BHGRE Metro Brokers was started with one office and a handful of sales associates in 1979 by John Hartrampf. More than 30 years later, BHGRE Metro Brokers is one of the nation's largest full-service real estate companies and the world's largest Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate franchise. Under the leadership of Kevin Levent, who became President and CEO in 1996, the company has experienced exponential sales growth facilitated by the addition of more than 2,000 new sales associates. Levent is considered a visionary by sales associates as well as many industry leaders, especially in the area of technology. Another key decision by Levent was Metro Brokers' affiliation with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in 2009. While Metro Brokers remains an independently owned and operated firm, their affiliation with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate has translated into increased brand name recognition in Atlanta and throughout the country.