Ben G. Schachter is the Real Estate Broker and President of Boca Raton-based The Signature Real Estate Companies. Ben’s role is critical to Signature’s day-to-day operations and long range goals and his unique and extremely effective hands-on management style ensures top down quality control and proper delegation of tasks for an extremely diverse organization.
As an undergraduate at The University of Florida, Ben majored in Political Science and gained valuable experience working part-time at a Gainesville real estate brokerage. He quickly concluded that real estate was his passion. Upon graduation in 2000, Ben relocated to South Florida, where he became an integral part of his family’s mortgage banking business. He continued his real estate career, concentrating on the luxury and ultra-luxury real estate markets as well as commercial real estate development, which allowed him to develop valuable experience working hands-on with sophisticated customers from around the world. In 2006, Ben joined The Signature Real Estate Companies and soon became President and one of the firm’s owners. Under Ben’s leadership, Signature has grown to more than a dozen residential and commercial real estate brokerage offices with over 1000 Real Estate Professionals! Signature’s exponential growth is evidenced by its nearly 7,000 annual transactions, which ranked Signature as the #1 real estate brokerage in Boca Raton, #24 in Florida and #321 in the nation for transaction volume according to the 2018 Real Trends 500 Report.
With Ben’s guiding hand, Signature has also successfully ventured into several other real estate related industries, including Signature Title Group, LLC, an attorney-owned and operated title insurance company, Signature School of Real Estate, LLC, a fully-accredited real estate licensing and educational school, Signature Insurance Advisors, LLC, a full-service insurance agency, and Signature Senior Placement, LLC, a senior community placement service.
Ben is a Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Instructor and Property Manager and has earned the prestigious Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI)® designation. With unrivaled passion, a constant hunger for success, an unmatched support for his co-workers and an aggressive plan for growth, Ben is taking Signature in a very positive direction by focusing on the firm’s industry-first, “Agent Centric” culture that can be seen throughout the organization.
Ben is a loving husband and proud father and lives in Boynton Beach with his wife Jodi, two sons, Max and Brody, daughter, Sloane and the family’s two dogs, London and Aspen.
Jack Jaiven, a Florida Certified Public Accountant since 1975, served as Chief Financial Officer, or in other high-level financial capacities, for more than 30 years with several publicly-traded companies, including real estate development companies which constructed more than 35,000 condominium apartments in South Florida active adult retirement communities.
Since 2006, Jack’s business focus has been as an owner and Executive Vice President of Boca Raton-based The Signature Real Estate Companies, which owns and operates a highly successful and rapidly-expanding family of South Florida real estate brokerage firms with more than 900 Realtors® and Real Estate Professionals in 20+ residential and commercial real estate brokerage offices in Palm Beach & Broward Counties as well as Naples and Orlando. In 2018, Signature brokered nearly 5,000 sales and rental transactions. Signature was ranked as the 24th largest Real Estate Brokerage in Florida and #1 in Boca Raton in the 2018 Real Trends 500 Report Ranking for Transaction Sides. Signature also owns and operates a fully-accredited real estate licensing and educational school, Signature School of Real Estate, and a senior community placement service, Signature Senior Placement. In addition, Signature is one of the owners of an attorney-operated title insurance company, Signature Title Group, and a full-service insurance agency, Signature Insurance Services.
Since 2003, Jack has served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of Boca Helping Hands, Inc., a not-for-profit organization which “provides food, medical and financial assistance to meet basic human needs as well as education, job training and guidance to create self-sufficiency”. Jack is also a Director and Vice President of Signature Gives Back, the not-for-profit corporation which serves as the charitable arm of The Signature Real Estate Companies. SGB’s mission is “to inspire members of the Real Estate community to support various charities and worthwhile causes through selfless volunteerism and financial contributions.” Previously, Jack served as an officer and Trustee of Temple Beth El of Boca Raton.
