Bart Cafarella
President
Realty Connect USA
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Bart Cafarella has made some major strides and forged a strong presence in his field over his 25-plus-year Long Island real estate career as an innovator and visionary, not a follower of the crowd. Becoming a broker at age 19, he has spent his entire profession building not only businesses, but a name for himself as a highly accomplished entrepreneur and manager.
Since 1974, Bart fast emerged as a strong and insightful leader. In 1987 he co-founded his own firm, Carl Burr Realty, which quickly became one of the most successful firms in its territory. Bart next took an impressive leap by bringing REMAX to Long Island, a brokerage he owned from 1988 to 1993. Prior to becoming a partner in and President/Chief Executive Officer of Realty Connect, USA, a new brokerage firm based in Woodbury, NY with offices in Setauket and Hauppauge, Bart spent 16 years at Prudential Douglas Elliman. While there, he created a unique division, Senior Housing Consultants/New Development, with his colleague Fern Karhu, now a Managing Director at Realty Connect, USA, that spearheaded the move to provide Active Adults age 55+ on Long Island with information on housing options. To reinforce and maximize their efforts, the duo also hosted a radio show entitled “Seniors on the Move” that aired for 15 years.
By implementing the most innovative marketing strategies, cutting-edge technology and top-notch professional training at Realty Connect, USA, Bart and his team of four other elite real estate leaders have created an effective business formula designed to dramatically benefit clients with enhanced service, efficiency and results. They have also assembled a premier team of highly-qualified, forward-thinking professionals that boast national knowledge and awareness, yet capably serve their own local communities in the Nassau, Suffolk and Queens marketplace.
John Fitzgerald
Manager & Director of Sales
Realty Connect USA
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John Fitzgerald, a partner in a new Woodbury, NY-based real estate brokerage, Realty Connect, USA, and Managing Director of the firm’s Suffolk County office located in Hauppauge, has spent more than 25 years as a professional realtor and sales leader on Long Island.
Prior to recently forming Realty Connect, USA, which serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties as well as Queens, with four other elite industry leaders, John headed the largest real estate office in Suffolk County as Manager and Associate Broker of Coldwell Banker in Ronkonkoma. He brings a wealth of experience and market knowledge to his latest venture, and is excited to be part of a breakthrough model in real estate that will take the industry by storm, and service to new heights.
Well known and respected within his field, John has gained considerable expertise over the years dealing in various facets of the business. He holds both the Certified Buyer’s Representative (CBR) and Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI) designations, plus is an REO Specialist which qualifies him to deal with bank-owned homes. John is held in particular high regard as an expert in this area of real estate that has taken on an increased sense of urgency and importance during today’s turbulent economic times.
Fern L. Karhu
Executive Vice President
Realty Connect USA
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A Long Island real estate veteran since 1984, Fern Karhu has enjoyed a successful career that began in sales then ascended to the management level in 1989. Now the Executive Vice President heading the Woodbury headquarters and sales office of Realty Connect, USA, a new brokerage which serves the entire Nassau, Suffolk and Queens marketplace, Fern has reached a new and exciting plateau as partner with four others who sit among Long Island’s top tier of real estate leaders.
Prior to embarking on this latest venture, Realty Connect, USA, which is innovative in its thinking, training and business model, yet stellar in the tradition of upholding good old-fashioned quality service, Fern served as Branch Manager and Director of the most successful real estate office in the Prudential Network - Prudential Douglas Elliman in Syosset.
Over the years, Fern has become well known as an active and passionate advocate for senior citizens on Long Island. She, along with long-time colleague Bart Carafella, now President of Realty Connect, USA, have for many years been driving forces in the movement to provide Active Adults with suitable housing options. Their focus on senior housing advocacy inspired them to not only host a radio show entitled, “Seniors on the Move” which aired for 15 years, but resulted in their also becoming noted lecturers and television talk show hosts on the subject.
Raised on Long Island, Fern graduated from Nassau Community College, continued her education at San Diego State University, returned to Long Island and made real estate her lifelong career. She is very active in her field on both the Long Island Board of Realtors and the Long Island Real Estate Group, plus serves on the Board of her condo development where she resides, Woodbury Greens. Fern also serves as Co-President of Friends Assisting Nassau Seniors (FANS), which provides weekend meals on wheels to seniors. She has two grown children and three grandchildren.
Kevin McClarnon
Chairman
Realty Connect USA
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A major force and prominent influence in the Long Island market throughout his illustrious real estate management career of many years, Kevin McClarnon currently serves as Chairman of Realty Connect, USA, a forward-thinking, agent-centered brokerage firm based in Nassau County, with offices in Woodbury and Hauppauge, and an affiliate office in Setauket.
Kevin leads strong team of experienced, innovative real estate professionals who are nationally aware, yet true experts in their local real estate markets. He sees this crucial characteristic as one that will allow Realty Connect, USA to not only successfully meet the current needs of clients, but to anticipate, identify and address future needs, trends and conditions as they arise, to ensure the best possible service and results.
Among Kevin’s many accomplishments in the world of Long Island real estate include his development of National Homefinders Signature Properties, which under his direction grew to become one of New York State’s leading brokerage firms, and was acquired in 2003 by NRT, Incorporated to operate under the Coldwell Banker banner. Kevin also acquired the rights to open, operate and broker the sale of Casa Latino real estate offices throughout metropolitan New York.
Kevin is a highly respected real estate professional among his peers. He is also a strong leader with a rare ability to blend different corporate cultures into a single new vibrant entity, as evidenced by his past achievements and current success with Realty Connect, USA, where he will continue to influence the greater New York real estate market.
Michael Ardolino
Senior Vice President
Realty Connect USA
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Recognized as the top-selling agent in the Long Island/Queens region since 1999, and ranked among the Top 1% in the nation in terms of sales volume, Michael Ardolino has earned and enjoyed a coveted, respected track record of success in his field. Most recently associated with Coldwell Banker in Setauket, he made the move to Realty Connect, USA, a new cutting-edge Woodbury-based brokerage firm with offices in Setauket and Hauppauge, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President at the firm’s Setauket branch.
Excited to be part of building a dynamic new company with four other of the industry’s elite, Michael will continue to be an invaluable asset to his peers as he will an outstanding presence in the Long Island real estate market. He is a sought-after resource who has appeared in interviews on News 12 Long Island television, and a frequent speaker at numerous real estate symposiums. In 2007 and 2008, Michael was named Residential Real Estate Agent of the Year by Long Island Business News, and in 2009, was recognized as a business leader by this same prominent publication as one of the recipients of the “50 Around 50” Award.
Michael continues to be active and involved in all facets of his field as a member of the Greater New York Board of Realtors, the Long Island Board of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, and RELO, a national relocation service. He is also an Accredited Buyer’s Representative, and a founding member of Isucceed.com. In addition, Michael has been honored time and again for his vital role in community service, and his dedication to the Three Village area. Among his accolades is the prestigious Golden Eagle Award he received in 2005 from the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO). Michael sits on numerous boards, including Rotary Club International, the Stony Brook University Medical Center Development Council, and Frank Melville Memorial Park, plus is President of the area Chamber of Commerce. He furthermore gives back as a major sponsor of many local charities, community organizations and youth groups.
