Three McColly Real Estate Realtors Named Finalists at 2025 Influential Women Awards Banquet

On September 25, Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association hosted its 14th Influential Women Awards Banquet at Avalon Manor in Merrillville. McColly Real Estate was well-represented at the event with three of its brokers not only being nominated for awards but also being recognized as finalists in their respective categories:

Jennifer Miga – Finalist for Influential Woman of the Year in Real Estate
Alexa Hosier – Finalist for Up-and-Coming Woman of the Year in Real Estate
Elizabeth Velazquez – Finalist for Up-and-Coming Woman of the Year in Real Estate

“I think that it’s truly a testament to our brokerage that we had three agents nominated. I would like to thank my colleagues and the brokerage. I don’t think that we would ever be where we are without their support,” Hosier said. “We love our brokerage and our clients. Our clients are not just another transaction for us. We deeply care for each and every one of them, and we always say that clients will hopefully turn into our friends. I think that we three finalists have exuded that energy and it’s been noticed, which is very nice.”

Although it was Velazquez’s first time attending the Influential Women Awards Banquet, she was immediately struck by the event’s positive atmosphere.“I didn’t know what to expect, but the energy in the room was not just empowering – it also gave me a warm feeling to see the support for women who have created an impact in different categories,” Velazquez said. “It was encouraging, and now I want to keep doing what I’m doing and even step it up a little bit. It’s humbling to know that you’re alongside these women—you had the engineers, you had the scientists, you had the lawyers—and it was an amazing feeling to have.”

Last year, Miga’s daughter was up for an award at the Influential Women Awards Banquet, so Miga was familiar with the award and flattered to be named as a finalist this year. Accompanied by her daughter, mother, and friend, Miga was pleased to find an incredibly caring atmosphere among the women at this year’s banquet.

“Women empowering and supporting other women is very important to me, being a single mom for so many years. Women need to support other women, and this award was very important to me for that reason,” Miga said.

While Miga was honored to be a finalist, she wasn’t surprised that McColly had produced multiple realtors worthy of the same recognition. She attributes this to the company’s quality service and staff. Early in her time with McColly, Miga noticed the company stood out for its excellent training, openness to new ideas, and strong reputation within the communities it serves.“I’ve never been with another firm, and that is for a good reason. I like that McColly is family-owned. I like that they do a lot of charity work in the community. I like that we are the number one company in Northwest Indiana,” Miga said. “There are so many reasons why I chose McColly. I feel like they have helped me to succeed and be in the position to even be nominated for this award.”

Hosier may have a built-in support system being on her mother’s real estate team – the Lisa Grady Team – but over the years, Hosier has found that the whole McColly team feels like family. The staff consistently celebrates each other’s growth and their victories along the way.

“McColly celebrates your little wins as well as your big wins. We had some of the staff at the awards banquet, which meant so much to us. Even though they weren’t nominated, they came out and showed up for us,” Hosier said. “It is truly a big family, and I think that has something to do with it being family-owned and operated. We’re not just another number to them. We really do mean something to them, and I think that makes us work harder because we love what we do.”

Ever since she got her license and started working as a realtor six years ago with McColly, Velazquez has witnessed McColly’s championing of its staff both professionally and personally. She is proud to be part of such a team and excited to make it as a finalist at the Influential Women Awards Banquet. For Velazquez, it feels like a full-circle moment, transporting her back to middle school when she attended a female empowerment dinner where she decided that she wanted to find herself in a position where professional women had a place at the table.

“Not only am I a minority woman, but I am also a single woman with no kids. It can become lonely when you’re in this career, when you’re trying to hustle and bustle and get to the top, and it gives me a warm feeling knowing that others are seeing me. That was a moment that brought me back to that middle school dinner. I never thought I’d get here, but here I am,” Velazquez said. “I am also potentially paving the way for young women who don’t think that they can get there. They can see that it is possible. Now I know, if any young woman were to approach me, I could tell them, ‘This is what I’ve done. This is my story.’”

For more information about McColly Real Estate, visit mccolly.com.