Stellar MLS Earns Central Florida Top Workplaces Honor for Fourth Consecutive Year
Award comes as Stellar caps Q3 with commitment to customer success, consumer value, and local community impact.
Stellar MLS, the largest multiple listing service in Florida and Puerto Rico and one of the most influential in the U.S., marked a busy Q3 by being awarded the prestigious Central Florida Top Workplace Award from the Orlando Sentinel Media Group for the fourth consecutive year. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to an organization’s success, including alignment, execution, and connection.
“This recognition reflects Stellar’s unwavering commitment to fostering a workplace culture where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive,” said Merri Jo Cowen, CEO of Stellar MLS. “Built on a foundation of service, to our team, our customers, our shareholders and the communities they represent, our culture is the cornerstone of our success and continues to guide every aspect of our mission and strategy.”
In addition to offering generous paid time off, cost-effective health insurance, competitive compensation, and various work-life balance initiatives, Stellar MLS supports a diverse and inclusive team culture and regularly organizes guest speaker sessions and events for all staff members. Stellar MLS also offers its employees ample opportunities to serve their communities through various volunteer contributions. Furthermore, Stellar completed the Willhouse Global Transformative Inclusive Leader program for its management team. This program equips participants at any level of their organization with actionable Diversity, Equality, and Inclusivity (DEI) tools to use in their workplaces.
More Than a Multiple Listing Service
At the end of August, Stellar unveiled its “More Than a Realtor®” campaign at the 2025 Florida Realtors® Convention & Trade Expo at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. This year marked the 10th time Stellar MLS has sponsored and participated in the expo, which attracted some 3,000 registrations and 200 industry experts and exhibitors. The groundbreaking initiative highlights the human side of real estate professionals, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes work they do to guide consumers through a major life decision. By elevating the personal stories and value real estate professionals bring to the table, the campaign builds trust, empathy and stronger consumer relationships.
“Stellar MLS’s mission is to take the lead in highlighting the important work Realtors and brokers do to navigate their clients through one of the most important transactions of their lives,” said Stellar MLS COO Shayne Fairely. “Highlighting customer stories demonstrates how Stellar goes above and beyond in being not only a service provider, but also a strategic partner in its customers’ businesses.”
The “More Than” campaign illustrates how Stellar is more than an MLS and its customers are more than their titles. Through a large-scale outreach effort, hundreds of customers shared stories and photos showcasing the impact they make beyond their professional roles. This initiative reflects the shared value Stellar MLS, and its customers bring to the real estate industry, reinforcing a people-first culture at the heart of the organization.
Stellar also addressed at the conference a critical gap in the marketplace—where most consumers do not know what an MLS is or why it is valuable to buying, selling, and fair and equitable housing. To close this gap, Stellar created a consumer resource page aimed at raising awareness of the MLS’s role as more than a source of listing data, but as a trusted business partner in real estate transactions.
Cowen shared, “This innovative approach is not only enhancing the visibility of agents but also reframing the public perception of the multiple listing service and the real estate industry. This initiative reinforces Stellar’s commitment to transparency, consumer empowerment, and strengthening the agent-client relationship.”
For information, visit stellarmls.com/yourhome .
Benefitting the Broader Community
Stellar continues to demonstrate its commitment beyond the real estate industry by engaging in initiatives that impact the broader community. In addition to providing trusted data and technology solutions, Stellar recognizes its responsibility to support programs that promote sustainability and community well-being. This summer Stellar joined Florida REALTORS® as a Title Sponsor for the “Clean Up Waterways” campaign, reinforcing the organization’s role as a leader in championing efforts that help protect Florida’s natural environment. In 2025, Florida REALTORS® clean-up events have removed 27,049 pounds of trash across 134 events and with over 1,200 participants.
“For the last five years, Stellar MLS has volunteered alongside our shareholders throughout Central and Southwest Florida for the Clean Up Florida Waters initiative,” said Shayne Fairley, COO of Stellar MLS. “This initiative has been especially meaningful to me. We’ve shared unforgettable experiences while restoring our favorite waterways, ensuring they remain clean, bright and beautiful for everyone to enjoy.”
About Stellar MLS
Stellar MLS is the multiple listing service for real estate professionals who value clarity, stability, and support in a real estate market and industry defined by change. As the largest multiple listing service in the state of Florida and among the largest and most influential in the U.S., Stellar MLS serves over 84,000 customers and supports real estate agents and brokers across 21 REALTOR® associations in Central and Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico. Its broad footprint allows Stellar MLS to deliver a broader suite of cutting-edge products and services, and more opportunities for customers to do business than almost any other MLS. Stellar MLS creates conditions within which real estate professionals can succeed, the housing market can thrive, and people who seek homeownership have every opportunity to achieve it.

Stellar MLS Staff, September 2025.
More News



