Awards & Recognition

With over 20 years in the commercial real estate business, Upland Real Estate Group, Inc. has been recognized numerous times for both the firm’s overall success and the outstanding achievements of individual employees. Here are some of our more recent accomplishments that have been recognized by local and national publications.

Best Places to Work - Upland Real Estate Group, Inc.

Upland was named one of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 2016 Best Places to Work in Minnesota. Upland values the relationship with clients just as much as our commitment to creating a productive and happy work environment for all of our employees.

Six-time winner of CoStar’s Power Broker Award

Since 2010, Upland has won CoStar’s Power Broker Award six times for both Top Sales Firm and Top Sales Broker. This prestigious award recognizes firms and individuals who achieved the highest volume of sales and lease transactions over the previous year. Keith Sturm has received the Top Sales Broker, and Chad Sturm, Associate Vice President at Upland, has also received an award from CoStar for Top Retail Leasing Broker.

CoStar is the largest commercial real estate research organization, tracking and analyzing sales and lease transactions in order to identify the top players across over 90 major markets in the US and Canada.

Top 25 Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Firms

Upland has been named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s list of Top 25 Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Firms for the last 20 years.

Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction

Upland’s founder & CEO, Keith Sturm, won Twin Cities Business Mag’s Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction—Commercial Real Estate Agent. Much of the industry is based upon creating and maintaining client relationships, and the Upland’s team works hard to keep their customers happy and highly values all clients, from first time buyers to seasoned real estate professionals.

40 Under 40—Deborah Vannelli

Deb Vannelli, Upland’s Director of Net Lease Sales, is a recipient of the prestigious 40 Under 40 award for the top young business and community leaders in the region. 40 Under 40 is awarded annually from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame

In 2014, Deb Vannelli was inducted into the Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. This annual award, published in Midwest Real Estate News, highlights the most successful commercial industry leaders in the region.

CCIM: Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter President

Keith Sturm is a past president of the Minnesota-Dakotas Chapter of CCIM. The Minnesota-Dakotas CCIM chapter, founded in 1974, is based out of Minneapolis. This chapter is one of the most active in the nation, with over 350 members currently.

CREW Network: Delegate & MNCREW: President

Twice Deb has been a Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network delegate. CREW Network, founded in 1989, has more than 9,500 members, across over 70 major markets in North America. CREW is the largest networking organization focused on advancing careers and achievements of women in the commercial real estate industry.
Deb Vannelli is a past president of Minnesota Commercial Real Estate Women (MNCREW), which is a growing organization with over 230 members, dedicated to networking, leadership and educational opportunities within the commercial real estate industry.

Deb has also received a CREWie award for Member to Member Business from MNCREW.

SCSU: Real Estate Alumni Association President

While many of Upland’s employees are current and active members of the St. Cloud State University Real Estate Alumni Association (SCSU REAA), Keith Sturm is a past president and he, Deb and Amanda have all been board members of the organization.