“Innovation is a cumulation of creativity and ingenuity with a splash of chaos that produces something of great substance.”
Metro MLS has been reshaping the landscape of real estate in Wisconsin since its establishment in 1962. This powerhouse serves over 10,000 real estate professionals across the state, constantly pushing the envelope on what it means to provide real-time, accurate, and fair real estate data. “Real accurate, real time, real estate,” quips Chris Carrillo, the innovative CEO at the helm of Metro MLS, summarizing the company’s core mission with succinct clarity
“Connecting with the community isn’t just at a business level, Lambrou is a life long musician performing regularly with a local U2 tribute act as the resident Bono. He also conducts acoustic performances throughout the Milwaukee Metro area at pubs, wine bars, fests and farmer’s markets.”
Navigating the Waves of Change
From its modest beginnings to becoming Wisconsin’s largest Multiple Listing Service, Metro MLS’s trajectory is marked by significant technological evolution and a staunch commitment to its members. “Metro MLS provides a Multiple Listing Service to empower real estate professionals in Wisconsin with the tools they need to thrive,” Carrillo shares the company’s mission. It helps real estate professionals promote fair housing and succeed in the marketplace by offering accurate property data, industry-leading tools, and cost-effective resources. “Throughout our history, we’ve grown with technology. From publishing data on physical books to dial-up modems to blockchain-based integrated cloud-based solutions, we’ve moved right along with it,” Carrillo notes. This evolution reflects a deep-seated commitment to staying ahead of the curve, ensuring that Metro MLS’s members always have the best tools at their disposal.
Chief Information Officer Chris Lambrou adds: “Besides all the change, we maintained a member-first approach focused on accuracy in real estate data, providing industry-leading services and resources that promote fairness in a cooperative marketplace.”
Innovation at Its Core
For Lambrou and his team, innovation is more than just a buzzword; it’s the very foundation of Metro MLS’ strategic approach. “Innovation is a cumulation of creativity and ingenuity with a splash of chaos that produces something of great substance,” he describes. For this organization, innovation isn’t just about adopting new technologies; it’s about fostering an environment where new ideas can thrive.
“Innovation can’t be forced or manufactured but environment and culture are two things you can manage that help influence it. Innovation needs problems to solve. At Metro MLS, this includes the business needs of our subscribers, industry hurdles, technology issues, legislation changes, and the US economy, to name a few,” Jean Patterson, Director of MLS Systems, adds, highlighting the company’s proactive stance on nurturing a creative and open-minded work culture.
Lambrou shares: “We foster a learning culture, believe in leading by example, and encourage feedback. We value the human component and strive for an open-minded work environment. We aim to enhance the strength of each employee vs having them conform to our expectations. This is a key differential, and the glue is within our incredible team.”
Thank you to MKE Tech for making this book possible, they are the voice and champion of Innovate® Milwaukee that unifies the community!
Pioneering with Partnerships
Metro MLS’s forward-thinking nature is perhaps best exemplified in its strategic partnerships, which have expanded its influence well beyond Wisconsin. The collaboration with Arizona Regional MLS to create Markt, an industry-first noncontiguous joint venture, now serves over 50,000 members.
Furthermore, as a founding member of MLS Aligned, Metro MLS is at the forefront of revolutionizing the real estate industry. These partnerships extend Metro MLS’s reach and amplify its impact, setting new standards within the industry.
Empowering the Community
Metro MLS’s innovation extends into community engagement, leveraging resources for broader societal benefits. Lambrou shares some of the organization’s initiatives: “This includes providing historical data to student research groups at local universities, data sharing with other real estate organizations throughout Wisconsin to expand the outreach for real estate professionals without business hurdles, and a real-time API for county law enforcement teams to help thwart criminal activity,” demonstrating how Metro MLS uses its capabilities to support and enhance the local community.
Its dedication to community outreach is well documented with volunteer leadership roles and participation in local initiatives outside of real estate, including the MKE Tech Hub Coalition, the IEEE Milwaukee section, The Milwaukee Cybersecurity Summit, the SAE Milwaukee Section, and the UW-Parkside Advisory Committee. This has resulted in many small wins for Metro MLS, including spearheading the IEEE MKE Science Kits for Public Library (SKPL) grant program and donating over $12,000 to promote STEM-related activities to public libraries in the Greater Milwaukee region.
The Future Is Bright
Looking ahead, Lambrou is optimistic about the potential for continued innovation and growth. “I’m most excited about our vision. We have an innovative, forward-thinking leadership group with the courage to make changes and make mistakes,” he says. This enthusiasm for the future is coupled with a practical recognition of the challenges and opportunities ahead, as the company aims to remain a key player in a rapidly evolving industry.
Metro MLS and Milwaukee: Growing in Tandem
As Milwaukee carves its identity as a burgeoning tech hub, Metro MLS is proud to contribute to the city’s transformation. “Metro MLS is truly honored to participate in promoting the growth of the great city of Milwaukee as a source of innovation. Besides many things, Milwaukee is sprouting with goodness on many different levels, including technology,” Lambrou observes, expressing his confidence in the city’s potential to become as renowned for its tech prowess as it is for its sports, cheese, and beer.
