Chad Engeldinger of CyberSunshine Inc. is a young entrepreneur who got his start as a programmer at the Naples Board of Realtors (NABOR) in Naples, Fla. There, he helped launch one of the first real estate membership intranets, and was one of three developers to create one of the first online MLS systems “For Realtors, By Realtors.”In 1998, he started CyberSunshine Inc., a Web design and development firm for the real estate industry. He was one of the first developers in the country to put public records online for NABOR members to utilize in their business. Shortly thereafter, he worked with GTE’s drawbridge system to give clients the ability to actually post properties to a Web site – the beginnings of online property data systems. With the onset of IDX in 2000, he developed over 50 database modules utilizing IDX and/or VOW data for CyberSunshine clients.
“Anyone who knows or works with Chad knows that he understands the real estate tech business better than anybody,” said nominator Cassandra Bontly of CyberSunshine. “His contributions to the field have been ground-breaking, helping agents and brokers alike growth their businesses through online marketing tools. During his personal time, he has donated services to the animal Refuge Center in Fort Myers by creating and maintaining a Web site for them at no charge, as well as working with young kids to teach them how to ski and wakeboard through a local ski club.”
Growing up, I was surrounded by real estate, as my mother was an agent and my parents bought and sold real estate frequently in my home town. I was always very familiar with the industry and fascinated by it. When I got my first job at NABOR, I felt right at home. When the web first started to boom, I recognized a need for real estate agents and brokerages to utilize MLS data in an online format for both tracking and marketing purposes. Many of our members were utilizing the local newspaper for these services but not getting their needs fulfilled. I created online administration tools that interfaced with public websites so agents could post property data online, before IDX was even implemented.
What about your job gives you the most satisfaction?
At our company we have a motto that "Our Client's Success is Our Success." I enjoy helping real estate professionals improve the way they do business, the ease with which they do business and their success with online advertising. Constantly working towards innovation and being part of something entrepreneurial along with a staff that gets as excited as I do about technology makes my job extremely satisfying.
I especially enjoy teaching our clients and prospective clients why they need to use and embrace the internet. There are so many exciting opportunities for real estate professionals on the Internet. I really enjoy sharing new ideas and figuring out new ways of doing business with them.
Make sure you get an excellent online product and use it to your advantage. Embrace technology and all it has to offer your business and your clients. Understand that technology is also an investment like a home — if you treat it with care and continue reinvesting in it, your business will flourish.
I helped develop an MLS system designed "by REALTORS, for REALTORS" in Southwest Florida, called "SunshineMLS.com." It is now used by over 6000 members and isgrowing throughout Southwest Florida.
One of my clients in the late 90's asked me to remove the "dot-com" extension on their domain name. He didn't think it would "fly."
The IT Staff I am surrounded by daily, people I worked with at the Board and my staff members serve as mentors to me every day.
The help of my wife.
Guy Kawasaki. He teaches you to be confident and do it without fear.
Matt Lauer. I would love to hear all about his experiences in travel and with the many people he has met and interviewed.
I grew up in the roller rink business.
Goodwill Hunting because it shows that talented people can come from strange places and situations.
Staind and Nirvana
Kitesurfing, Wakeboarding & Boating
We created a full turn-key website for the Animal Refuge Center of Fort Myers, a no-kill animal shelter. They told us they have adopted out hundreds of animals because of their Web site.
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