COLUMBUS, MS., - Kevin R. Joiner, president of Crye-Leike Franchises, Inc., announced today Crye-Leike Properties Unlimited of Columbus, Miss. has achieved a top five ranking throughout the entire franchise network.

"We're very pleased with the expert leadership Rick and Hilbert have exhibited," said Joiner. "Their knowledge, professionalism, dedication to customer service and ability to develop and motivate a strong sales force has enabled them to build one of the most successful franchises in Crye-Leike's history," he added.

Crye-Leike Properties Unlimited is owned and operated by brokers Hilbert Williams and Rickey L. McGill. McGill is a 30-year real estate veteran who is a Golden Triangle Association of Realtors' (GTAR) past president and has been twice named the organization's Realtor of the Year.

Williams is a 23-year real estate veteran who holds the Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) designation and has also been named GTAR Realtor of the Year. He currently serves on the Columbus Link executive council, is a past president of GTAR and a former Miss. Association of Realtors executive committee member.

"We're excited to see the hard work pay off. Being in the top five of Crye-Leike's franchise network and also finishing 2007 in the number one spot here in our own market validates the investment of time, money and effort we've made," said Williams. "Our secret is our expert sales force. They are young, intelligent, and aggressive; and we try to push them to them to be their absolute best. Our agents have pursued advanced education and earned designations like SRS, Accredited Buyer Representative, E-Pro, Certified Residential Specialist and Accredited Buyer Representative Manager. They provide our clients with expertise and top-notch customer service. They work harder to get the job done right than any others I've ever known," he added.

Crye-Leike Properties Unlimited is located at 4170 Hwy. 45 N., Columbus, Miss. 39705. Both Columbus and Lowndes County have experienced tremendous economic development over the past several years as a result of investment in the area by Severstal, Paccar (Peterbilt), Kenworth Trucks, Aurora Flight Sciences, Talley Defense Industries, Israel aircraft, and American Eurocopter.

To contact Hilbert Williams or Rick McGill about a real estate purchase or sale or even a career in real estate, call (662) 328-1150.

Crye-Leike Franchises, Inc. is actively seeking franchise partners throughout Mississippi and Alabama. For information regarding opening a franchise office of the nation's fourth largest real estate company, entrepreneurs and real estate professionals should contact Kevin R. Joiner, president, at (866) 603-2470 or at franchises@crye-leike.com.

Harold Crye and Dick Leike established Crye-Leike, REALTORS in 1977. Today, Crye-Leike?, the nations 4th largest real estate company, has a network of more than 4,100 sales associates and 132 corporate and franchise offices located in 65 counties through-out the eight-state southern region of Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and North Carolina.

Crye-Leike is a full-service real estate company offering buyers and sellers services in the following areas of specialty: residential sales, mortgage lending, title, insurance, commercial business and investments, property management, development and construction, builder resources, REO bank-owned properties, relocation, auctions, and home services referrals. In 2007, the Crye-Leike organization attained sales of $5.7 billion with 32,500 closed transaction sides.