This list brings together real estate professionals serving clients across Florida. The reason for bringing them together is simple: a home is often the largest financial decision a person will make, and it frequently comes during a significant season of change, a relocation, retirement, divorce, or fresh start after a setback. In those moments, the person on the other end of the phone can matter just as much as the property itself. Trust is what makes the difference.
Each of these professionals has earned that trust differently. One answers calls as late as 10 p.m., seven days a week. Another visits second homeowners’ properties every week, giving them greater peace of mind during hurricane season. One reaches out directly to owners of homes that have never been listed, believing it can create better opportunities for buyers. Another is willing to tell a client plainly when it may not be the right time to move. And one takes the time to understand a client as a person before discussing a single property.
Their experience ranges from six years to half a century. Several have also contributed to the industry beyond their own transactions, leading local and state associations, coaching professionals across the country, or building and selling their own firms. One has helped two and three generations of the same families buy and sell homes.
What connects them is not a particular strategy, but a consistent way of working. They listen first and tell clients what they need to hear, not simply what they want to hear. They refuse to sugarcoat the market or a property’s condition. They stay calm, look for red flags, and work to ensure their clients do not overpay. Most importantly, they treat clients like family. One client captured that relationship perfectly: “You are family, and there is nothing you can do about it.”
Russ Boyce: Serving Clients and the Industry for Nearly Four Decades
Russ Boyce bought his first home in 1986 and enjoyed the process enough to make a career of it. More than 38 years later, he is still a REALTOR, affiliated with REMAX One in Maryland, Virginia, and DC, and with REMAX Alliance Group in Florida.
Education has been a steady thread in his career. He graduated from the Maryland Realtors' Leadership Academy in 2008 and the National Association of Realtors Leadership Academy in 2012, and he was published in the book "Leaders and Legends" in 2010.
Russ has also spent a lot of time serving the industry itself. He was president of the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors in 2009, joined the Maryland Executive Committee in 2010, was elected to state leadership in 2011, and served as Maryland president in 2014. He has been an NAR director for seven years, chaired the NAR Leadership Academy in 2020, and served as NAR Region 3 vice president in 2022. In 2024, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
He says he enjoys helping others raise their awareness and reach higher goals, and he tries to lead by example.
With clients, the work is personal. He has sold homes to two and three generations of the same families. One repeat client told him, "You are family and there is nothing you can do about it."
While still active in the Maryland, Virginia, and DC area, Russ has launched his career in Southwest Florida, his second home for the past 20 years. Away from work, he spends time with family, including 10 grandchildren.
Ray Cassano: Half a Century of Real Estate and a Phone That Still Rings at Night
Ray Cassano runs a boutique real estate operation out of Clearwater, Florida, and if you call him at ten at night, he will probably answer. That is simply how he works. Born in Manhattan, he moved to Florida from Illinois in 1983 and has since earned the Realtor Emeritus designation, held by about 90 of the 25,000 realtors in the Suncoast Tampa area.
His agency, Station Square Realty, is small by design. "We are a boutique operation, which makes us treat our clients like family," he says. "When you deal with us, you get experienced brokers." There is no call center and no junior associate. Clients work directly with Ray and his wife Assunta, a Broker Associate in the agency.
His work spans commercial, residential, and multi family properties, and his construction background sets him apart. "I developed two major buildings, so we know a lot about construction to aid our clients," he explains. He also served six years on Clearwater's Downtown Development Board and recently became a licensed mortgage loan officer representing 74 lenders.
What he points to most is availability. "We communicate and call back seven days a week until eleven at night," he says. Named a Top 1% Realtor in 2019 and 2023, Ray treats every client the same.
Stacie Leverette: Three Decades of Putting People Before the Sale
Stacie Leverette has built her real estate career on one foundation: trust. She started as a receptionist at a boutique firm on Longboat Key, Florida, and has worked in the industry since 1993, spending more than 20 years with Keller Williams Realty. Through her Hometown Team brand, she specializes in luxury, waterfront, and generational properties across Manatee and Sarasota Counties. "I believe real estate isn't just about properties," she said. "It's about people and earning their trust."
That trust is built before any contract. Stacie listens first, asks thoughtful questions, and helps clients gain clarity before they make a move. Much of her business comes from referrals and her own network.
