Al and Paula Cohen
Paula and Al Cohen have joined the Westport office of Rocky Hill-based Prudential Connecticut Realty.
The couple, who are longtime residents of Connecticut, moved to Westport four years ago with their children and grandchildren, where they founded a real estate development business to build high-end luxury homes.
For more than 20 years, they have successfully purchased, rebuilt and sold homes on the Long Island shore and in New York City and Connecticut. Their most recent project in Westport is a custom-built Nantucket shingle-style home on Compo Beach Road. They plan to start their next project shortly.
The whole Cohen family shares the same passion for real estate. The couple’s three children have degrees in architecture, art and planning from Cornell University. Their son is currently completing his Master of Business Administration degree in real estate development at Columbia University.
Prior to his real estate career, Al Cohen was a senior executive with Siemens Corp., the German telecommunications giant, with more than 25 years of corporate management experience. As chief executive officer of one of its subsidiaries, he successfully led his division to become a leading supplier of data communication equipment in the United States. He holds a Master of Science degree in engineering from New York University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Connecticut.
Paula Cohen is a former teacher and education specialist who has done extensive research on early childhood development at the Yale Child Study Center. She was also a magazine writer for many years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and education and a master’s degree in communication.
“We are very excited to welcome Paula and Al to the Prudential team,” said Chris Simmers, Westport office leader. “With their extensive real estate experience, I have no doubt that they will be valuable assets to our organization.”
Both Paula and Al Cohen are members of the National Association of Realtors, Connecticut Association of Realtors, Mid-Fairfield County Association of Realtors and Consolidated Multiple Listing Service.
The new team will specialize in selling luxury homes and new construction throughout the towns of Westport, Weston and Fairfield.
Smith Earns e-Pro
Bob Smith of Century 21 Home Services-Scalzo Gleason Group in Newtown recently earned the e-Pro certification through the National Association of Realtors.
Presented entirely online, the certification course is designed to help agents stay abreast of technology and identify, evaluate and implement new Internet business models. It was also created to provide them with the technological tools needed to assist consumers in the purchase or sale of a home.
By completing the course, Smith joins an elite group of highly skilled real estate professionals who provide high-quality and innovative online-based real estate services.
“The real estate industry has undergone a fundamental change over the past several years,” Smith said. “Over 70 percent of consumers begin their real estate research online prior to contacting an agent. Therefore, real estate professionals must be knowledgeable of how technology can assist them in serving the needs of their clients.”
