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llustration by Lanette Behiry/Adobe StockPlus. ERA Blanchard & Rosetto expands in Connecticut after buying Wallace & Tetreault Realty; Engel & Völkers opens a new Akron, Ohio location.

    Brokerage firms are constantly shifting—mergers, new offices, milestones. Below are recent moves across the U.S.

    **Compass welcomes the Gentry Team (North Carolina)**

    The Gentry Team, led by Mark and Ginger Gentry, has served Pinehurst for 30 + years. With 75 years of combined experience and $1.2 billion in sales—$500 million in the last five years—the team specializes in luxury homes and second‑home buyers. Joining Compass, they aim to grow further, leveraging the company’s tech, support, and nationwide referral network. “Compass’s streamlined tools will elevate our operations and client service,” Mark Gentry said. Compass Regional VP Jeff Polashuk praised the team’s “longstanding leadership” and “consistent sales production,” noting they will strengthen Compass’s regional presence.

    **Douglas Elliman enters the French Alps**

    Elliman is extending its international reach into Chamonix and Morzine’s luxury ski markets. In Mont Blanc, Philippe Curutchet, Fredrik Lilloe, and Edward de Mallet Morgan lead the effort, joined by local experts Matt Edelsten and Andy Symington, each with 20 + years in the area. “Their local expertise and commitment to service make them trusted authorities,” Lilloe said. President & CEO Michael S. Liebowitz expressed pride in bringing Elliman’s luxury mountain‑realty expertise to this iconic destination. The move follows the launch of Elliman International earlier this year and the firm’s expansion into France and Monaco.

    **ERA Blanchard & Rosetto acquires Wallace & Tetreault Realty (Connecticut)**

    The acquisition adds Wallace & Tetreault Realty, founded in 1988, to ERA’s roster. The combined firm now operates two offices with nearly 50 agents, covering most of Connecticut. Current leaders Ben Wallace and Julie Tetreault, who have long collaborated with ERA agents, will remain to guide the transition. “We found a like‑minded partner in ERA to elevate our agents and grow their businesses,” Wallace said.

    **Engel & Völkers opens Akron office (Ohio)**

    The new Akron location, led by License Partner Gary Muravin (technology & operations) and Managing Broker Inna Muravin (20‑year veteran), follows the 2023 Cleveland launch. “This expansion is the next step in delivering an exceptional, people‑first real‑estate experience,” Inna Muravin said. E V Americas President & CEO Stuart Siegel highlighted the brand’s commitment to a refined experience in Northeast Ohio.

    These developments underscore the dynamic nature of the brokerage industry, as firms broaden their geographic footprints, deepen expertise, and harness technology to serve clients better.