Inside The Agency's Colorado Retreat: How One Vail Valley Weekend United Seven Offices

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-09

### When Seven Offices Meet in the Mountains What happens when you put real estate pros from Aspen, Boulder, Denver, Grand Junction, Steamboat Springs, Telluride, and the brand-new Vail office all in one room? You get a masterclass in collaboration. That's exactly what went down at The Agency Colorado Retreat, held at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Avon. Over two days in September, the focus wasn't on closing deals—it was on building the kind of relationships that make deals happen naturally. ### Setting the Stage for Connection The Vail Valley provided more than just a pretty backdrop. With Vail now officially part of the family, the retreat felt like a homecoming for a network that's been growing steadily across the state. "Bringing our Colorado offices together is a reminder of what makes The Agency special," said Mauricio Umansky, CEO. "Each team brings extraordinary local expertise, and when we share our knowledge, ideas and relationships, we create more opportunities for everyone." Monday night kicked off with drinks and appetizers on the terrace. Tuesday? A full day of programming that mixed mindset work with practical business strategies. ### A Full Day of High-Performance Thinking After breakfast burritos and some serious networking, the ballroom sessions began with opening remarks from Umansky. Jason Binab, Managing Partner of The Agency Victoria, dove into building a high-performance mindset. Then came the "$100M Producer Panel" featuring Chris Paoli (Steamboat Springs), Marybeth Emerson (Boulder), Traci Garontakos (Indianapolis), and Steve Bailey (Canada and Sarasota). Moderated by Jay Hebb (Boulder), the conversation got real about what it takes to hit eight figures. Performance psychologist Dr. Rick Perea delivered the keynote, tying it all together with insights on professional growth. After lunch, Garontakos returned with "The Art of Real Estate," while Heather Stevens (Frisco and Fort Worth) shared strategies for client retention and building a thriving business. ### Marketing, Branding, and a Few Surprises The final panel tackled using The Agency's marketing and branding to grow your business. Moderated by Laura Corrigan, SVP of Marketing and PR, it featured Heather Sinclair (Aspen), Jared Blank (Denver), Elise LoSasso (Denver), and Nicole Montgomery (Steamboat Springs). They didn't just talk theory—they shared what's actually working in their markets. And yes, there was a fun giveaway tied to Heather's latest project, the Kodiak Club & Residences. ### Why This Retreat Mattered "Our Colorado offices serve distinct communities, but we share the same commitment to our clients and to one another," said Kacey Bingham, Managing Partner of The Agency Denver and Boulder. "Having everyone together created space to exchange ideas, build relationships and discover new ways to collaborate. Those connections are what make our regional network so valuable." The retreat was made possible by sponsors like Concierge Auctions, SWBC Lending, Luxury Presence, Kaleidoscope Design, Guest House, and Just Pended. Their support helped create an environment where agents could step away from the daily grind and think bigger picture. ### Bringing It Home As everyone headed back to their respective markets—whether that's the bustle of Denver or the quiet of Telluride—they carried with them new connections and fresh inspiration. The spirit of The Agency was on full display: shared knowledge, generous collaboration, and a commitment to exceptional service. In a business that's often about competition, this retreat proved that lifting each other up is the real competitive advantage.