Her work reaches beyond her local market. For nearly 20 years, she has served as an Executive Leadership Coach with KW MAPS Coaching, mentoring professionals across the country. "The same skills I use in coaching are the same ones I bring to every client," she said.
Clients describe her as calm, direct, and honest, someone who will tell them what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. In 2017, she was named the first MAPS Leadership Coach of the Year, and in 2023, KW MAPS established an award in her name. For Stacie, the numbers were never the point. The people always were.
Ken Brant: Decades of Expertise, Driven by Integrity
- Michigan, Florida & Georgia -
With over 20 years of proven success across multiple states, Ken Brant is more than a real estate professional—he is a dedicated advocate for his clients. His career is built on a foundation of upfront honesty, deep industry knowledge, and an unwavering belief that real estate is always about people first and transactions second.
Ken’s journey reflects a lifetime of entrepreneurship and market mastery. He launched his career at Coldwell Banker in 2005, transitioned into office ownership just a year later, and went on to build, scale, and successfully sell his own independent firm, Brant & Associates Real Estate, twice. In 2022, he aligned his talents with Keller Williams Realty, bringing his extensive background to a premier global network.
While Ken initially built his powerhouse business in Fenton, Michigan, he has spent the last few years successfully expanding his relationships and operations into Citrus County, Florida, and Canton, Georgia. By actively maintaining his strong roots in Michigan while serving clients across the Southeast, Ken possesses a rare, tri-state market perspective that gives his clients a distinct competitive edge.
Ken credits his enduring success to the foundational support of family and the loyal, hardworking agents who have walked alongside him throughout his journey. He firmly believes that integrity and trust must be earned, which is why he refuses to sugarcoat the truth, whether he is assessing a volatile market, evaluating a home's true condition, or advising a client that it might not be the right time to move.
When you partner with Ken Brant and his crew, you are choosing a trusted advisor who values your long-term success above all else.
Need Help Selling or Buying? Contact: Ken@thehouse4you.com
(Keller Williams Elite, 105 W. Main St, Inverness FL 34450. Google: Ken Brant - KWRealtor
Lori Kass: An Agent Who Knows What Starting Over Feels Like
Lori Kass Kass is a Broker Associate at Coconut Properties FL Real Estate in Cocoa Beach, Florida, with more than 23 years in the business. What stands out about her is not the length of her career but how she treats each client. She sees real estate as a relationship, not a transaction, and she understands that every person who comes to her is facing a major life decision.
Before a home goes on the market, Lori coordinates repairs and touch-ups herself so it is ready for buyers. She also runs Beachtown Concierge, visiting second homeowners' properties weekly to keep them secure, an idea born from listening to what her clients actually worried about during hurricane season.
Most of her clients are relocating to the Space Coast, often from colder places. Lori relates to that feeling. "I have picked up and moved to new places my whole life," she explained. "I care for my clients and want their experience to be successful."
Her own path included raising two daughters in Chile, returning to Colorado as a single mother, and losing her home in the 2008 recession before rebuilding. Today she ranks among the top 200 Realtors in Brevard County. "I lead with integrity, care, and loyalty," she said.
Nicole Saunches: Looking at the Whole Picture Behind Every Purchase
For Nicole Saunches, real estate has never been only about property. She is a real estate advisor based in St. Petersburg, Florida, working with Coastal Properties Group International and leading her own brand, Selling St. Pete, which now includes a podcast and educational content. "I'm not just guiding clients through transactions," she says. "I'm guiding them through wealth decisions."
Before real estate, Nicole spent nearly twenty years in sports communications and public relations, working with organizations like the Atlanta Braves and the U.S. Olympic Committee. That work taught her to read a situation beyond what is immediately visible, and she brings the same attention to her clients today.
Her approach follows the Ninja Selling philosophy, which values relationships over volume. Many of her clients come to her during seasons of change, and she understands these are emotional moments as much as financial ones. In 2016, she helped a client buy a modest home for $121,500 after bankruptcy. Eight years later, she advised approaching developers directly, and the property sold for $492,500.
Nicole is also known for staying with difficult deals, including a former convent that nearly fell through over a plumbing issue days before closing. She is now preparing an investor education program because she believes people make better decisions when they understand their options.
Lee Brewer: A Sarasota Native Who Keeps a Clear Head
Lee Brewer is a real estate professional with RE/MAX Alliance Group in Sarasota, Florida, where he was born and raised. That local background gives him a perspective that cannot be picked up on a weekend tour. He knows the neighborhoods, the history, and the small differences between one street and the next. For Lee, the work is not about chasing numbers. It is about treating people right and making sure they get a fair deal.
