Collette McDonald & Associates hired native Atlantan and local real estate veteran Jan Thurston as an associate agent.

Thurston’s hiring tops a year of exponential expansion for the eXp Realty brokerage, which added 30 agents over the preceding 12 months, founder Collette McDonald told Atlanta Agent magazine. “How is that for growth?” she quipped.

After more than 20 years in advertising, Thurston became a real estate agent in 2006. She previously worked at Atlanta Communities Real Estate and has closed more than $30 million of sales over the last few years.

Thurston also serves on the Atlanta Board of REALTORS® Governmental Affairs committee, which aims to help shape legislative issues in the Atlanta area.