Our Team.
Raymond Keller
Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
Fourteen-year industry veteran Raymond Keller leads The Keller Team at Brown Harris Stevens. Driven by passion, Ray has an innate desire to please others and to do his best at any task. His fascination with Manhattan and Brooklyn real estate, intuitive understanding of the market, and stellar negotiating skills have led him to excel in this business. But what really sets him apart is the genuine investment he makes in his clients. "My happiness depends on their happiness and wellbeing," he says. "Because I invest so much emotionally in my clients' needs, the quality of my work is naturally raised to another level. As a real estate professional, my job is not all about money, or even property; it is first and foremost about people."
A values- and skills-first attitude attracted Ray to this brokerage in January of 2018. Brown Harris Stevens (previously known as Halstead) offers a collaborative culture, client-first mindset, and innovative technological and human resources which translate to best-in-industry service for his clients. Ray believes that hard work and creative adaptability produce success in real estate, just as they do in life. He has found a similar approach in the culture of Brown Harris Stevens.
An honors graduate of Harvard University, Ray fell in love with New York City during his first visit, just after 9/11. After college in 2008, he wasted no time establishing his residence on the Upper West Side and launching his real estate career at Corcoran’s midtown 888 Seventh Avenue office, under the expert tutelage of industry giant and lifetime achievement award winner Elaine Dean. Ray achieved recognition as one of Corcoran’s top rental agents during his second summer at the firm.
Ray worked with TOWN Residential from 2013 to 2018 in the SoHo, Astor Place, and Williamsburg offices, where he was consistently recognized amongst the firm’s top producing agents, 'TOWN Elite.' Throughout his career, Ray has built diverse experience in both rentals and sales, having worked with developers, investors, and primary residence buyers and sellers. Previously a freelance strategy consultant and research analyst at Harvard Business School's Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship, Ray has developed invaluable analytical skills, enabling him to consistently add value for every client in every situation.
Ray now lives in the heart of the West Village, just off Gay Street, with his Australian Shepherd Tucker. He was born just outside of Cleveland, Ohio and was raised between Chicago, Illinois and Fort Wayne, Indiana. During college, Ray spent time abroad in Paris, France where he studied Social Theory, French Literature, and Dance at several French universities. Ray continues to dance professionally with a contemporary ballet company based in NYC and New Jersey, and he does non-profit work with a focus on entrepreneurship in dance and the arts.
Shannon Kausch
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Shannon joined the Keller Team in June 2017. Exposure to the Keller Team’s best practices in combination with Shannon’s own incredible work ethic has elevated her skills to match top professionals across the industry. Shannon has a special talent for corporate relocation work, and she has become a favorite referred agent of the Global Services Department at BHS, in connection with an elite international network ‘Leading Real Companies of the World.’ When they are preparing for a move to NYC, corporate executives ask their companies for Shannon by name, on the sole basis of her word-of-mouth reputation amongst their colleagues.
Shannon’s mother works as a real estate broker, and her father does general contracting. She has participated in their businesses since childhood, and she has come to see real estate as her true calling. Over a decade in NYC and immersion in NYC’s most elite hospitality businesses with the Tao Group during seven of those years have made Shannon a unique New York expert.
Originally from South Florida, Shannon earned a bachelor's in English from Florida State University. She spent many years residing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a neighborhood that she adores for its restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment. Shannon is now expanding into parts of New Jersey, given the proximity and accessibility to NYC. Stay tuned for updates!
Before real estate and elite hospitality, Shannon worked for 10 years as a veterinarian technician, and her passion for animals and their care is still a top value for her.
‘Red’ Rachel Richards
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Despite suburban roots, Rachel Richards, or “Red” as friends call her, has long been entranced by the energy of city living. A performer from a young age, she would imagine her adult life like a scene from the movie “Fame”—singing and dancing amongst the yellow New York City taxi cabs. Anyone who knows Red today would tell you that she often does exactly that.
Red grew up in the Atlanta area, and like two generations of her family before her, she attended the University of Georgia, where she obtained an A.B. in theatre and film studies. While Red is not a regular sports fan, she loves UGA football. GO BULLDOGS! During college, Red spent a semester abroad in London, which solidified her love of big city energy and life. Upon graduation, Red lived in midtown Atlanta and traveled the country touring with a variety of musical theatre productions.
