2021 CTAR Board of Directors Slate Confirmed

The 2020 Nominating Committee has named the officers and directors for the 2021 CTAR leadership positions. One candidate was selected for each vacancy, and was elected by acclamation as no additional candidates were submitted. These candidates were confirmed by the board of directors on October 21, 2020.

2021 CTAR Leadership Candidates

Katesha Breland | First Vice President
Broker-in-Charge, Sweetgrass Realty Group

A native of Charleston, SC with more than twenty years of experience working with buyers and sellers, Katesha is passionate about the real estate industry, assisting her clients and serving within CTAR. She has held several leadership positions and served on various committees at the local, state and national levels. As the first black female on the CTAR Board of Directors, Katesha is currently serving in her second term as a Director and will return as 1st Vice President. She also serves as President for the SC Residential Real Estate Council and Chair for SCR Member Benefits and Services.

When not consulting, Katesha enjoys coordinating for Feed the Need, traveling with her two daughters and playing golf. Katesha holds a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development from Clemson University and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

John Grisillo | Director
Realtor®, Carolina One Real Estate

John Grisillo is a Charleston native and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. At West Point he was a Catholic Sunday school teacher, an All-Armed Services rugby player and an occasional Dean’s list student. Upon graduation, John was commissioned into the US Army and served as an Airborne Ranger Infantry officer. He was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” Device for valor in combat in the Euphrates River Valley, Iraq. After 9/11 he served as a military commentator for Charleston news stations.

Since leaving the service, John has served in business leadership, sales roles and entrepreneurial endeavors. He founded The Compass Group, a national search firm that placed former military officers into Fortune 500 companies. He sold the company in 2003. Since 2004 he has worked in construction and real estate in the Charleston market. He joined Carolina One Real Estate in 2009. He served as the Broker-in-Charge of the West Islands office from 2012-2018, and he currently serves as General Manager of Carolina One Real Estate – Charleston’s market leader and among the top 60 real estate firms in the country.

John has served in many leadership roles with church committees and school boards. He has served as the president of the Bishop England High School Advisory Board. He currently chairs the CTAR Legislative Committee. John enjoys spending time with his family and physical fitness activities. He won the State Masters Division Powerlifting Championship in 2014. John is happily married to Kathy Grisillo, a Bishop England High School classmate and current teacher at BE. They have three daughters, Lauren, Katelyn and Mary Chandler.

Stephen Kohn | Director
Broker-in-Charge, Excel Real Estate

Stephen is Managing Partner and Broker-in-Charge of Excel Real Estate – Charleston, a new brokerage to the Lowcountry established in March, 2020. He is originally from Jacksonville, FL and relocated to the Lowcountry in 2009. He has a lovely wife, Rachel, and 3 beautiful kids, Jadden, Xavier & Skylar. After serving 8 years in the US Air Force and receiving a Medical Retirement, he decided to join the real estate industry. In 2015, Stephen brought his military training and skills to the real estate industry and has been an awesome asset to his clients, fellow real estate agents and the local community.

In 2018, Stephen earned his Master’s degree from Charleston Southern University in Organizational Leadership. He is a true servant leader and continuously sets the example for others to emulate. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Lowcountry Youth Services, was awarded Realtor of Distinction from 2015-2019, earned several National Association of Realtor® Professional Designations, but most of all – continues to honor and serve families each and every day through real estate!

John Cowan | Director
Realtor®, Carolina One Real Estate

A proud Charlestonian and Citadel graduate, John jumped into real estate at the age of 21. He knows the Lowcountry from Lake Moultrie to Sullivan’s Island and everywhere in between. John has helped clients find their dream homes, investment properties and even a commercial space for their business all over the tri-county area.

In his spare time he enjoys the golf course, a fishing pole and actively volunteering in local community organizations. In 19 years in the business John has held numerous leadership positions within CTAR, such as Leadership Development, RPAC, Candidate screening, RHOF, and CTAR Legislative. John currently resides on Daniel Island where he works in the new Carolina One Office.

Owen Tyler | NAR Director
Broker-in-Charge, The Cassina Group

Owen Tyler is the Managing Broker and a Partner at The Cassina Group and brings to the table a passion for his profession. Tyler is an Accredited Buyer’s Representative, a Certified International Property Specialist, a Certified Residential Specialist, he holds the Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist Certification and is a certified mediator. He has served on local, state and national board of directors and in leadership positions for South Carolina Realtors®, Charleston Trident Association of Realtors®, National Association of Realtors®, Charleston Regional Development Alliance, The Children’s Trust of South Carolina and One80 Place.

Within CTAR, Tyler is an RPAC President Circle Member and 2021 RPAC Hall of Fame Inductee. He also serves as the NAR Federal Political Coordinator for South Carolina 1st District and as the Region 4 Representative for the NAR RPAC Trustees Fundraising Committee. In addition, he has been a past recipient of the Realtor® of the Year Award from Charleston Trident Associations of Realtors®, a past recipient of the C. Dan Joyner Community Service Award and named as a Forty Under 40 by the Charleston Business Journal.

Tyler was the 2013 President of CTAR. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for One80 Place and as the 2020 President of South Carolina Realtors®.

Bobette Fisher | NAR Director
Realtor®, Carolina One Real Estate

Bobette has been a real estate agent since 2002 and with her current brokerage, Carolina One Real Estate, since 2009. She holds the designations of CIPS, CRS, GRI and SFR. She has served in leadership on the executive board of the SC Council of Residential Specialists and was President of the SC Chapter in 2013. She received South Carolina CRS of the Year in 2014 and the Omega Tau Rho Award, as nominated by her peers in 2015.

Bobette has been in the Charleston area since 2000. She is married, has two grown children and is a native of Elkhart, Indiana. In her free time she enjoys traveling, the local beaches and all the great food and fun activities the Lowcountry offers!

The following Realtors are already serving on the CTAR Board of Directors and will continue their service in 2021: