From left: Tim Johnson and Cindy Fuchs from the Red Cross, Brooks Findlay, Rock Bridge Realty’s broker/owner and Kyla Dean, Rock Bridge Realty Season 1 winner.
University of Regina marketing student Ryan Bender has won Season 2 of The Interview and becomes the newest addition to the Rock Bridge Realty team in Regina.
The Interview, a realty-based competition created by Broker Brooks Findlay of Rock Bridge Realty in Regina as a marketing/recruiting/charitable fund-raising initiative, has contestants facing numerous challenges over a six-week period. This season’s beneficiary of fund-raising activities is the Red Cross and its Imagine No Bullies campaign. A total of $87,000 was raised.
In addition to a contract, Bender’s grand prize package, worth more than $100,000, includes the use of a new Cadillac for a year, seven business outfits and a communications package.
Findlay and his real estate team came up with an idea for a challenge and it snowballed from there, turning into an Apprentice-type web show.
“The magnitude of how it caught on with businesses and mentors was unexpected,” says Findlay, a former police officer and CFL player.
When developing the idea, Findlay said the show had to meet four criteria: contribute to the community, build relationships with businesses and leaders, recruit in the community and be a marketing element to build awareness of the name and brand, Brooks Realty.
The show includes third-party online voting, with Season 2 pulling in votes from as far away as Australia and the U.K. With each season, the show gets better and garners more interest from businesses, mentors and possible contestants, he says.
In addition to raising money for a good cause, the show offers participants a way to gain much-needed experience to help with their real estate careers. Both Bender and runner up Lori Binfet said the training, including interview and negotiation skills, was invaluable, Findlay says.
Feedback from business professionals has been positive – they say the show enhances what the public feels about the real estate industry. The Interview gives the public a chance “to see what people have to go through to get a position with my firm,” he says.
Planning for Season 3 will soon be underway – it takes 18 months to put a season together.
To check out the web show, visit www.secure.theinterviewseason2.com.
