Please be advised that Catapult will be closed September 2nd through 6th as our staff takes advantage of professional development opportunities. Please feel free to send us a message or complete the Intake Form, and someone will follow up with you when we return the week of September 9th!

Black Excellence in Real Estate

The Gala

The annual Black Excellence in Real Estate Awards Gala celebrates the accomplishments of industry professionals including real state agents, financial institutions, nonprofits, government agencies, and new homeowners.

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History of Black Excellence

Black Excellence in Real Estate is a movement created by Mary Hester, Founder and Owner of LifeVenture Real Estate Solutions, and Tammy T. Thompson, Founding Executive Director of Catapult Greater Pittsburgh. As Black women who have been working in the real estate and non-profit industries for decades, they always wanted to be intentional about creating intentional opportunities for Black families in Pittsburgh to obtain homeownership. In 2021 they decided to join forces and establish an entity that promotes collaboration, partnership, and advocacy for the benefit of increasing Black homeownership in Pittsburgh.

2023 Honorees

Bomani Howze
on Revitalization and Redlining

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Bryce Maretzki's
Passion for Housing Policy

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Gloria Besley's
Story of Breaking Barries in Real Estate

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Larry Swanson
on Action Housing

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Richard Snipe's
Legacy of Helping Families Find a Home

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2023 BERE AWARDS GALA
Event Video

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2022 Event Summary

Play Video about The stage setup at the 2022 Black Excellence in Real Estate Awards, with a projector screen in the background and a podium and large, lit lettering in the front

2022 Awards

Lavelles Legacy Award
Jake Wheatley

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Trailblazer Award
Tim Cohen

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Real Estate Agency of the Year
Angel Ivey

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Nonprofit Leadership of the Year
Ed Nusser

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Community Developer of the Year
Derrick TIllman

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Community Bank of the Year
Carla Frost

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Homeownership is within reach!