Jack has a B.B.A. degree from the City University of New York and served 2 ½ years in the U.S. Army. He and his wife, Grace, have been happily married since 1973, residing in South Florida since 1975. They have 2 sons: Ron, who earned his MBA from UCLA , enjoys a high-level position with eBay in San Francisco, and Eric, Signature’s Director of Agent Services, who earned his MBA from the University of Miami and resides in Ft Lauderdale. Eric's wife, Kristen, serves as Signature's General Counsel. Jack and Grace ‘boast’ three adorable grandchildren; Chloe and Lucas (courtesy of Ron) & Julian (courtesy of Kristen & Eric).
Many of today’s most successful Real Estate practitioners bring to the table a lengthy history of productivity and achievement from prior business ventures. Expertise as a successful negotiator, adhering to detail and the ability to communicate clearly with her clients is what makes Wendy Pressner a truly valuable member of the Signature family.
Prior to relocating to South Florida from her native New York, Wendy was an accomplished Merchandise Manager in the fashion industry who traveled the world overseeing quality control and product marketing for major corporations from Mitsubishi to Lands’ End.
Her commitment to organizing, coordinating, fund raising, and chairing major events including the Maccabi Games, Jewish and Women’s Federation activities and Signature’s Give Back Program with ties to Habitat for Humanity has earned Wendy accolades and praise throughout Palm Beach County.
This proven ability to understand and focus on the needs and concerns of her clientele from different cultural, geographic and monetary backgrounds makes Wendy Pressner an outstanding choice for today’s South Florida buyer or seller.
Kristen joined The Signature Real Estate Companies in 2016. Kristen has diverse corporate and real estate experience, including working for three international companies. While attending law school at night, Kristen worked for Hilton’s timeshare brand, Hilton Grand Vacations, in the areas of regulatory compliance and later as a corporate paralegal. After law school, Kristen went to work for Global Tower Partners, which later merged into American Tower Corporation. As in-house counsel for American Tower Corporation, she focused on commercial real estate transactions that protected company assets. Most recently, Kristen worked with a non-profit food bank, Farm Share, where she tackled the field of food insecurity in South Florida.
Kristen is co-author of The Value of South Florida Real Estate when A1A is Under Water: Sea Level Rise and Private Property Rights (Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar’s Spring 2015 ActionLine Issue), and co-author of a chapter on factory farming in WHAT CAN ANIMAL LAW LEARN FROM ENVIRONMENTAL LAW? (Randall S. Abate, ed., ELI Press, Sept. 2015). Kristen holds a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida, a J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law with a Certificate in Environmental Justice, and an LL.M. in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School with a Certificate in Food and Agriculture Law. In Kristen’s free time, she enjoys hiking with her husband, Eric, spending time with her Australian shepherd, Sebastian, and doing yoga.
Ivan Benjamin is both a REALTOR® and Licensed Community Association Manager (CAM). Most successful real estate practitioners have experienced a variety of personal and business related endeavors. Ivan’s multi-talented and caring approach to his work has made him one of Signature International Real Estate’s (SIRE’s) most accomplished REALTORS®. He brings over 25 years of banking and investment management experience to SIRE. Following his successful transition from the financial service sector, where he held several senior positions, Ivan started his own small business here in South Florida and served as the CEO for several years. His entrepreneurial expertise as a CEO and business owner further reflects the knowledge, leadership, and drive so important to be successful in the real estate industry. Establishing, as well as earning trust & respect is a challenge that Ivan has met with great distinction, enthusiasm, and commitment. Ivan is also passionate about his community and he has served on the Board of Directors and/or Committees of numerous non-profit organizations from New York to Florida; and, currently he volunteers at the Wayne Barton Study Center, Boca Raton, FL.
Ivan is a graduate of Pace University and holds a BBA in Marketing. Ivan and his spouse have been residing in South Florida for over a decade.
A Florida resident for 31 years, Dana Levy brings to Signature International Real Estate, LLC (Signature) an outstanding record of success and achievement through her many contributions in: public relations, marketing, academic, counseling and fundraising endeavors.
Dana has returned to Real Estate after a 30-year hiatus. At 19, she earned a Florida Real Estate Salesperson’s License and worked as a Property Manager in Gainesville while completing her undergraduate work. Confirming her desire to re-enter the real estate industry, Dana became licensed again in 2017. She currently serves as a named partner in JDF, LLC, a property management company based in Boca Raton. She is an active member of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and the Realtors® Association of the Palm Beaches (RAPB).
