“New” real estate brokerage boasts local stars

Sereno Group formed by former Coldwell Banker CEO

The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal reports that Chris Trapani, the CEO of Coldwell Banker Silicon Valley until last April, intends to open his first office by July 13. The new firm, called the Sereno Group, will occupy the old Alain Pinel offices at 214 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road.

Trapani reports that he has hired thirty agents, including local superstars Lucy Wedemeyer, Carol Jeans and Steve and Christine Perry, and the top-selling Ducky Grabill.

“We’re pretty fortunate to start off with the all-stars,” Trapani says. For example, the founding team includes four of the top fourteen selling agents from Coldwell Banker, which employs 1,400 agents.

“We live in a unique and wonderful area of the world,” says Lucy Wedemeyer, one of those top fourteen agents, “and we need to remember that.”

The idea is to build a strong–Trapani doesn’t say small–a strong, local company.

“People need to know that the management, from top to bottom, is here locally,” explains Trapani. “And we’re accountable.” The Sereno Group will offer “locally-owned, community based” realty.

Trapani grew up in Saratoga and began selling real estate straight out of college in 1990. His grandfather sold real estate in Willow Glen in the 1950s, and Chris has the old “Trapani Realty” sign. One gets the impression that the fact that the new venture is not called Trapani Realty is a statement of policy.

“It’s about people,” Lucy says, echoing Trapani’s enthusiasm for the new team. “So many phenomenal people with their hearts in the right place.”