10 Questions With Andrea Thon

Managing Broker, North Shore Region

Meet Andrea Thon, Managing Broker of Macdonald Realty’s North Shore region. A lifelong local of the area, Andrea lives just fifteen minutes away from where she was raised, with her husband David and their two sons. Get to know Andrea in this 10-Question interview:

How did you get into the real estate industry? My husband and sister-in-law were a brother-sister real estate team, and so real estate was a family business for sure. Unfortunately, we lost her to cancer and as they had built a business for two, I got my license and went to work.

What led you to become a managing broker? My Managing Broker, Pat Place, asked me to take on the role of Sales Manager with a future eye to becoming a Managing Broker.  It wasn’t something I had given much thought to in the past, but when I did think about it, I really liked the idea.

What is one thing you wish you knew when you first got into real estate? I wish I knew how easy it is to become distracted by all the outside influences and how hard it is (sometimes) to do the things that need to get done, in order to be successful.  A routine and systems are very important. It can give you a framework for success.

What is your advice to someone who wants to become an agent? My advice would be to take an agent out for coffee and grill them with questions. Try to find out the good and the bad of the business so you can evaluate if this is for you.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received (related to real estate industry)? The best advice I was given was: to BE IN REAL ESTATE, do something real estate related every day; if you don’t have clients you are currently working with, go to the office, go on tour (in North Van, we have 3 days of agent tour and 2 days of public tour), attend a class, take a webinar, treat your business LIKE A BUSINESS.

Why do you enjoy working in the real estate industry? I enjoy being around people and helping them be successful with their business.  Real estate is a hard, tricky and sometimes lonely business, so I hope to be able to help agents be successful and stay out of real estate Jail 😊

What is your favourite thing about working at Macdonald Realty? My favourite thing about working at Macdonald Realty is the education, support and Managing Brokers. I love the fact that we are corporate-owned (not a franchise) and can get things done when needed. We have pivoted from in-person training to online training, and have amazing continuing education. We have even been successful in writing our own courses when needed. The support we have for our agents is fabulous, we make ourselves available and they really appreciate it. Most importantly, for me, is the support I feel when I need to get something clarified, I have the support of many other Managing Brokers and staff that help to make my job more successful. My success means the agents’ success, and both mean success for Macdonald Realty.

What is a fun fact about yourself? A fun fact would be my happiness for September 1^st every year.  I feel like it is the beginning of a new year and I look forward to it every year!  A chance to start new things, build new routines and traditionally in real estate it is a busy season.

What is your favorite quote? One of my favourite quotes is ascribed to Dr. Seuss: “ Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”.

What is a book that everyone should read? A couple of books everyone should read is our very own Mark Winter’s “A Different Conversation” and our very own Owen Bigland’s “Along for the Ride: Getting Your Money Working for You”. We have pretty talented people within our organization that are very willing to share their knowledge to make your journey more successful.

10 Questions With Jonathan Cooper,
President of Macdonald Real Estate Group

In this video interview, learn more about Jonathan Cooper, President of Macdonald Real Estate Group, as he tells the tale of how he first started out in real estate, what motivated him to rejoin Macdonald Realty, what sets the company apart from its competitors, advice for those looking to join the real estate industry, and where he’d ideally live outside of Vancouver. Watch on for more!

Jonathan Cooper rejoins

Macdonald Realty as President

VANCOUVER, B.C. – (March 22, 2023) – Macdonald Realty, Western Canada’s largest independent real estate brokerage with over 1,100 agents and $9.7 billion in sales in 2022, has appointed Jonathan Cooper as its new President, replacing Dan Scarrow who will be moving to run the company’s development and investment arm.

Jonathan previously worked at Macdonald from 2006 – 2016, rising to become VP Operations before joining Holborn Group as Chief Operating Officer for the past 6 years. During his time away, Jonathan developed many skills across various areas of responsibility, including development projects, sales and marketing, legal, and asset management for Holborn’s substantive hotels and other commercial real estate holdings. Jonathan also completed his Masters Degree in Real Estate from Georgetown University in 2019.