"I work for my clients and treat them like family," he explained. "I would say I'm the unemotional side for them. I always try to make sure they don't overpay." In a market where decisions can be rushed, he sees his job as staying calm and protecting his clients' interests.
One thing that sets Lee apart is his ability to find homes that are not listed. He reaches out directly to owners through targeted mailings to properties that match what his clients want. "Often this results in better deals," he said.
His record reflects steady work. He has earned the Pinnacle Club designation twice, the highest at RE/MAX, and reached Diamond status every year for the past decade. Outside of work, his faith grounds him. For buyers and sellers who want someone level-headed in their corner, Lee is worth a conversation.
Dean Miller: Patient, Steady Help for Buyers Facing the Unknown
Dean Miller has spent more than 21 years helping people buy and sell homes across Northeast Florida. Based on Amelia Island with Century 21 Miller Elite, he has built a reputation for steady, reliable service in a market where uncertainty can easily overwhelm buyers and sellers. For Dean, the work has never been about quick transactions. It has always been about trust and clear communication.
The region draws military families, retirees, corporate relocations, and first-time buyers, and Dean has seen nearly every situation a client can face. "My goal is to eliminate surprises, reduce risk, and keep the process smooth from contract to closing," he explained. Much of his work involves clients in unfamiliar territory, often on tight timelines. With his experience, he helps spot red flags and opportunities early so they can decide with confidence.
His credentials run deep. He is a Certified Residential Specialist and a Military Relocation Professional, served as president of his local Realtors association in 2010 and 2015, and was named Realtor of the Year in 2007. He describes his style as low-pressure and systematic.
Outside of real estate, Dean coaches youth sports and volunteers with causes including Habitat for Humanity and K9s For Warriors. After 21 years, he still works the same way: one client at a time.
Brian Carboy: Bringing a Lifetime of Service to Real Estate
Trust is hard to build and easy to lose, which is why it matters so much when someone is buying or selling a home. Brian Carboy comes to real estate with a background that shaped how he treats people. Before his six years in the field, he spent more than thirty years in hospitality, where good service was the whole job.
"I have a strong foundation built from over 30 years in hospitality, committed to delivering exceptional service and giving back to my community," he said. "The same approach is delivered in real estate."
That history shows in how Brian works. He takes time to know the people sitting across from him before talking about properties. His approach is personal, with one-to-one attention shaped around what each client actually needs rather than a standard script.
He also holds a specialization in Divorce Real Estate Collaboration, which makes him a steady resource during transactions that tend to carry weight beyond the paperwork. "I like to get to know the people I am working with to deliver the perfect product," he said.
Brian works across houses, manufactured homes, condos, townhouses, and lots or land. He studied American Literature at Hofstra University, earning his B.S. there.
His work rests on something simple. Pay attention, stay present, and treat each client as their own person.
Summary
Some of these professionals have been in real estate for nearly four decades. One has been doing it for more than fifty years. Another has been licensed for six years after spending more than three decades in hospitality. One built his own firm, sold it twice, and now works across Michigan, Florida, and Georgia. Across their careers, they have guided clients through military relocations, retirements, first-time purchases, divorces, hurricane seasons, and at least one fresh start following bankruptcy. Experience alone, however, is not what sets them apart. It is how they put that experience to work for the people they serve.
In a market where decisions can feel rushed, and the stakes are high, that matters. Clients may be arriving from colder climates, unfamiliar with the area, and working against tight timelines. They need someone who will answer the phone late at night, coordinate repairs before a listing goes live, or check on an empty second home when a storm is approaching. They need someone who can remain objective, help them avoid overpaying, and be honest enough to say when it may not be the right time to move.
The professionals featured here tend to describe their work simply. They listen before they speak. They tell clients what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear, and they refuse to sugarcoat either the market or a property's condition. They work to minimize surprises from contract to closing. One has built a coaching career around many of the same skills she brings to her clients, while another traces his approach to a lifetime spent in service-oriented work.
Ultimately, their values look remarkably similar: patience, honesty, and care that continues beyond the transaction. Several have helped the same families buy or sell homes more than once. As one client put it, the relationship becomes something more lasting: “You are family now.”
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