Canterbury School
New Milford, CT
Career Connections
Join us for the launch of a unique opportunity to unite Canterbury alumni in specific professional fields and foster a dynamic networking community of mentorship, collaboration, and growth. The virtual session will be held on Tuesday, February 11, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.
The first Career Connections event features alumni from Compass: Margaret Smith ’06 – Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources, Cory Perkins ’06 – Senior Vice President and Head of Integrated Services, Chris Coleman ’92 - Top-producing Real Estate Agent in Montauk, New York.
We are excited to introduce our inaugural panelists whose inspiring career journeys and leadership offer valuable perspectives. Please read more about them below.
Date and time
Tuesday, February 11th, 2025
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm EST
Organizer
About
Margaret Smith ‘06 – SVP, Head of Human Resources | Compass
Margaret Smith ‘06 is Head of Human Resources at Compass, overseeing Compass’s corporate people operations, including talent management, compensation, benefits, recruiting, and organizational design.
Prior to Compass, Margaret was a founding member of Rich Talent Group (RTG), a leading San Francisco-based executive search and advisory firm in the tech space. During her years at RTG, she successfully built executive leadership teams at Airbnb, Dropbox, Etsy, Facebook, Uber, Warby Parker, and Zillow. Margaret also partnered with many Silicon Valley venture capital firms to advise their talent portfolios.
Margaret is excited to share her career experience from a storied 7+ years at Compass, including how a material pay cut was the best career decision she’s ever made. Margaret will also share advice from her executive search days evaluating top executives across the broader tech space.
Cory Perkins ‘06 – SVP, Head of Integrated Services | Compass
Cory Perkins ‘06 is Head of Integrated Services at Compass, overseeing the expansion and management of the company’s new lines of business nationally across mortgage, settlement services, and home insurance.
He’s excited to join this event and discuss navigating his early career through media, venture capital, and consulting that led him to Compass, a growth-stage start-up in the real estate industry.
As someone who took years to ‘figure it out,’ Cory will share how starting small, focusing on pursuing personal strengths, and leaning into mentorship opportunities helped him find his path and accelerate professional progress.
Chris Coleman ‘92 – Top-producing Real Estate Agent in Montauk, New York | Compass
Chris has been Montauk’s top-producing real estate agent for the past two decades, with career sales exceeding $2 billion. After graduating from Denison University, he spent ten years as a broker on the New York Stock Exchange before transitioning to real estate in 2007. His deep market knowledge, strong client relationships, and strategic approach have made him a trusted resource for buyers and sellers alike.
A longtime Montauk resident, Chris grew up spending summers there before settling in Ditch Plains with his wife and two children. He stays closely connected to the community, coaching basketball at East Hampton High School and enjoying Montauk’s beaches as an avid surfer. His passion for the area and commitment to his clients have cemented his reputation as a leader in Montauk real estate.
Chris looks forward to sharing insights from his career journey—from the fast-paced world of finance to building a successful real estate business—and discussing how adaptability, relationships, and passion have shaped his path.