Title: Vice Chair
Company: Douglas Elliman
Location: New York, New York, United States
Dorothy “Dottie” Herman, vice chair at Douglas Elliman, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in real estate.
Ms. Herman demonstrated her ability to step up and take on increased responsibilities at a young age. When she was just 10 years old, her mother tragically passed away. As the oldest of her siblings, Ms. Herman made it her priority to make sure her family was taken care of. Despite the difficulties of this time, she showed strength and perseverance that would prove essential in her professional life.
Now celebrating 45 years in the real estate industry, Ms. Herman’s career hit its stride in the 1990s when she joined Merrill Lynch. Though primarily known as a brokerage firm, Merrill Lynch was attempting to expand its services at this time, and she was brought on to help grow the first national real estate company at the firm. Ms. Herman took on the position of regional manager of the northeast region, overseeing all real estate operations in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Recognizing her skill, Merrill Lynch invested deeply in Ms. Herman, facilitating extensive training programs during her employment with them. She notes how foundational these lessons were in preparing her for the future. Although her efforts were well received, Merrill Lynch eventually chose to exit the real estate business, selling the division to Prudential Financial Inc.
Building off of her consistent success in real estate, Ms. Herman accepted the role of chief executive officer of Douglas Elliman in 2003. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing real estate firms and spanning the entirety of the United States from New York to California, Douglas Elliman is a real estate firm with over 7,000 agents working out of more than 100 different offices. While leading the company, Ms. Herman focused on building out the company’s real estate mortgage title and relocation services. Despite knowing no one at the company when she became chief executive officer, she is proud to have built an inclusive culture where everyone felt like family. In 2021, Ms. Herman stepped down from the chief executive officer position. However, she has stayed connected to the company as vice chair, continuing to encourage its success and growth.
Ms. Herman’s career has been supported by her academic background. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University. Committed to supporting that institution, Ms. Herman has also served on the board of Adelphi University. In addition to her real estate credentials, she is certified as a financial planner.
Dedicated to teaching others the lessons she has learned throughout her life, Ms. Herman was a regular speaker at events prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and is eager to kick-start that side of her life again. She hosts two shows on AM 970 The Answer, a talk radio station broadcasting to the New York metropolitan area. Ms. Herman’s first show, “Eye on Real Estate,” has been running for 12 years and focuses on her answering listener calls regarding real estate and financing issues. More recently, she started a second show, “Real Talk,” which aims to offer a place where she and her listeners and guests can share honest stories about their struggles on the path to success.
Beyond her primary vocation, Ms. Herman is a loving mother to one and grandmother to one. Her daughter has embraced her own professional life as a teacher. Throughout her life, Ms. Herman’s primary goal has been to empower others. Having accomplished that for decades already, she looks forward to continuing to do so through her radio shows and speeches.
For more information, please visit:
Wall Street Journal Press Release
Fortune Magazine Press Release
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