Coldwell Banker Real Estate Announces AI Innovator of the Year

The award recognized an agent from the Coldwell Banker global network who used AI tools to grow and strengthen their businesses.

MADISON, N.J., Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (NYSE: HOUS), today announced the winner of the Coldwell Banker^® AI Innovator of the Year contest, a first-of-its-kind showcase highlighting the most innovative and practical ways Coldwell Banker affiliated agents are using artificial intelligence in their real estate businesses.

Kanani Ching, Broker in Charge, Oahu at Coldwell Banker Island Properties in Hawaii, was crowned AI Innovator of the Year for building a scalable AI system to help agents generate hyperlocal and optimized content. Her comprehensive six-step AI system, anchored by a CustomGPT she created specifically for real estate content generation, is designed to help agents maintain discoverability as consumer behavior shifts from Google searches to AI queries for real estate recommendations.

The winner was selected by live audience voting during the 2025 Gen Blue^®, the Coldwell Banker flagship event for real estate professionals that attracted more than 2,500 affiliated agents from around the world. The Gen Blue conference offered more than 60 professional development courses throughout the three-day event, including seven centered around AI that gave real estate professionals actionable, real-world examples of how they can use AI tools to improve their business and stay ahead of the curve. Additionally, Coldwell Banker Real Estate launched "AI in Action" – a new learning program designed to help real estate professionals in the Coldwell Banker network integrate artificial intelligence into their business. The course emphasizes practical, real-world applications for professionals at every level of experience. Participants gain tools and confidence to use AI responsibly, work more efficiently, and position themselves to succeed in today's fast-moving real estate market. The program is now available to all Coldwell Banker agents through Coldwell Banker University.

"Our new courses and the AI Innovator of the Year represent Coldwell Banker Real Estate's commitment to building a foundation for AI learning across the brand," said Jason Waugh, President of Coldwell Banker Affiliates. "The finalists' strategies serve as valuable case studies for agents across the Coldwell Banker network, and may inspire future learning and development programs,  and best practices."

In addition to Ching, four other Coldwell Banker affiliated agents received finalist recognition for their smart, impactful use of AI to improve their business. The finalists were:

• Ryan Bruen of Coldwell Banker Realty Morristown, who used AI to create automated systems that give clients automatic status updates while keeping his internal team on track.
• Bryce Ocepek of Coldwell Banker Anabasis Realty, who uses AI programs to support his team's customer relationship management systems.
• Patrick O'Connor of Coldwell Banker Realty Lexington/Lake Murray, who uses AI to do everything from automate simple tasks to conduct comprehensive research and elevate content creation.
• Caryn Weckstein of Coldwell Banker Heritage, who created custom GPTs to strengthen her SEO without making a large financial investment.

AI Innovator of the Year finalists were recognized based on their creativity and innovation, the practicality and business relevance of their initiatives, measurable impact, scalability across the network, and clarity of explanation. The judging panel included Coldwell Banker Real Estate leadership alongside specialists in marketing, technology and professional development.

For more information, visit Coldwell Banker on Instagram. 

About Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC

Powered by its network of 95,000 affiliated sales professionals in approximately 2,700 offices across 48 countries and territories, the Coldwell Banker^® system is a leading provider of full-service residential and commercial real estate brokerage services. The Coldwell Banker brand prides itself on its history of expertise, honesty and an empowering culture of excellence since its beginnings in 1906. The Coldwell Banker brand is committed to providing its network of affiliated sales agents with the tools and insights needed to excel in today's marketplace and is known for its bold leadership and dedication to driving the industry forward. The brand was named among the 2025 Women's Choice Award^® "9 out of 10 Customer Recommended Real Estate Agency." Blue is bold and the integrity and values of the Coldwell Banker brand give the Gen Blue network an unbeatable edge. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. To join Coldwell Banker Real Estate and unlock the Gen Blue possibilities, please visit www.coldwellbanker.com/join.

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SOURCE Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC