Once upon a time, Tom Gongaware, an FM radio DJ, was awarded Billboard Magazine's top national honor as "Air Personality of the Year." The former rock jock went on to a successful career in radio, TV and broadcast management in a variety of cities before becoming a REALTOR® in 1989. He strived to be a "personality" on a very different stage.

Tom quickly replicated his successes in broadcasting by posting strong numbers as a residential sales agent. After 6 years, he segued back into a management role with his company, serving as Broker-In-Charge for the firm's flagship office. A few mergers and acquisitions later, Tom remained in a senior management position and continued the coaching, mentoring and recruiting of sales agents as a Vice President and Managing Broker for a new company. He gained additional responsibilities for the firm's marketing strategy, as well as the development and integration of technology solutions for the company's agents and clients. As such, he became the "technology evangelist" for the company during a time of dramatic change in brokerage operations and consumer expectations.

Tom is now reunited with Phyllis York Brookshire, Regional VP for the Allen Tate Company, as General Sales Manager for the Triangle Region of NC, overseeing all aspects of Triangle operations. He is also the Branch Leader for Allen Tate's Chapel Hill office.

Tom has earned the Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB®) designation presented by the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB®). He is a Graduate of the REALTOR® Institute (GRI) and holds the e-PRO® certification from the National Association of REALTORS®. He also has received the "At Home with Diversity" certification from HUD and NAR®.

Tom is a Director of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®, and a past director of Triangle Multiple Listing Service (MLS). He serves as the 2009 President of the North Carolina Chapter of the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers. He is a former trustee of the Eastern N.C. Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

He is married to Pam Kohl, District Director for the Honorable Brad Miller, 13th District, U.S. House of Representatives. They have two children, Sofie, a sophomore at Raleigh Charter High School, and Max, a sophomore at Elon University.

Still a Rock & Roll REALTOR® at heart, Tom wants to see the real estate industry get in sync with the pulse of today's home buyers and sellers and bring a whole new attitude and innovative spirit...the way rock & roll did with America many decades ago. He feels he's with the right company to see his vision through.