Brexus completes CEO search for RPCRA and FGC MLS

Brexus Solutions says the Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association board appointed John Leonardi as CEO of RPCRA and Florida Gulf Coast MLS, effective Oct. 26, after an 83-day national search. The selection closes a leadership transition at organizations serving 9,400 members across Lee and Hendry counties in Southwest Florida.

Why it matters: - RPCRA is the largest trade association in Southwest Florida, with 9,400 members. - The CEO role covers two linked businesses: a Realtor association and a multiple listing service. - The appointment affects governance, advocacy, member services, MLS data integrity, technology, and subscriber support across Lee and Hendry counties.

What happened: - The Board of Directors of the Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association appointed John Leonardi, RCE, as CEO of RPCRA and Florida Gulf Coast Multiple Listing Service, effective Oct. 26, 2026. - Leonardi succeeds Sean O'Brien, who is stepping down after nine years leading the Fort Myers-based organizations. - Brexus Solutions ran the national search after being retained by the board. - The search moved from signed engagement to accepted offer in 83 days.

The details: - Brexus used Stakeholder Surveys, the Brexus FIT Score, and the Brexus Executive Alignment Index to give the board scored evidence on each finalist. - Brexus first drafted a modern job description for the dual role and met with the Presidential Advisory Group to define leadership needs. - Stakeholder Surveys were used to surface the real job to be done, the cultural constraints, and the success criteria before the specification was finalized. - Those findings were built into a dual-entity CEO mandate covering governance, advocacy, member value, professional standards, MLS data and technology, financial stewardship, and staff leadership. - The national search drew 253 resumes. - Brexus conducted 50 initial interviews and advanced only the strongest candidates to the search committee. - The Brexus FIT Score measures how closely a candidate matches the mandate across weighted dimensions. - The Brexus Executive Alignment Index measures the fit between a candidate's operating style, decision pattern, and leadership priorities and the board's strategy, risk tolerance, and dual-entity agenda. - Brexus presented comparative finalist reports with FIT Score results, Executive Alignment Index findings, stakeholder themes, reference and background review, and a written recommendation. - The board conducted final interviews and made the appointment. - Leonardi joins RPCRA and FGC MLS from Buffalo Niagara Realtors in Buffalo, New York, where he served as CEO. - Leonardi also served as CEO of WNY Real Estate Information Services, the region's multiple listing service. - Leonardi holds the Realtor Association Certified Executive designation. - Leonardi has more than 15 years of association and operations leadership experience. - Leonardi is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served as a lieutenant colonel.

Between the lines: - Brexus is pitching a more data-driven model for executive search, with tools designed to replace subjective impressions with comparable evidence. - The board appears to have prioritized fit for a dual-entity leadership model rather than a standard association CEO profile. - The 83-day timeline suggests the board wanted speed without losing process rigor during a high-stakes leadership handoff. - Jason Jakus, Brexus Solutions CEO, said the firm built infrastructure that executive search has been missing and that boards deserve evidence, not just a resume and interview. - Shane Spring, 2026 RPCRA president, said the process clarified what the organizations needed and how each finalist measured against it. - Spring also said the board is confident in Leonardi and grateful to O'Brien for nine years of service. - Leonardi said leadership means bringing good people together, giving them freedom to do their jobs, and changing what is not working.

What's next: - Leonardi is set to begin as CEO on Oct. 26, 2026. - RPCRA and FGC MLS will move through the transition from outgoing to incoming leadership under the new appointment. - Brexus is likely to continue using the FIT Score and Executive Alignment Index in future searches as part of its executive search practice.

The bottom line: - RPCRA chose a CEO through a fast, evidence-based search built around its combined association and MLS needs.