If you joined us earlier this month for the 2025 Industry Awards Midnight Cowboy Gala, you already know — it was a night we won’t soon forget.
And if you missed it, let me paint the picture.
Texas Flair, Frontier Edge
This year’s gala leaned into a little mystery and a lot of Texas. Upscale, sure, but with a frontier edge that suited the occasion. From the second guests walked in, the room had a charge to it — and this year, that charge carried even more weight as we mark the Austin Board of REALTORS®’ (ABoR) 100th anniversary. A hundred years of REALTORS® building this city is no small thing, and the night felt like it knew it.
There was gourmet food, themed cocktails, music that actually filled the dance floor and plenty of room to lean into the theme. A custom hat bar. Candle-pouring stations. Photo ops people lined up for. People left with something they’d made themselves — which felt right for a night that was meant to
be remembered.
The Heart of the Night
But as fun as the atmosphere was, the heart of the night was the people who make our industry what it is. That’s what stuck with me long after the music stopped.
This year, we recognized 14 winners and more than 40 finalists — people who really do represent the best of ABoR. These are the agents, leaders and innovators who show up for their clients, their colleagues and this community every day. The kind of quiet work that makes a real difference.
To all our nominees and winners — thank you. You’re setting the standard, and the rest of us are paying attention.
Meet the 2025 Industry Award Winners
Affiliate of the Year went to Kara McGregor of Independence Title. The Community Service Award honored Cord Shiflet of Moreland Properties. Charles Porter, Ph.D., of Bryker Properties was named Educator of the Year, and Jill Leberknight of eXp Realty earned the Ethics Award.
The Team Award honorees were Mueller Residential Group of Compass (2-5 agents); ROOTS Residential Group of Compass (6-10 agents); and the Emily Dieckmann Real Estate Team of eXp Realty (11+ agents).
Amanda Dudley of Compass was named Manager of the Year. Amber Brown of White Label Realty earned Broker of the Year for firms with 1-50 agents, and Christine Choate of Horizon Realty took Broker of the Year for firms with 51 or more agents.
Christina Sok of Spinelli Residential Group, KW Austin Portfolio Real Estate, was named Rookie of the Year. Amber Hart of Keller Williams Realty took Salesperson of the Year. Kent Redding of Berkshire Hathaway Texas Realty was honored as REALTOR® of the Year. The Iconic Changemaker Award went to Carol Dochen of Dochen Realty Group,
Bramlett Partners.
Carrying It Forward
A night like this is also a reminder of how connected this community really is. We show up for each other. We celebrate each other. We keep pushing this industry forward together. That’s the part that matters.
Standing in that room, looking at a hundred years of work honored in one night, I started thinking about what the next hundred might look like. Different tools, different markets, different challenges — but the same kind of people doing the same kind of work for the same kind of reasons. That’s a legacy worth showing up for.
As 2026 rolls on, I hope we hang onto that energy. Keep striving, keep innovating and keep raising the bar — for your business and for the experience you give your clients.
If the gala was any sign, we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
