Ryan Acone, co-founder and managing partner at EVO Real Estate Group, began his real estate career eight years ago.  Cutting his teeth in the development space, Acone founded ROCK Development in 2015, a partnership in which he spearheaded acquisitions, marketing and sales for the firm. Focusing primarily on zoning deals and condo conversions in the city, he quickly developed a niche for identifying off-market opportunities.

Recognizing a void in construction expertise in the broker space, Acone pivoted from his focus as a developer to launch the EVO Real Estate Group in 2019. The brokerage quickly established itself as an industry leader in new construction representation, having now grown to a team of 40 sales agents. As managing partner of EVO, Acone provides leadership and support to everyone at the company. The team, he notes, is truly collaborative but also competitive. “As the great Jim Rohn said, ‘Don’t join an easy crowd; you won’t grow. Go where the expectations and the demands to perform are high.’”

Acone credits the firm’s culture as the top reason for its rapid growth. “My philosophy is that you are an average of the five people you spend the most time with,” he says. “I’ve always been mindful of that when considering individuals to join our team. I want to be surrounded by people who strive to be the best. If you look around the room, our office is full of hungry, talented individuals. The greatest strength that we have as an organization is our culture. I’m extremely proud of the team that we have built.”

That culture has translated to the firm representing many of Greater Boston’s most-respected builders and developers. Over the years, Acone has negotiated hundreds of real estate transactions totaling over $500 million in traded assets. He looks to leverage that local success and expand EVO’s footprint into the Florida, New Hampshire and Rhode Island markets in 2023.