Coldwell Banker Holtzman, Realtors’ Leigh Smiley is among the first graduating class of Ascend: The Executive Leadership Experience, the company has announced.

The program is available to Realogy brand-affiliated brokerage owners who are grooming a successor to lead their company. Coldwell Banker is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp.

Budge Huskey, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker LLC, said, “I am deeply proud that George Holtzman had the foresight to send Leigh Smiley to a program that is purely focused on helping participants master the competencies needed to be the leader of a real estate brokerage company in the future.”

The leadership program’s in-class and online learning prepared 41 participants to become brokerage leaders.

“Combined with Leigh’s knowledge of real estate, her enthusiasm and energy, this graduate-level program has given Leigh the leadership and management skills to continue to lead Coldwell Banker Holtzman, Realtors into the future as the most progressive real estate company in this area,” said George Holtzman, owner of Coldwell Banker Holtzman, Realtors.

The Ascend curriculum engages Realogy senior leadership, real estate industry experts and current successful franchisees from Coldwell Banker and other Realogy brands as part of this world-class program.

“Keeping in mind those I have been charged to lead and the stature of Coldwell Banker Holtzman, Realtors, I knew this level of leadership and management training would be vital to my growth as a leader and the growth of our organization. Ascend focused on ensuring the participants would graduate being well-equipped in every aspect of what it takes to be successful as an owner and a leader as well as empowering our agents and staff in claiming their own successes. It’s not all about me; it’s more about them. They’re the reason I strive to be better,” Smiley said.