A mother of two school-age children in the School District of Palm Beach County, Dana was appointed to The School Advisory Council (SAC), assisting parents in the decision-making process about schools and residences. She is passionate about showing residential properties and took an active role to learn about home building as an original and current homeowner in The Bridges in Delray Beach.
As a private contractor with the Orlando Veterans Administration, she was applauded for her dedication and commitment to assisting disabled service members with their long-term vocational prospects and housing needs. She continues to be especially interested in serving America’s retired veterans and active-duty personnel.
This Connecticut native received a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from The University of Florida in 1990, where she became a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Pi Rho Sigma fraternity for PR students of distinction. Dana remained in South Florida, working as a Technical Writer before returning to UF for a Master’s Degree in Health Science (MHS) for Rehabilitation Counseling. She has been a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor for more than 23 years.
While the Director of Career Development and Internships at Lynn University, Dana managed a departmental budget and professional staff serving the entire University. Simultaneously, she taught at the College of International Communications, mentored incoming freshman, and became a Qualified
Administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, an assessment tool used to develop team-building strategies.
Dana has joined Signature’s 501(c)(3) affiliate, Signature Gives Back, Inc., where team members dedicate their time and resources to actively support local community programs and charitable organizations. She previously served as SGB's Public Relations Coordinator and SGB Committee Co-Chair.
Dana has served on the Board of Directors of The South Florida Chapter of the Gift of Adoption Fund, which provides financial support for families completing the adoption process. Combining her love of philanthropy, retail and marketing, Dana founded/trademarked Go Chic Mama, LLC, to increase public contributions to charities by creating boutiques marketing artisan jewelry and quilts.
Dana Levy is renowned for her communication skills and her innate ability to truly listen to her customers and educate them in buying or renting a home they will love. Whether you are buying, selling, investing or renting in today’s real estate market, Dana is driven to help you achieve your most desirable result.
Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Illana has held many prestigious administrative positions that have given her insight and first hand experience for what customers expect and desire. Having lived in many places around the world added to her international background and multi-lingual expertise just show a few of the traits which make Illana stand out in a crowd!
Fluent in English, Spanish, French and Italian.
Always looking to improve her skills for her customers, she holds the REALTOR, Broker-Associate, a Certified International Property Specialist ( CIPS) , Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) and Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) designations.
As your Realtor, Illana will be an advocate for you! Whether you are buying, selling, investing, or renting, she will work tirelessly to promote your best interests while concentrating on lowering your stress level. She understands that purchasing a home is one of the most important investments that most people make in their lifetime.
As a Woodfield Country Club resident, Illana prides herself on knowing what the high end buyers and sellers are looking for. Her international background opens the door to promoting your property world-wide. As Buyers coming to South Florida fully understand, having someone that speaks their language is a valuable asset and one that makes the transaction that much less stressful.
For the past 6 years, Illana has actively been involved with Jewish Family Services, Boys Town Jerusalem and Habitat for Humanity. She loves to draw, cook and sing. (She will tell you she has no talent for singing but that does not stop her!)
Married with 3 college children and 2 dogs , Illana is a loving and supportive mother.
John Goss, Jr., REALTOR®, holds a Bachelor & Masters degrees in Business and Finance. He has been a licensed Florida REALTOR® for more than 17 years and has specialized in both commercial and residential real estate in the Fort Lauderdale and Orlando areas.
Melainey Gunning is the Branch Manager for Signature Mortgage & Lending. Previously, she was an industry leader as a golf professional, which paved the perfect path for Melainey to be successful as a mortgage professional.
She is heavily experienced in dealing with business professionals throughout the world, her foundation of service providers are trustworthy and efficient. Most importantly, Melainey's clients benefit from her professionalism and proficiency through the entire loan process
Barbara brings a diverse background and experience to Signature Gives Back. She is a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, and worked as the General Counsel of a manufacturing and distribution company. Her strengths are in transactional law and compliance.
Barbara relocated to South Florida in 2018, and obtained her real estate license. She has been with Signature International Real Estate for just over a year, and with Signature Gives Back for a year as well.