In a year of historic regulatory shifts, Michelle Feola was the steady hand guiding Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago through a new era of transparency. Feola was integral in overseeing the shift in how agents discuss commissions with consumers, guiding the company’s response to landmark commission litigation, making Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago one of the first brokerages to move away from automatic offers of cooperative compensation. She meticulously updated all consumer agreements to be more explanatory and consumer-friendly, ensuring both agents and clients could navigate negotiations with absolute clarity.
Beyond contract reform, Feola championed industry-wide fair housing initiatives, collaborating with the Chicago Housing Authority to host webinars that educated brokers on housing choice vouchers and consumer rights. A former Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney with over two decades of legal experience, Feola has become an essential educator for the firm’s agents, emphasizing that transparency is a tool for demonstrating professional worth.
“I find collaboratively working with our firm’s leadership and educating brokers about current and developing issues enormously important and satisfying,” she says.
Her work in 2025 has solidified Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago’s reputation for integrity, ensuring its agents lead with an ownership mindset while upholding the highest standards of client representation.
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