Our Chicago Awards Breakfast ended with a surprise promotion this morning. Senior regional manager and sales trainer Courtney Dies earned partner after an impressive five years with The Connor Group.
Courtney has been an integral part of our training department, helping support our Chicago, Nashville and Minneapolis markets. She’s also teaching bootcamps at our central office, helping set our newest associates up for success.
Partner and regional head Brad Dykes describes Courtney as a super-relator who is relentless in developing our people.
“I know with her passion and commitment, she’ll continue to make our organization better by making our team a group of elite operators,” Brad said.
Courtney first joined us in 2016 in Nashville, working at Elliston 23 under partner and CEO Bob Lloyd’s leadership. He invested time working with Courtney, who came from a retail background and initially struggled to adjust to a new career.
“She spoke in generalities, had the retail/corporate-speak and we were absolutely not culturally aligned,” Bob said. “But I saw something in Courtney. She had great potential.”
Over her career with us, Courtney has grown into a cultural icon. She was sent to Chicago to help rebuild the market and brought the right mindset to make it happen. She led by example, creating buy-in and fixing a culture that had been broken. With her grit and determination, she quickly made an impact on our people.
WATCH: New partner Courtney Dies
“I knew Courtney was the right cultural fit for us for the long-term during the Take the Island awards breakfast,” Bob said. “She had ascended into a leader in the Chicago market, but not by her title. It was by leading by example and setting the right expectations and standards. She had earned the respect of her team.”
You’ll often find Courtney rolling up her sleeves, doing whatever is asked. She jumped in to help on several occasions in Minneapolis when the market was short-handed and in Nashville as the market took on two new acquisitions last year. And she’s constantly thinking of ways we can improve.
“You’re always thinking for the long-term,” partner and director of manager and sales training Ashley Smith said. “Sometimes I tell you you are overthinking, but you do that to absolutely make sure you are doing the right thing for your people because people for you is absolutely No. 1.”
Courtney’s husband and four daughters surprised her as part of her partner promotion this morning. She says the experience is one she won’t soon forget.
“It was awesome. I’m having trouble finding the words to describe just how exciting this is,” Courtney said. “I love what I do, so this is just the cherry on top.”
Congratulations, Courtney!