Whitetail Properties is all about serving its clients. Our core values, dedication to being the highest level of experts, and commitment to serving at the highest level are the focus for us. Additionally, our focus is on serving buyers and sellers in the best possible way. That includes performing at the highest levels.
While not focused on awards, Whitetail Properties’ recent incredible success supports the effort we invest into clients, their interests, and their goals. Of course, with more than 70 Whitetail Properties Land Specialists recently receiving major awards, that acknowledges our hard work and expertise in the real estate space.
Seventy-one Land Specialists with Whitetail Properties were recently recognized at the RLI APEX Production Awards Program, sponsored by The Land Report. Each was recognized by RLI CEO Aubrie Kobernus, MBA, RCE, as well as The Land Report’s Co-founders Eddie Lee Rider Jr. and Eric O’Keefe. The special awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, during RLI’s 2025 National Land Conference in Tucson, Arizona. The recipients are reworded for outstanding achievement in service and sales in 2024.
“The APEX Awards program, sponsored by The Land Report Magazine, was designed to showcase the breadth and depth of the land real estate industry,” Kobernus said. “It gives national recognition to all APEX Producer Club members as well as the regional and national winners. It is a commendation coming from outside their brokerage showcasing the agent’s expertise. The APEX Awards program showcases various land types, gives year-over-year data of changes in each sector, and gives national recognition to participants that they can in turn use in their local markets.”
“Whitetail Properties is one of the largest land brokerages in the country,” Kobernus said. “We are thrilled that RLI’ s LANDU education and the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) Designation are core components of Whitetail Properties’ dedication to education and expertise. Together, we make the land industry stronger.”
The APEX Awards Program celebrated its eighth year by welcoming 255 applicants totaling a combined $8.9-plus billion in qualifying transaction volume, 9,255 transaction sides, and over 1.2 million acres sold. All land professionals recognized as part of the RLI APEX Awards Program are active members of RLI.
Paul Vaicunas, a Whitetail Properties Land Specialist in New York, won the Apex 2024 Wrangler Award. Which is one of the top awards going to the RLI member with the largest number of closed transaction sides during the year.
Twelve team members with Whitetail Properties, a new record from a single brokerage, were honored as 2024 Regional Brokers of the Year, including Paul Vaicunas (New York), Dustin Prievo (Pennsylvania), Josh Ongley (Pennsylvania), Brian Utecht (Missouri), Mitch Keeley (Kansas), Adam Hann (Kansas), Zach Holt (Indiana), Chris Garza (Michigan), Justin Mason (Kentucky and Illinois), Mark Williams (Kentucky and Illinois), Jack Brown (Maryland and Pennsylvania), and Bob Stalberger (Minnesota and Wisconsin).
Incredibly, 58 Whitetail Properties Land Specialists were named to the Apex 2024 Producers Club, meaning they had at least $5 million of qualifying dollar production volume in closed land sales. Without question, there is a sense of pride and accomplishment to be recognized at this level. You can view each of those winners here.
“The sense of pride we feel attending the national land conference as Whitetail Properties Land Specialists is humbling and truly incredible. The level of recognition our brokerage received for the consistent hard work and accomplishment compared to other land companies is just phenomenal,” Brian W. Utecht, Missouri Whitetail Properties Land Specialist said. “It just tells me how great our training is at the corporate office, how great our brokers’ assistants are, how great our marketing department is and how great our team as a whole is at Whitetail Properties.”
Jerrod Meyer, a Whitetail Properties Land Specialist and ALC in Colorado and New Mexico, says attending the RLI National Land Conference was a game-changer for his career. The high-caliber speakers, engaging breakout sessions, and other moments were filled with valuable insights and tools he immediately put into practice.
“The networking opportunities are phenomenal, as I connect with top professionals and continue to form relationships that lead to new business opportunities and valuable partnerships,” Meyer said. “The conference provides unparalleled access to the latest trends, technology, and best practices in the industry.
“It was incredible to see Whitetail Properties dominate nearly every single category at the Apex Awards,” Meyer continued. “It got to the point where it was almost awkward hearing our agents winning award after award in so many categories. If there was ever any doubt on who the best is, it was made perfectly clear that night.”
Utecht says attending the national land conference is like the Super Bowl of the land business. He says it’s a time to reflect on the past year and build on excitement for the current year. Working with some of the best land experts in the business makes it even sweeter. As great as the awards are, it’s the overall commitment to being the most qualified and serving buyers and sellers at the highest level that’s the real takeaway.
“Getting your Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) certification sets you apart,” Utecht said. “It’s very hard to attain, so it shows your dedication to the land business. What you learn in the process of getting your ALC will improve your land sales knowledge and expertise and grow your sphere of influence.”
This event holds significant value, and it means a lot to the land industry. Whitetail Properties expresses commitment to the ALC designation, and belonging to RLI means a lot to our organization. Of course, being an ALC is something every agent in the land business should strive to become.”
At the end of the day, it’s about our commitment to excellence and better serving clients. Ultimately, our priority is representing land sales at the highest level with integrity and professionalism.