Jonathan will be working directly under CEO Lynn Hsu and with the senior management team. His operational background will be a great asset to the organization and he is looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and colleagues.

In addition to these two moves, Macdonald Realty continues to add to its best-in-class managing broker team. Last year, they introduced 3 new Managing Brokers: David Langlois, Jeannie Shaver, and Andrea Thon. This year, they will be adding 3 more: Bob Milloy, John Anderson, and Matthew Lee, bringing the total Managing Broker team at Macdonald up to over a dozen.

Founded in Vancouver in 1944, Macdonald Realty is B.C.’s largest full-service corporately owned real estate company, with more than 20 offices and 1,100 agents and staff in the province. It boasts more nearly $10 billion in annual sales.

In addition to residential sales, Macdonald Commercial has about 40 commercial agents with a head office in Vancouver, a Fraser Valley office in South Surrey, and an office in Victoria. Macdonald Property Management currently manages over $6 billion in B.C. properties; and Macdonald Platinum Marketing has sold over $2 billion in luxury new construction, the company says.

Led by CEO Lynn Hsu, Macdonald Realty is the largest company in B.C. that is owned and operated by a woman.

You can reach Jonathan at [email protected].

Young Elite Year-End Gala 2022

Young Elite Vancouver Business Association (Y.E.) is an organization that is committed to offering opportunities to young entrepreneurs and business leaders, through recognition of success and the offering of connection opportunities.

Each year, Y.E. offers a handful of awards to young entrepreneurs, leaders, and outstanding individuals through a Young Elite Year-End Gala. In 2022, Macdonald Realty was lucky to be a part of this gala with our CEO, Lynn Hsu, presenting two Elite Awards. One award went to Ming Yang, the Founder of Honolulu Coffee Vancouver, and the other went to Crystal Hung, the Founder of Icon Marketing Inc.

Ming Yang grew up in Anhui, China. After living in the UK for 8 years, she moved to Vancouver in 2012, after completing her Master’s degree in Engineering from Imperial College London. Being in love with both coffee and the island vibes in her life, Ming brought Honolulu Coffee from Hawaii in 2016 and founded Honolulu Coffee Vancouver. In 2022, this Aloha-drive brand expanded to 3 locations in Vancouver. “Aloha means love, peace, compassion, and a mutual understanding of respect. These are the values I strive to deliver”.

Crystal Hung is a pioneer and serial entrepreneur in Vancouver. In 2011, she founded Icon Marketing, one of the first multi-disciplinary real estate brokerages in the city. Raising the bar in everything they do, her firm has been recognized by top industry accolades, such as the Georgie Awards for Best Brand Identity and Best Marketing Campaign of The Year from the Homebuilders Association of Vancouver. Crystal was recognized as Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40, Business Elite’s Top 40 Under 40, and is a recipient of the Top 75 Canadian Immigrant Award.

Congratulations Ming Yang and Crystal Hung!

For sales performance in the year 2022

We’d like to congratulate all of our Macdonald Realty agents who received a Victoria Real Estate Board Award, a Fraser Valley Real Estate Board Medallion Club Team & Medallion Club Award or a Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver Medallion Club, President’s Club or Medallion Club Team Award.

We are #REALPROUD to have you on our team!

Victoria Real Estate Board Award

Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards are awarded to the top 30% of the membership based on sales volume as follows: Gold for the top 10%; Silver for the next 10%; Bronze for the next 10% of Victoria REALTORS®.

Top Awards

Team Top Dollar Volume (Second Place): Louise McKnight 

Top Teams with 2 Members (First Place): Justin Glasser

Medallion Club

Medallion Club qualifiers represent the top 10% of Fraser Valley REALTORS®.

Medallion Club Team Leaders

Medallion Club qualifiers represent the top 10% of Greater Vancouver REALTORS®.

Life Member

President’s Club

Presidents Club qualifiers represent the top 1% of Greater Vancouver REALTORS®.