Top-Five Producing North Dakota Brokerage Joins Forces With Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Advantage One to Continue 70-Year Legacy and Elevate Service

Company Legacy

Celebrating 70 years of service in 2026, Park Company Realtors has developed a longstanding reputation in Fargo and the surrounding areas for its commitment to passion, performance, and professionalism. As ownership of the company changes hands from current owners Jill and Bob Carlson to the new ownership group of Drew Likness, Jim Bullis, and Jeff Laliberte, these tenets will continue to guide the firm’s affiliated agents as the company enters its next chapter.

Preserving the Park Company Realtors legacy is critical to both firms, with key members of the company’s leadership team continuing in their existing roles. Shawn Schmidt will remain President of the firm, overseeing day-to-day operations, and Michelle Velaski will continue to guide recruiting, retention, and agent productivity efforts as Director of Business Development. With the support of Schmidt and Velaski, Likness, the firm’s Managing Partner, will have additional bandwidth to focus on strategy and growth, while also engaging in high-value conversations with prospective agents, referral partners, and community stakeholders.

The new ownership group from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Advantage One, which joined the national brand in 2024 after serving Fargo residents for over 40 years, has extensive experience in residential real estate, and investment properties.

New Ownership Goals

“Park Company has built something very special over the past 70 years, and we recognize the responsibility that comes with carrying that legacy forward,” said Likness. “We aren’t here to change what defines the business. Our goal is to protect that culture, preserve what works, and build on it for more years to come. We believe that by bringing together our two companies, which have called Fargo home for over a combined 120 years, we’ll have more opportunities to grow and do even more good for our community.”

The firm’s affiliation will provide its affiliated agents with access to the brand’s technology, educational resources, and business-building tools, packaged with a culture that feels familiar.

“Affiliating with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate gives our affiliated agents an opportunity to build on what they already do best: connecting with people and providing service they can be proud of,” said Schmidt. “Working in the same market as Drew has allowed us to witness just how similar his company culture is to ours. We’re confident the marriage of our two companies will be seamless and will create plenty of new opportunities for agents and clients alike.”

Market Impact

The newly formed Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Park Company will have a significant market share in Fargo’s residential real estate industry,. The firm’s leadership team will leverage its enhanced market position and combined reputation to create new opportunities for its affiliated sales professionals and will strengthen the company’s status as a desirable destination for prospective agents.

“As someone whose favorite part of the business is working hands-on with agents and helping them enhance their capabilities, this affiliation is incredibly exciting,” said Velaski. “The Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate network boast some of the most attractive educational tools in the industry, which we’ll waste no time adopting to help our affiliated agents scale. Together, our company will be more capable and more confident in the services we provide to our community.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Park Company will continue serving Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Horace, and the surrounding Minnesota Lakes region, including Detroit Lakes and nearby communities.

“Park Company Realtors has built an impressive legacy in the Fargo market over the past 70 years on their way to becoming one of the largest independent brokerages in the region,” said Ginger Wilcox, President of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. “That type of sustained success and longevity in our industry is incredibly rare and makes us that much more excited to welcome the company to the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network. Park Company’s experience, relationships, and commitment to service, combined with the foundation of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Advantage One, will position the company as a significant force in the region and make this an incredibly valuable enhancement to our network.

We understand just how important maintaining such a storied culture is, and we look forward to helping Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Park Company continue to stand apart.”