Another Honor Adds To Her Long And Distinguished List Of Industry And Community Accomplishments

Michael Saunders, Founder and CEO of Michael Saunders & Company, has been named to the “Inman Top 101,” the magazine’s new ranking of the most influential people in U.S. real estate, it was announced today from Inman’s headquarters in Emeryville, CA.

The Inman 101 was assembled to recognize the country’s top real estate industry achievers whose ingenuity, outspokenness, strength, conviction, power and persistence are driving change within the industry. 

In announcing the list, Publisher Brad Inman positioned its selection criteria this way:  “It is not who you are, it is what you do.  It is not about yesterday’s achievements but what we expect from them in the future.”

Included on the list with Saunders were such noteworthy real estate heavyweights as Richard Smith, CEO of Realogy, the parent company of Century 21, ERA, Coldwell Banker, and Sotheby's International Realty; as well as Gary Keller, the Chairman of Keller Williams.  Also included were Dale Stinton, CEO of the National Association of Realtors; Dave Liniger, CEO and Co-founder of Re/Max; and Glenn Kelman, CEO of Refin.

“Thousands of capable and purposeful professionals are changing the course of the industry,” adds Inman editor Amber Taufen.   “But this is our pick of 101 we are watching closely as they face and forge a constantly shifting landscape.”

In addition to being at the helm of Michael Saunders & Company, which is just a few months shy of celebrating its 40th anniversary, Michael Saunders has won numerous industry accolades and been seated on the boards of several prestigious industry groups.  

Locally, she currently sits on the boards of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation; and has previously leant her expertise to several others, including the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, Mote Marine Laboratory and the Argus Foundation just to name a few.

In 2003, Ms. Saunders was awarded the Florida Enterprise Medal by the Merchant’s Association; and a year later was singled out for the Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for Florida in real estate.  She has also been listed among the 35 Most Influential People in Luxury Real Estate by Unique Homes Magazine (2006); and among the 25 Most Influential Women in Real Estate by Swanepoel (2008).

More recently Saunders was named to 2013’s “Swanepoel’s Power 200,” the annual list of the 200 most powerful people in real estate.