Forty-one years at the Ebby Halliday Companies has earned Carolyn Rosson a lot of things. But it’s her leadership, tenacity, and hard work that made her the obvious choice as President of Brokerage for the brand.
Rosson, who was most recently a Senior Vice President at Ebby Halliday, also co-leads the firm’s successful Southlake office. In her new title, Rosson will lead the day-to-day operations of the Ebby Halliday Companies, which include the namesake brokerage, Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate, and Williams Trew Real Estate.
This announcement comes with news that Ebby Halliday Companies CEO Chris Kelly will also take on the title of Executive Vice President for HomeServices of America, the parent company of the Ebby Halliday Companies. Malinda Howell will be the firm’s sole Senior Vice President of Brokerage and will oversee the 35 offices of the Ebby Halliday Companies.
“I’m honored to lead our teams at the Ebby Halliday Companies and to work even more closely with our talented management team, sales associates, and employees at all our brands to better serve our clients and our communities,” said Rosson.
The shift means that Kelly, who was named CEO of the Ebby Halliday Companies after the organization was purchased by Warren Buffett’s real estate arm of Berkshire Hathaway, will still be a part of the Ebby organization. Kelly will continue to lead the company, keeping his focus on growing the brand’s footprint in Texas, Oklahoma, and beyond.
“Carolyn absolutely lives our mission of People First in all that she does,” Kelly said. “As I take on additional duties for HomeServices, I am confident that Carolyn, along with our executive leadership team, will continue to innovate and thrive in the years ahead.”
It’s a huge milestone for Rosson, who began her career at the firm. Rosson shared her excitement for the new title and her journey to this point:
It has been an amazing journey literally growing up in this extraordinary company. I began my career with the Ebby Halliday Companies in my 20s. At that time Ebby was a mere 69 years young! When Ebby signed my copy of her book, she asked me what she should write. I said, ‘Well Ebby, I don’t know but I will tell you that you raised me from a baby. She wrote in my book: ‘Carolyn, I raised you from a baby and I love you very much.’ A copy of the book cover and her note is framed and in my office as we speak.
The dress code for females back then was simple and specific ~ no pants. Dresses or skirts only and always pantyhose. One of our offices even had a denim wrap-around skirt at the back entrance so that if a woman came in ‘inappropriately’ dressed she could throw on that skirt.
Ebby called me one day as I had just begun my new role as Sales Leader of the Irving/Las Colinas office. I was 29 years old and most of my successful agents were in their 60s. The call went like this: “Honey, your listing inventory is very low. What are you going to do about it.” Thank goodness I was fast on my feet and responded, “Well, Ebby, that’s a great question ~ What would you do?” She responded with, “I’d have a listing contest.” Needless to say, I began a listing contest very quickly.
One evening my home phone rang (yes, we had landlines at home in those days) and it was Ebby. My husband, Barney, answered and when he found out it was Ebby ~ he covered the mouthpiece and said, “Honey, it’s Ebby!” When I said, “Good evening, Ebby,” she said, “Honey, I am preparing for our photo tomorrow with the Las Colinas Symphony publication and want to know what you’ll be wearing.” (Yes, she was asking me what I’d be wearing!) I told her I’d be wearing a black suit which went without saying, would be a suit with a skirt, not pants, pantyhose, and closed toe shoes! I still laugh about that phone call today.
Congratulations, Carolyn!
