From left: Dan Forsman, Kathy Connelly, DeAnn Golden and Lori Lane. Photographed by Jacob Allinson
With a record-breaking year in 2021—and on track for an even better one this year—the team and forever family at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties is set to continue the legacy set by Dan Forsman with a brand-new leadership team.
"I’ve never been more proud of these women,” says Dan Forsman, the seasoned and extremely well-respected chairman, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties. “The work they do and continue to do more than impresses me. This is truly why I am so excited about the future. There is not a better and more deserving group than these three.”
After serving for 37 years as the president and CEO of the company, Forsman made the announcement in July that he will be moving into the role as chairman and naming his successor as DeAnn Golden and ushering the brokerage into a new era. “It was an epic year,” says Forsman. “I now find myself in an extraordinary position because of the success of the company and the growth and prosperity our sales associates, employees and leadership team were able to generate.” New leadership advancements include: DeAnn Golden will become president and CEO; Kathy Connelly will serve as COO; Lori Lane will be president of Georgia Properties New Homes Division and Executive Strategists for Luxury Collection and Global Living. In addition, Todd Tucker will become the executive vice president for real estate operations and qualifying broker; and Mary Wargula will step into an expanded role as senior vice president of brokerage offices and regional manager, among other advancements.
Kathy Connelly
Of course, one of the greatest qualities of a good leader is a good succession plan, and Forsman ensures that this decision was not made lightly. “This didn’t happen overnight. In fact, you could say I’ve been preparing for this very day for years, mentoring my team and sharing every single piece of knowledge and skill I’ve gathered over my 37-plus years in this business,” says Forsman. “When I asked DeAnn what makes our company so different from the others, she gave me a simple yet profound answer: ‘We care’—which perfectly encapsulates her leadership style.”
Lori Lane
Golden, who has been with the company since 2004 serving as senior vice president and regional manager, is a second-generation real estate professional who has taken on many roles over the years to prepare herself for this one. “DeAnn is unabashedly authentic and a fierce advocate for transformational change,” says Forsman. “Her passion and experience will allow us to balance nearly six decades as a market leader with fresh perspectives and continued progress.” Says Golden, “I learned early on from my parents, my greatest role models, that you don’t stop believing in your dreams; work hard, and not to let anything steal your zeal for life. The 26-year real estate veteran and second-generation real estate professional was a successful sales associate, trainer, coach, managing broker, regional manager, executive leadership member and 2019 Atlanta REALTORS® Association President. Hailing from Athens, GA, Golden went to Tulane University where she swam at the collegiate level and she holds an MBA from University of Georgia in Real Estate, Strategic Management and Marketing.
Dan Forsman
Her counterpart, Lori Lane, formerly the SVP of Georgia Properties’ New Homes Division and SVP of Luxury Collection, is expanding her roles and taking on more leadership alongside Golden. Over the years, Lane has built and runs the highly successful New Homes Division. Her many clients are some of the most respected builders and developers across Greater Atlanta. Over the years, Lane and her team have created award-winning strategies for the marketing and selling of new construction and have won hundreds of awards for their achievements. It was under her leadership, the award-winning Black and White Luxury Collection campaign was created and launched in 2015. As president of the New Homes Division, she will continue to expand growth and development. “Lori’s visionary mindset allowed for constant innovation and success. Her focus on diversity, inclusion and excellence is unparalleled by her peers,” says Forsman. “I am lucky to have gotten to mentor her for all these years. It is one of my biggest career blessings.”
DeAnn Golden, president and CEO
In addition to Lane, Kathy Connelly joins the leadership team as COO, overseeing the company’s growth in partnerships of mortgage, title, insurance and warranty, while also continuing her role as vice president, relocation and corporate services for BHHS. With over 30 years in the industry, she has earned both her Senior Certified Relocation Professional (SCRP) and Global Mobility Specialist (GMS) designations and is a three-time recipient of the meritorious service award from WERC where she also serves on the board of directors who represent various segments of the global mobility eco-system.
“My role, especially as newly installed chairman, is to be the cheerleader,” says Forsman. “It’s a privilege to be part of their success.” And Forsman’s mission for his new leadership team and company is simple: “grow market share while not forgetting for a moment who we are. We are a fully diversified real estate company, and what others promise, we deliver. When I was contemplating these leadership changes after more than 37 gratifying years with this company, I just thought to myself, ‘I’ve got an amazing team, why not just let them run it?’” The future seems nothing but bright for this new era.
