2026 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: ROLSTON AUDAIN

As an executive and operating committee member at Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices RW Towne Realty, Audain expands tools, services and professional development opportunities for agents, and elevates the brokerage’s luxury market presence.

Created by the 2023 merger of Rose & Womble Realty and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Towne Realty, the firm now claims 15% of the greater Hampton Roads regional market covered by the Real Estate Information Network MLS. It has the backing of TowneBank and is a Berkshire Hathaway luxury real estate licensee.Audain launched his real estate career back in high school when a teacher helped him get a part-time job working for a Realtor. Audain went on to work at Virginia Beach’s John Savino Group real estate firm as a team manager, where he stayed for more than 14 years. In 2013, RW Towne’s CEO, Barbara Wolcott, hired Audain as director of marketing and the firm’s luxury collection.

WHY I CHOSE MY PROFESSION: A natural, true enjoyment of the real estate business. I do enjoy it. I enjoy the houses, the people, the industry in general. There’s just so much to it. There’s never a repeat day.

HOW I GIVE BACK: I’ve been able to work with the Coastal Virginia Conservancy and their efforts to clean up the waterways and conserve land locally. And when you hear that and you hear real estate, you don’t think the two go together, but there should be some open natural space that’s not necessarily developed. I enjoy working with them as a volunteer and on their fundraising arm.

SOMETHING I’VE LEARNED: Every customer is different. Every customer has a different want, a different need, and you have to be malleable.