The Agency Lands Multiple 2026 Inman Innovator Award Nominations

Lucía Torres · 2026-07-29

Some news came across our desk recently that made us stop and smile. The Agency, along with a few of our standout agents, has been named a finalist for the 2026 Inman Innovator Awards. That's a big deal in the real estate world, and honestly, we're still buzzing about it. For those who might not know, the Inman Innovator Awards have been around since 1998. Every year, they shine a spotlight on the companies, individuals, and technologies that are genuinely moving the needle for real estate professionals and consumers. It's not just about being successful; it's about being smart, efficient, and transparent in a way that reshapes how we all do business. ### Who Got the Nod This Year We're thrilled to share that our name is on the list in a few different categories. Here's a quick rundown of who's representing us: - **Most Innovative Brokerage:** The Agency - **Most Innovative Team:** The Umansky Team - **Most Innovative Agent:** Eric Rollo A huge congratulations goes out to Mauricio Umansky, Farrah Brittany, Madison Buffardi, and Alexia Umansky for their nomination as the Most Innovative Team. And we can't forget Eric Rollo, our VP of Greater Boston – Cape Cod and Islands, who's up for Most Innovative Agent. These folks pour their hearts into what they do, and seeing them get this kind of recognition feels pretty amazing. ### Why Innovation Matters More Than Ever You know, it's easy to talk about innovation as a buzzword, but for us, it's the reason we exist. Rainy Austin, our President, put it perfectly when she said, "Innovation has always been at the core of who we are as a brokerage. Doing things differently, looking for new solutions to longstanding issues in this industry — that's exactly what sparked our creation back in 2011." She's right. When we started, we wanted to challenge the status quo. We saw brokerages consolidating and pulling back on agent support, and we thought, "What if we did the opposite?" So that's what we've been doing. We're investing heavily in the tools, systems, and personal service that actually help our agents serve their clients better. It's not always the easiest path, but it's the one that feels right. ### What This Means for Our Clients Here's the thing about awards: they're nice, but they're not the point. The real point is what happens behind the scenes. Every new system we build, every process we refine, it's all designed to make the experience better for you. Whether that means faster responses, clearer communication, or smarter marketing strategies, we're constantly looking for ways to level up. Being nominated for an award centered on innovation is a fantastic honor, but it's also a reminder of our responsibility. We can't rest on our laurels. We have to keep pushing, keep experimenting, and keep finding inventive ways to support our agents and elevate the experience for their clients. ### A Toast to Thinking Bigger So, here's to our nominated agents and to everyone at The Agency who works behind the scenes to make magic happen. You're the ones who dream up new ideas, refine our approach, and never settle for "good enough." This nomination is for all of us. We're excited about what's ahead, and we're not slowing down. If there's one thing we've learned, it's that the moment you think you've figured it all out is the moment you stop growing. So, we'll keep shaking things up, one innovative step at a time. Thanks for being on this journey with us.