LYNN — Local real estate business Toner Real Estate was recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation of Professional Licensure for being an exemplary licensee on Thursday.
Undersecretary of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) Edward Palleschi awarded Toner Real Estate founder Colleen Toner a certificate of excellence.
“It’s great to see how far Colleen and her business have come,” said Palleschi. “I know how hard it is to run any business ― particularly real estate ― and particularly now, it’s a tough time and a tough business. But Colleen has created something here that’s so special in the city of Lynn and the North Shore and I just want to congratulate her.”
Palleschi was appointed as Undersecretary of OCABR in 2019 by Gov. Charlie Baker. OCABR protects and empowers consumers throughout the Commonwealth, and Palleschi’s oversight extends to the office’s five regulatory agencies: the Division of Banks, Division of Insurance, Division of Occupational Licensure, Division of Standards, and the Department of Telecommunications and Cable.
“We thought about what we could do as an office to help businesses like Colleen and some of our licensees, and we started thinking about this program, and typically the government doesn’t do things like this,” said Palleschi.
Under his leadership, Palleschi instituted OCABR’s Licensee Recognition program. An enthusiast of business excellence, the program aims to recognize and highlight businesses licensed or registered in Massachusetts that continue to reach high standards through their work and commitment to their consumers.
“What can we do to help businesses, promote businesses, and say thank you and job well done to so many of our licensees and businesses we oversee through the commonwealth, this is a result of that,” said Palleschi. “When I was thinking about real estate, I was thinking about Colleen.”
Palleschi and Toner have grown up together. Palleschi shared a story about how his mother started her own real estate business in the 1970s. Working in the kitchen of his childhood home with just a Rolodex, file cabinet, and landline, she was able to create a beautiful business, he said. Palleschi’s mother was also the one who mentored Toner in her real estate business.
“Colleen is a special person to me. I think about her profession and how hard it is and how hard she works,” said Palleschi. “I never forgot how hard my mom worked and I know Colleen certainly does as well.”
With more than 20 years in real estate, Toner is one of the North Shore’s most experienced and top-selling brokers. According to Toner Real Estate, the business has made more than $300 million in sales revenue.
Toner grew up in Nahant and has always remained near the North Shore; she has sold properties in Lynn, Nahant, Peabody, Salem, Swampscott, and many other neighboring cities and towns.
Toner was overwhelmed by the big crowd that attended her celebratory event on Thursday, and thanked everyone for being there and showing support.
She said she was also surprised to see her children, Shannon and Colin, come out to support her at the event. Colin came all the way from New York City to support his mother.
Anna Budai-Louf, office manager at Toner Real Estate, congratulated her boss on Facebook saying: “Congratulations to my amazing boss, Colleen Toner, for this great honor. She has been recognized by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations for being an exemplary licensee, running Toner Real Estate successfully, helping her clients, and always supporting local businesses and giving back to the community.”
