In my day-to-day business life, I sell everything from high-end homes with fantastic views of San Francisco Bay all the way down to simple, one-bedroom condos. I hope these varied experiences give me some insight into the challenges facing the Council and its members in the coming year during my term as 2010 CRS president.

 

One thing I hope to accomplish is to help the organization attract new leadership from the grassroots level. We have made great strides in this area, and I will work to let individual members know that they have leadership’s ear. I invite all CRS members to feel free to come to me or anybody on the leadership team with your concerns and comments.

 

I also encourage those members who do not belong to a local chapter to join one in 2010. Chapter membership is a key benefit that the Council provides, and it gives members a direct link to the national organization and their fellow professionals. But one of the biggest benefits of chapter membership is the potential to boost your agent referral business. I can attest from personal experience that my activities at the Chapter level have been my top source for CRS referrals in my career.

 

I am passionate about family, and I see CRS as just that — a family. In any family there are high points and low points, and this organization is no different. We can argue or disagree, but in the end we are all working towards the same goal: to keep CRS in its place as the industry-leading REALTOR® organization. Over the next year, I will work to instill the same passion that I have for the Council in each of you.

 

I never would have guessed when I arrived at my first national meeting more than 10 years ago that I would one day become CRS president. But my involvement in the Council has been a major factor in both my personal and professional growth, and I hope that your involvement can benefit you in the same way.