Four members of the National Association of REALTORS® executive and senior staff were recognized as RISMedia "Real Estate Newsmakers,” a distinction acknowledging an individual’s impact on the real estate ecosystem and the communities and consumers who benefit.
NAR CEO Nykia Wright was named a “luminary” for the second year in a row, joining an elite league of CEOs from America's preeminent brokerages. The title is given to “industry icons.”
Newsmakers must be nominated and are chosen by RISMedia’s editorial team. They’re judged against a range of criteria including, “advancing the industry; impacting change; technology achievements; diversity and inclusion; business accomplishments and growth; humanitarian efforts; industry activism and support; thought leadership and influence; excellence in customer service; or innovation and creativity.”
“The pinnacle of Wright’s 2025 leadership was the unveiling of the 2026–2028 Strategic Plan,” RISMedia says. “Under Wright’s guidance, NAR shifted its focus toward three critical pillars: defending private property rights; advancing professional excellence; and driving radical transparency.”
Notably, the three other NAR leaders recognized were all brought on in 2025, an indicator that Wright’s decision to infuse the organization with new talent is working. Wright, who has a track record of spearheading company transformation, recently noted she’s replaced about a third of NAR’s workforce and installed smart, new leaders on her executive team.
“I brought in people that have either industry expertise or a beginner’s mind—[who] already have the built-in reputational brand in excellence, and so at that point we’re just partnering,” Wright said in December 2025. She spoke about how as CEO, she needs to rely on these capable new hires: “There’s no room for micromanagement in a turnaround.”
Sherry Chris, who serves as an independent consultant and special advisor to Wright, was also named a luminary. Since joining in January 2025, she has been pivotal in helping NAR restore its relationships with brokers, many of which had become frayed.
“By leveraging her decades of executive leadership to foster open dialogue, Chris has been instrumental in ensuring NAR remains a relevant, trusted partner for the entire real estate ecosystem,” RISMedia notes.
The association’s communications team celebrated two nods: Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Bennett Richarson was selected as a “futurist” (given to forward thinkers) and its Vice President of Communications Raffi Williams was recognized as an “influencer” (given to thought leaders). Both began their roles on May 31, 2025, highlighting the impressive impact they’ve had—particularly in terms of delivering information to members quickly and transparently—in a short amount of time.
“We’ve got people who show up in a way that just makes you confident when you give them something to do,” Wright said. “People that have relationships with the media outlets.”
