Serving Chicago's Neighborhoods Since 1995
MATT SHRAKE
Since 1995, Shrake Group founder Matt Shrake has served thousands of clients as a residential and commercial real estate broker with Coldwell Banker in Chicago. His award-winning career relies on his passion for selling, developing, and managing real estate across Chicago’s great neighborhoods and nearby suburbs. He knows the city intimately, is an industry leader, and spends countless hours staying up on the current real estate market. Most importantly, Matt knows his clients and understands their real estate needs and wishes. Matt's knowledge and experience come from investing his entire adult life in Chicago. He has given his time to neighborhood councils, non-profits for our underprivileged neighbors, public and private schools, youth athletic boards, urban renewal, sports coaching, and numerous other community-building efforts. Matt knows and loves Chicago and its neighborhoods, and Chicagoans from all walks of life know and respect Matt.
For more than 25 years, Matt has proudly grown his relationship with Coldwell Banker as his trusted brand partner. Matt began his career at the corner of Ashland Ave and Diversey Pkwy as a sales agent. Since his Coldwell Banker affiliation in 1995, Matt has expanded and deepened his client services using Coldwell Banker's platform that commands local, national, and worldwide respect by offering global connection through a propriety worldwide MLS, brand power, strategic media partners, and expansive online syndication. Matt's client-centered loyalty, confidentiality, and results-driven ambition make him a trusted real estate broker in Chicago.
He is well-known for his friendly drive to success in real estate...Matt gets the job done for his clients.
Matt Shrake
773.294.2667
LAURA APOSTOLOPOULOS
Laura had been searching for her most fulfilling career path after majoring in Marketing at Eastern Illinois University. Following graduation, she became an Events Manager at Chicago’s exciting and historic Soldier Field, but while she very much enjoyed the events industry, she wanted something even more challenging. When she landed a position in real estate with top producer Matt Shrake, she realized how exciting work could be by utilizing her talents to help clients realize a lifelong dream of homeownership.
Laura first embraced the real estate industry in 2015 with a deep-dive, learning multiple facets from the ground up as a transaction and business development manager, then quickly advanced her career a year later when she became licensed and a full-time Realtor with Shrake Group. Her passion for real estate was enriched by people from all walks of life she was able to serve, utilizing her tireless desire to help them find their perfect home. The interesting lifestyles of her many clients led her to add an expertise in high-end homes, becoming a certified Global Luxury agent in 2021. Laura loves all kinds of real estate, from renters to first-time buyers to luxury buyers, and from those downsizing to those looking for second homes or investment opportunities. Laura’s passion and drive to serve her clients shines through in each and every transaction.
Laura was born and raised in Elmwood Park, IL, left home briefly to get her Marketing degree, then moved back to Chicago, where she married and started a family. As their family grew, Laura and her husband were drawn to Chicago’s attractive western suburb of Wheaton. They knew immediately they had made the right decision. In this move, Laura experienced personally the feeling she wants all her clients to feel when they find their own perfect new home!
In Wheaton, Laura quickly met many new friends, new colleagues and new clients. She makes sure to set aside time from raising her family and showing homes to stay active in her community. She continues her 16-year tradition of raising awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis, a cause very near to her heart. She is a loyal parishioner at St. Michael’s Church, a PTA volunteer at her children’s school, and also enjoys her family's Medinah Country Club membership. Despite her hectic Realtor schedule, Laura enjoys spending any free time she has with her family and close friends. She enjoys passing her passion for soccer and dance on to her kids, and keeps them involved in both. You can find her running her kids to one of their activities after school, and out and about enjoying evenings in downtown Wheaton (Sogno is one of her absolute favorites, in case you were wondering!).
Laura loves bringing the joyful fulfillment she has found in her home, family, and community to her clients. She is your go-to agent in the Western Suburbs and she'll be there to guide you home. For more about Laura and her connection with her clients, check out their testimonials...NO ONE says it better than they do!
Laura Apostolopoulos
708.404.9323
ASHLEY BEIRNE
Ashley is an energetic Realtor at Shrake Group, focusing most of her work in her Chicago Gold Coast neighborhood.
Ashley has over 12 years’ experience in relationship building, specializing in corporate development and strategic cultivation of complex alliances in sports, real estate, and hospitality development. Most recently, she worked for the Chicago Cubs Baseball Club and Ricketts family in London, England, developing European relationships to promote the sport of baseball internationally while she earned her MBA from the London Business School. Before her time in London, Ashley worked in Chicago focusing on corporate partnership development and activation for the Chicago Cubs Baseball Club, Chicago Bears Football Club, and across international active entertainment brands owned by Red Frog Events. Ashley's strong relationship management skills led her to be chosen as a leader in the Cubs owners' large-scale commercial real estate development project adjacent to world-renowned Wrigley Field. As one of only three employees at the launch of the Ricketts family real estate development firm, Hickory Street Capital, she managed all stakeholder administration, marketing and communications, project management, and operations for their $250M mixed-use retail project adjacent to the neighborhood ballpark. She had the honor to work with local neighborhood and government groups to successfully blend community assets and programming into the overall vision of the development.
Since earning her MBA degree from London Business School, Ashley is excitedly doing impactful not-for-profit work with the American Red Cross. Ashley's entrepreneurial spirit is far-reaching, and she has products in development ready to launch internationally. She also believes in steering our future leaders and sits on multiple professional boards including DePaul University Alumni Relations, Kellstadt Marketing Group advisory board, and the Chicago Yacht Club.
Ashley enjoys long runs on the Chicago lakefront with her Golden Doodle, Fitzgerald and sailing. She spends any free time on a sailboat in a regatta or on a leisure sail at sunset. Ashley, a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, also loves visiting her friends and family in Europe.
Ashley Beirne
630.935.1901
CARMELLA JASIAK
Carm's veteran experience in the real estate and education fields make her contributions as Shrake Group's executive assistant valuable and efficient. Her can-do attitude and ever-positive personality assist the team and our clients every day.
PETER CZERWINSKI
Peter is a hard-working unlicensed assistant who has a can-do spirit when taking on any task, no matter how big or small. His professionalism and client consideration make him a trusted assistant on the Shrake Group team. He graduated from New Trier High School. As a current University of Kansas student majoring in Environmental Studies, he has a keen eye for detail and assists the team with digital management and office tasks. Peter’s role on the team is multifaceted and allows the team to be quick and on-the-ball for any task our client needs in order to ensure a truly white-glove experience.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL HIGHLIGHTS