In 2010, Red found her way to New York, and a mere four years later, she bought and renovated a home in Harlem. Red Rachel leads her co-op board, and she has learned a lot from undertaking that responsibility. Most of all, she has learned that the rewards of home ownership outweigh every challenge. Red loves the experience of designing and making a space her own, and she recently added to her real estate portfolio with a house just north of the City. Expanding her expertise above NYC to include some upstate areas and Dutchess County has been a particular joy of hers since 2022.
The history, beauty, and old-school charm of New York City inspire Red. She adores all things vintage, and she enjoys working with and cultivating friendships with elder New Yorkers. In fact, Red spends hours each week working closely with the elderly to provide help and companionship. Working as an elder companion is yet another of Red’s passionate pursuits.
Samuel Hay
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Sam Hay’s passion for luxury homes is what brought him to a career in real estate. Having grown up with a father who specialized in creating custom cabinetry, Sam would often marvel at the homes he would visit, admiring the attention to detail paid to their design and development. He has demonstrated experience in the Brooklyn market, having personally facilitated over $2,000,000 in condo sales within his first year at BHS.
Prior to joining Brown Harris Stevens, Sam maintained a successful managerial career in Manhattan’s dining industry, giving him experience with everything from budgeting and finances to multitasking and customer service. He has lived and worked in both Manhattan and Brooklyn over the past five years and has a vast knowledge of each borough and their various neighborhoods. A results-oriented professional who is dedicated to helping clients achieve their goals, Sam is always willing to share his knowledge with clients and thoughtfully guide their buying and selling decisions.
A talented vocalist and pianist, Sam enjoys entertaining family and friends in his free time, as well as throwing dinner parties he caters himself.
Jason Gardner
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
As a native New Yorker with a rich background of leadership and entrepreneurial experience, Jason Gardner takes a comprehensive approach to his work in real estate. With his passion for the industry and keen eye for forecasting trends, he makes it his mission to guide clients’ current and future choices thoughtfully and transparently, helping them navigate New York City’s bustling market and achieve their goals.
A Harvard graduate, Jason was formerly the founder and CEO of a premier education company, The Ivy Key, which specialized in job recruitment for Ivy League graduates. The position required him to manage and organize over 100 employees who catered to thousands of students. Through the role, Jason became well-versed in organization, multitasking, and maintaining long-term business relationships – skills he now employs daily as he provides counsel to clients through a variety of transactions.
Jason grew up in Brooklyn and currently resides in Long Island City. An avid arts and tech enthusiast, he enjoys creating music, listening to jazz, and painting in his off time, in addition to volunteering with local schools to teach students about blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.
Zoe Lyons Nieves
Director of Operations
Growing up in a small town in Massachusetts, Zoe’s Mom always told her “Don’t be a small-town girl.” The first time she visited NYC, she fell in love with its artistic energy and vowed to return someday and make it her home. After graduating from Northeastern University with a BS in Business Administration/Marketing, Zoe moved to NYC to pursue her true passion - a career in music and entertainment. Over the years, she has lived ALL OVER THE CITY - including the West Village, Mid-town, Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Brooklyn Heights, Carol Gardens, Astoria, and Inwood. In 2019, she and her husband bought a house in North White Plains. Although she loves her home, Zoe enjoys having the best of both worlds coming into the city every day for work.
Zoe brings over 20 years of experience in administration and is excited to be working in real estate as The Keller Team Administrator since May 2021. In addition to having a successful career in music, she has held various administrative positions ranging from executive assistant at a major television network, administrative director of a spiritual center, to associate producer for a commercial theater and event production company. Zoe’s experiences have shaped her philosophy of customer service “only the best is good enough”, which is directly reflected in her approach to client relations for the Keller Team. She enjoys getting to know our clients as she assists them through the processes of buying and selling their homes and the rewards of seeing their dreams fulfilled.
Zoe continues to do music, singing with several NYC bands for private events as well as recording her original music. Fun fact: Zoe was the singer and co-writer of the title song for Disney’s Darkwing Duck cartoon series. Zoe is a passionate philanthropist and has coordinated charitable drives for organizations such as NY Cares, Volunteers of America, Project GLAM, and the NY Food Bank. She and her husband Gary have been married for over 12 years, and she has 3 adult step-children and 2 granddaughters.
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