By Ryan Miller
AbbittRealty.com
Abbitt Realty has office locations in Gloucester, Hampton, Newport News and Williamsburg
Founded: 1946
Employees: 200
For over seven decades, the locally-based Abbitt Realty has assisted families in their search for their home on the Peninsula and Southside in addition to providing services in financing and property management. Its first office opened in Newport News in 1946 when Meredith “Monk” Abbitt wanted to help in providing homes for families with a company that conducted its business with the values of integrity, honesty and knowledge. With a workforce devised of realtors, brokers and sales associates as well as an administrative and marketing staff, employees have often found their vocation with Abbitt Realty as a result of its family values advocated by management and ownership, comfort with colleagues and numerous incentives for career advancement for agents and other personnel.
“Real estate is definitely a people business, so when you have a good working environment like we do here, it permeates out to the public,” remarks Michael Gleason, the managing broker for Abbitt Realty’s Williamsburg office, who has worked with the company for a combined six years. “The company takes care of their agents, which in turn allows us to take care of our clients,” says Angela Stellute Ballard, director of recruiting for Abbitt Realty.
The real estate business credits its own company adage, The Abbitt Advantage, for retaining professionals for the duration of their careers by creating a more simple, paperless office, devoid of franchise fees, while providing timely commissions, ample opportunities for training, extensive access to marketing materials and convenient office locations.
The company’s work culture is characterized by its accessibility to management through direct interaction on an individual level, including with President Charles W. Wornom and the Abbitt family, Carolyn Abbitt and her sons Matthew and Stephen. Gleason refers to the quarterly chairman’s circle meetings as an advantageous approach for engaging real estate agents within the company, where some of the less experienced and new agents are able to learn more firsthand from the guidance and direction of primaries and upper management.
“I can’t say enough about the honesty, integrity and sound business policies of this real estate organization,” exclaims Gleason. Consistently the company rapport between employees is built upon through involvement during company outings, team building exercises at work and the demonstration of its core values through the various capacities, whether that’s serving its clients individually or the community as a whole.
Work Perks
- Comprehensive benefits, including legal expense insurance
- Continuous training and coaching opportunities
- Fun team building activities
- Company outings and activities, including luncheons, office potlucks, oyster roast at Gloucester office, after-work socials with business partners Old Virginia Mortgage and Movement Mortgage
- Opportunities for community involvement with local nonprofit organizations
Why I Love My Job
“There’s always someone here to offer a helping hand or give you advice … there’s no question that the family feel and the culture and environment is what keeps me here.”
—Angela Stellute Ballard, Sales Associate and Director of Recruiting, seven years with Abbitt Realty
