BIO
John Schoonmaker is a partner, branch manager, and licensed real estate agent at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Laffey International Real Estate. A native Long Islander, John joined the firm in 2009 as a real estate agent because he wanted to be part of the company he considered best in the business. Bringing to the table a vast knowledge of and deep connections within the Long Island and Queens communities, together with his unyielding drive and dedication to providing exceptional service; he quickly rose through the ranks. Today, John’s main function at the firm is business development through strategic partnerships. He also spearheads talent acquisition, firmly believing that the foundation of success in a real estate company is based on the strength of its agents.
Professionally, John's interests include the Real Estate Market, Luxury Homes and Estates, and Investment Properties. He is committed to his career in Real Estate and is constantly attending seminars, trade shows, and webinars to stay up on the latest trends and technology. John also likes to keep up with Wall Street and the latest trends as the investment market is closely tied with the Real Estate Market, particularly on Long Island.
Before joining the Laffey organization, John accumulated a wealth of management experience as the President of a national executive search firm, OnPoint. Under John’s leadership, OnPoint became a leader in outsourced solutions for managed care payers in the health care industry. He also created the Provider Strategic Solutions division of the firm which became one of its most profitable divisions. Prior to OnPoint, John was a registered financial services representative with John Hancock Financial Services. John has a BA in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany. He also has his Series 6 and 64 licenses.
In his free time, John loves to play softball and spend time with his family exploring the many restaurants, attractions and live events Long Island has to offer. He is an avid sports fan. His favorite teams are the NY Yankees, the Islanders, the Knicks, and the New York Giants. John believes in supporting the community and passing the sense of community to his children. He is an active member in the Cold Spring Harbor Girls Basketball Association and is a volunteer coach for PAL Football and Lacrosse. John participates in many fund-raising activities for school, church, and local charities including the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum. He lives in Laurel Hollow with his wife Jo Anna and his children Nicolena and Deklen.