After considering all eligible applicants, the CTAR Nominating Committee has voted to advance a slate of eight candidates for the 2027 CTAR Board of Directors. As Board Members, they will be responsible for setting and overseeing the implementation of the association’s strategic direction, and ensuring the good governance of the organization.
They will be joined by Sarah Coleman-Lee, who will be serving as President by virtue of a prior election.
Keep scrolling to read more about this year’s nominees!
Lee Allen is the Managing Broker/Owner of Corcoran HM Properties in Charleston. A Mechanical Engineering graduate of UNC Charlotte, Lee has served three consecutive terms on the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors, board leadership with the Canopy REALTOR Association, and current service on the Charleston MLS Board of Directors and as RPAC Chair for CTAR. He also serves as State Political Coordinator for SC REALTORS® and sits on the SCR Advocacy Committee.
Outside the office, Lee is a competitive endurance athlete and lives on Daniel Island with his wife, Mary Burt Allen.
Andrella Pusha is a Charleston native, veteran, and Broker-in-Charge and Owner of BellStead Real Estate. Andrella began investing in real estate while on active duty, having served 20 years in the Navy’s nuclear engineering field. That experience ultimately led her to establish BellStead Real Estate, a boutique brokerage providing commercial and residential real estate advisory.
Andrella has earned CTAR’s Rising Star Award, and she has served in several committees and task forces, as well as on the boards of directors for the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® and the South Carolina REALTORS®. She is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
Katesha Breland, Broker in Charge of Sweetgrass Realty Group, is an industry leader with more than 25 years of experience. She was named the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® 2026 REALTOR® of the Year. Katesha is a past President of CTAR and currently serves as Chair of the South Carolina REALTORS® Legal and Ethical Group.
Katesha holds a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development from Clemson University. Beyond her professional achievements, she is a 2025 MOJA Arts Festival honoree, a parishioner at St. Patrick Catholic Church, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the Junior League of Charleston.
Dr. Stephen M. Kohn II is the Broker/Owner of Kohn & Company Realty and Founder of the Real Estate Leadership Institute (RELI).
Dr. Kohn serves as the 2026 President of the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® and is a past President of the Charleston Area Realtist Association. His industry leadership also includes service with South Carolina REALTORS®. A U.S. Air Force veteran and licensed real estate instructor, Dr. Kohn’s experience spans residential brokerage, real estate development, association leadership, and housing policy. He earned his Doctorate in Leadership from Charleston Southern University.
Rita Adkins is a seasoned REALTOR® with more than 20 years of experience serving the Charleston region. As Team Leader of The Adkins Group, brokered by LPT Realty, and President of the Charleston Area Realtist Association (CARA), she is passionate about homeownership, community development, and advocacy. Rita also serves on CTAR’s Legislative Committee, advocating for issues impacting housing, property rights, REALTORS®, and the communities they serve. Her leadership is rooted in service, collaboration, and creating greater opportunities throughout the Lowcountry.
Mount Pleasant resident Lauren Newman has been selling homes across the Lowcountry since 2012. She has built a strong reputation for guiding clients with honesty and authenticity — from listing preparation and customized marketing to navigating the buying process with care and clarity.
Originally from Raleigh, N.C., Lauren met her husband while at College of Charleston. Together they live their lives outdoors with their two young boys, Blake and Locke. Always engaged in her community, Lauren serves as an active volunteer for the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®, East Cooper Top Producers, Wakendaw Lakes Civic Association and her sons’ school.
Chenné L. Feaster is the Owner and Broker-in-Charge of Changing Lives Forever Home Solutions. A U.S. Army Combat Veteran with 28 years of leadership experience, Chenné’s career spans military service, federal Human Resources leadership, entrepreneurship, and real estate. She serves on the board for the South Carolina REALTORS® and CHS Regional MLS and as Vice President of the Charleston Area Realtist Association (CARA). She is also a member of the Coastal Carolina Women’s Council of REALTORS® and the Commercial Industrial Division.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, she is a wife, mother, and active member of her church and community.
At Carolina One Real Estate, Michael Furlong is recognized as a top-producing agent in the greater Charleston area. He specializes in buyer representation, listings, and relocation. To date, he has closed more than 147 transactions ranging from $175,000 to $5.7 million, with clients praising his professionalism, negotiation skills, and attentiveness.
Michael focuses on preserving historic Charleston while also embracing progress. He and his husband are restoring their downtown historic “forever-home”. Outside of real estate, Michael enjoys hosting cooking classes and dinner parties, gardening, serving as a committee member at Spoleto Festival USA and walking his Italian Truffle Dog.