Chris Trapani

Chris Trapani founded Sereno Group with his childhood friend Ryan Iwanaga in 2006 with a goal to break from the large-scale agency model in favor of offering every client the expert and personalized service that would make a positive difference in their real estate experience. Today, the firm has 365 agents in eight locations in Northern California doing $3.5 billion in annual sales – an average of more than $10 million in sales per agent.

According to Trapani, a large part of Sereno Group’s success has been their intentional and careful approach to growth. “We set a very high bar for character, quality and professionalism,” he told RISMedia earlier this year. “We seek to align with the most experienced and thoughtful sales staff representing the best interest of our group and clients.”

To make sure its agents stay at the top of their game, Sereno Group provides access to leading trainers and coaches, provides cutting-edge tools and resources at little to no cost, and an in-house marketing studio with four designers and two project coordinators on staff to assist agents in producing upscale collateral.

Trapani also spearheaded the “1 Percent for Good” program, committing 1 percent of the firm’s gross revenues to environmental causes and to charitable or community-minded groups in the areas the company serves. Last year, Sereno Group gave $516,000 to 28 separate causes, making it one of the top 35 corporate givers, according to the Silicon Valley Business Journal. “We are determined to eclipse $1 million a year in charitable giving,” Trapani says.