Our History

Daunno Realty Services, LLC (DRS) is a residential and commercial real estate brokerage headquartered in Clark, NJ. Founded in the fall of 2005 by Rudy Daunno III, the company was originally formed to become an ancillary sales division of Daunno Development, the Daunno family’s real estate development company.

While working to start the company, it became obvious that the Daunno’s expertise in both the real estate market and the component parts of the construction industry were valuable assets to countless buyers, sellers, and investors in the area. With the companies’ potential becoming more evident by the day, the Daunno’s quickly realized the unusual value and added benefits their expertise could provide. Upon further investigation, it became necessary to employ the assistance of an exceptional real estate broker, preferably one whose reputation would precede them in the industry.

Enter Michael Tortorello, a close family friend and former Broker of Record with his own company, Michael Peter’s Realty of Clark. Working together, Tortorello and the Daunnos were a perfect fit. Unfortunately, just as the company began to take off, tragedy struck. In February of 2007, Michael suddenly passed away. While coping with the loss of a close friend, partner, and mentor, the Daunnos were fortunate enough to meet Gerry Grillo, a man who Mike had brought into the business several years before. Gerry, who had since gone on to become a real estate broker himself, offered to step in and pick up where Mike left off. Under Gerry’s two years of guidance, the company doubled its sales volume and began growing its new sales team.

In the spring of 2008, Rudy qualified for and became Broker of Record for Daunno Realty. It was then that he was joined by his brother and partner Brandon Daunno after Brandon graduated with an engineering degree from Lehigh University. Their partnership was a perfect fit. While Rudy concentrated on sales and promotion of the business, Brandon was the glue that held the company together. Over the years, he put systems in place focusing on office management, accounting, insurance, licensing, and general company organization. Together, the Daunno brothers have grown Daunno Realty into a renowned private brokerage with over 100 active agents, 250 referral agents, and offices in Clark, Red Bank, and Toms River, New Jersey.