CENTURY 21 Circle, one of the top-performing CENTURY 21® companies globally and the No. 1 CENTURY 21® brokerage in Illinois, has appointed Chicago-based Sara Valko as Director of Marketing & Brand Strategy as the company continues investing in the brand, systems, and leadership behind its multi-state real estate growth.
The appointment brings enterprise marketing experience from the technology sector into real estate at a time when brokerages are competing not only on local market expertise, but also on brand visibility, agent support, digital engagement, and cross-market consistency.
Valko will lead integrated real estate marketing initiatives, brand development, agent engagement, and cross-division strategy across CENTURY 21 Circle’s growing footprint in Illinois, Indiana, Florida, and Michigan. Her role will also support greater alignment across the company’s integrated service network, which includes brokerage, relocation, title, insurance, and agent support.
Valko brings experience in brand marketing, media strategy, partner collaboration, and integrated growth initiatives from national and technology organizations including CDW, GitLab, and SentinelOne. At CDW, she helped lead enterprise-scale brand marketing and media strategy across digital, broadcast, streaming, experiential, and out-of-home channels.
“Sara’s appointment reflects the caliber of leadership we are building at CENTURY 21 Circle as we enter our next chapter of growth,” said Melissa Archer-Wirtz, CEO of CENTURY 21 Circle. “She brings a rare combination of strategic vision, operational discipline, and creative leadership. As we scale across markets and divisions, our priority is consistency — in how our brand communicates, how we support our agents, and how we grow.”
Valko said the opportunity stood out because of the company’s growth stage and leadership vision.
“What stood out to me immediately was the leadership team’s vision and commitment to building a more connected, modern, and forward-thinking marketing approach,” Valko said. “There is an incredible opportunity to create stronger consistency across the brand while also improving how agents experience and engage with marketing on a day-to-day level.”
The appointment marks another step in CENTURY 21 Circle’s broader investment in the people, strategy, and systems behind a modern full-service brokerage experience. With nearly 40 offices across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Florida, the company is focused on building a connected and competitive real estate brokerage for agents, clients, and partners.
