SVN AuctionWorks

Diana M. Peterson, president of AuctionWorks, has more than 19 years of experience in law, real estate brokerage and auctions. Prior to founding AuctionWorks, an independently owned and operated franchise of Sperry Van Ness, LLC, Peterson was executive vice president of Auctions by ATG. Peterson built the auction platform for Auctions by ATG and ran the company, utilizing the expertise she previously acquired founding and running a real estate brokerage company, PMD Realty, LLC, for over a decade.

When Peterson founded PMD Realty, LLC in 2001, she saw an opportunity to provide home owners an alternative disposition strategy. As a result, PMD Realty, LLC quickly became the leading local provider of flat fee MLS listing services, dominating the market in that emerging area for several years. During that time, Peterson was recognized by the Chicago Association of Realtors as one of the top 5 producing realtors, having closed more than $130 million in residential sales and negotiated more than 500,000 square feet of commercial lease and sale transactions.

In addition to her client-focused philosophy, Peterson is known for her exceptional negotiation and legal skills, honed during years of practice as an attorney. Prior to starting PMD Realty, LLC, Peterson worked for the Chicago real estate firms U.S. Equities Realty, and Jones Lang LaSalle; she practiced law with Chicago law firms D’Ancona & Pflaum and Hedlund Hanley & John. Peterson draws on these experiences in upholding her commitment to provide only the highest level of service to her clients.

Peterson earned her law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, where she served as an editor of the Minnesota Law Review, and a Bachelor of Arts (with honors) from the University of Chicago. In addition to her Illinois law license, she holds an Illinois real estate managing broker’s license and an Illinois auction license. Peterson is also a certified REO broker and personal property appraiser.

Frequently quoted in the news, Peterson has been featured in DS News, GlobeSt.com, Crain’s, Illinois Real Estate Journal, Real Estate Executive magazine and many other publications. Peterson is often engaged as a speaker at real estate conferences as well.

Peterson is a member of Turnaround Management Association (TMA), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Real Estate Investment Association (REIA), International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC), Commercial Real Estate Executive Women (CREW), Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), Chicago Association of Realtors (CAR), National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Auctioneers Association (NAA).

Peterson is active in the community, and has devoted time to serving on several non-profit boards including The Auxiliary Board of the Art Institute of Chicago, PAWS Chicago, The Poetry Center of Chicago, and The Young Leaders Fund of the Chicago Community Trust.