike Prodehl

Prodehl grew his Coldwell Banker franchise into a regional powerhouse through tactical mergers, agent training programs and aggressive recruiting.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group is now among the top 50 real estate brokerages in the country by transaction volume, closing more than $4.42 billion in transactions in 2024, according to Real Trends. The company’s business is spread out over Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan. 

It’s one of the largest Coldwell Banker affiliates in the nation, overseeing 68 offices and roughly 1,600 agents across the four states.

A second-generation broker, Prodehl grew up in the business his father entered in 1971 and later purchased in 1984. Despite initially planning an architectural career, he earned his real estate license at 21 and spent eight years selling homes, eventually becoming one of the company’s top producers.

Prodehl moved into management at Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group in 1997 as director of operations, then executive vice president. Prodehl steered the company through major acquisitions of nearby Coldwell Banker affiliates and other brokerages, building the company into the multi-state player it is now.

He became president and CEO in 2012. The company has diversified over the last couple decades, getting into commercial sales, property management, and mortgage and title services. Prodehl, 54, lives in Homer Glen and co-owns the company with his three sisters.

— Caleb McCullough