Buffini & Company Reinforces Commitment to Agent and Broker Success with Strategic Executive Appointments Designed to Scale Relationship-Driven Businesses
CARLSBAD, CA — JUNE 1, 2026 — In a market where real estate professionals are asked to chase more leads, learn more tools, and respond to more noise than ever, Buffini & Company is making a different bet: fewer gimmicks, deeper relationships, and systems that actually stick.
North America’s largest real estate coaching and training company is entering a new era, one that keeps ‘Work by Referral®’ at the center while helping brokers, leaders, and agents run relationship-driven businesses in an AI-powered world. Today, Buffini & Company announced a significant expansion of its executive leadership team with the appointment of three industry veterans to lead that shift: Steve Pacinelli as Chief Revenue Officer, JB Bolton as Chief Operating Officer, and Ethan Beute as Chief Ambassador.
The strategic recruitment of these leaders marks a pivotal chapter for Buffini & Company, following the recent appointment of Darin Dawson as Chief Executive Officer. Dawson, who assumed the CEO role in April, was instrumental in assembling this powerhouse team.
“Recruiting high-caliber leaders like Steve, JB, and Ethan is a testament to the exciting direction Buffini & Company is headed,” said Darin Dawson. “Having worked closely with each of them for years, I know firsthand the depth of their expertise and their alignment with our core mission. Together, we are focused on integrating modern, scalable technology with the relational, high-touch business models that have made this company the industry standard for 30 years.”
Chairman and Founder Brian Buffini noted that this leadership expansion is ultimately about securing the next generation of growth and profitability for the professionals the company serves.
“Our community deserves leaders who understand exactly what it takes to thrive in today’s changing landscape,” said Brian Buffini. “Bringing Steve, JB, and Ethan on board isn’t about us; it’s about giving our agents and brokers the absolute best coaching, systems, and support in the industry. This team has the heart and expertise required to help our members leverage modern technology without losing the human connection that drives their revenue.”
New Executive Appointments
- Steve Pacinelli, Chief Revenue Officer: Pacinelli will redesign how customers discover, try, and grow with Buffini, so that every interaction, from the first podcast episode to the first coaching call, feels like a clear next step. His background in building subscription and membership businesses at BombBomb, Follow Up Boss, and Zillow gives him a playbook for turning human-centered habits into durable revenue and measurable outcomes for clients.
- JB Bolton, Chief Operating Officer: Bolton will align people, processes, technology, and coaching to drive disciplined execution and measurable results for clients. He brings more than two decades of experience as a SaaS executive, previously serving as SVP of Operations, Chief Customer Officer, and Chief Revenue Officer at BombBomb. Most recently, he founded Bolton Co., an executive coaching and advisory firm dedicated to helping leaders build clarity, strengthen teams, and elevate the customer experience.
- Ethan Beute, Chief Ambassador: Beute is responsible for amplifying the voices, successes, and insights of the organization’s global community of clients, coaches, and members. He is a Wall Street Journal bestselling co-author who has spent more than a dozen years helping real estate professionals scale through authentic connection. A dynamic speaker, host of nearly 500 podcast episodes, and former executive at Zillow Group and BombBomb, he specializes in amplifying community insights and building high-touch, human-centered business strategies.
The company’s new executive team has one shared mandate: make it radically easier for real estate professionals and brokerage leaders to run a relationship-driven business at scale.
A note to our community
When we say this is a new era at Buffini & Company, we mean a new level of accountability to the results you get from our system.
Steve’s job is to make sure our growth never comes at the expense of your trust. JB’s job is to ensure our systems and experiences are as reliable as our philosophy. Ethan’s job is to keep your stories and successes at the center of every decision we make. Together, they will help us keep ‘Work by Referral’ as relevant for the next 30 years as it has been for the last 30.
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About Buffini & Company
Buffini & Company is the largest real estate coaching and training company in North America. Founded by industry thought leader and master motivator Brian Buffini, the company provides a unique and highly effective referral system. Buffini & Company’s comprehensive business coaching, training programs and cutting-edge content have helped more than 4 million professionals in 47 countries improve their business, increase net profit and enhance their quality of life.
To learn more about Buffini & Company, visit buffini.com.
Media Contact:
Jeanette Perez
Chief of Staff
Buffini & Company
Tel: (760) 827-2101 x2442
Email: Jeanettep@buffini.com