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Strengthening fair housing enforcement was a priority for the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors during its Friday meeting. The governing body passed resolutions supporting fair lending provisions of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act—which prohibit discrimination in consumers’ access to credit on prohibited bases—and urged state associations to promote legislation for minimum, universal fair housing education requirements for all real estate licensees.
Also, according to an informal poll conducted during the meeting, the board believes legislative and regulatory advocacy—and the changing role of REALTORS®—are issues that will be top priorities for the real estate industry in the next five years. Board members also said the lack of new construction is the biggest factor constraining inventory.
Member dues will remain $150 per year. Directors also voted in favor to continue supporting the NAR consumer advertising campaign with an increase in the special assessment cost of $10 a year, bringing the annual cost per member up to $45 starting in 2023 through at least 2027. This is the first increase since the “That’s Who We R” campaign was launched in 2019.
More actions at the Board of Directors meeting:
Distinguished Service Awards
Cindy Chandler of Charlotte, N.C., and Chris McElroy of Fort Collins, Colo., were named NAR’s 2022 recipients of the Distinguished Service Award—the highest honor outside the presidency bestowed to an NAR member.
A 30-year industry veteran, Cindy Chandler, CRE, AHWD, C2EX, is the founder of The Chandler Group, a consulting and training company, and authored The Insider’s Guide to Commercial Real Estate (Dearborn/Kaplan Publishing, 2013). Chandler has served in numerous leadership roles for NAR, including as chair of the Commercial Leadership Forum, the REALTORS® Commercial Alliance Committee, the Commercial Real Estate Research Subcommittee, and the Commercial Legislation and Regulatory Subcommittee. In 2011, she was regional vice president for Region 4 (Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). She is currently serving as NAR’s Executive Committee representative for The Counselors of Real Estate, and she’s a two-time REALTORS® Political Action Committee Hall of Fame member.
Chris McElroy, CRS, AHWD, a REALTOR® for 45 years, is a broker associate and partner with The Group Inc.–Harmony. His involvement with NAR spans more than 30 years and includes chairing the Federal Taxation Committee, the Housing Opportunity Advisory Board, the Research Committee, the State & Local Issues Policy Committee, and the Public Policy Coordinating Committee. He is currently serving on the Legal Action Committee. McElroy has twice been inducted into the REALTORS® Political Action Committee Hall of Fame. In 2007, McElroy was regional vice president for NAR Region 11 (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming). For his work promoting the need for affordable housing, McElroy was named a “Hometown Hero.”
2023 First Vice President
Kevin M. Sears, AHWD, C2EX, a broker and partner with Sears Real Estate in Springfield, Mass., was elected 2023 first vice president of NAR, putting Sears on the ladder to serve as NAR president in 2025.
Sears, who ran against Daryl L. Braham, CRB, GRI, C2EX, of Fargo, N.D., received 631 votes of the 942 votes cast. His service to NAR spans 20 years, including terms as regional vice president in 2016, vice president of government affairs in 2017, and president’s liaison in 2019. He was president of the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® in 2010 and state REALTOR® of the Year in 2006.
2023–2024 Treasurer
Gregory J. Hrabcak, CCIM, C2EX, was elected to serve as 2023–2024 NAR treasurer. Hrabcak is a commercial specialist with HER, REALTORS®, in Westerville, Ohio, and heads the Central Ohio company’s commercial and property management divisions. His service to NAR spans 15 years. He served as regional vice president in 2020 and has been a member of the NAR Finance Committee since 2015, the year he served as president of Ohio REALTORS®.
The 2023 Leadership Team
President Kenny Parcell, ABR, CRS, AHWD, C2EX, Salem, Utah
President-elect Tracy Kasper, CIPS, CRS, GRI, AHWD, SFR, C2EX, Eagle, Idaho
First Vice President Kevin Sears, AHWD, C2EX, of Springfield, Mass.
Immediate Past President Leslie Rouda Smith, ABR, AHWD, CIPS, CRB, CRS, EPRO, PMN, C2EX, Plano, Texas
Treasurer Gregory J. Hrabcak, CCIM, C2EX, of Westerville, Ohio
CEO Bob Goldberg, EPRO
Regional Vice Presidents
Region 1: Joanne Breen, AHWD, GRI, C2EX, Newington, Conn.
Region 2: Ilene Horowitz, AHWD, C2EX, Rockaway, N.J.
Region 3: Gail Renulfi, AHWD, C2EX, Hockessin, Del.
Region 4: Amy Hedgecock, AHWD, CPM, GRI, C2EX, High Point, N.C.
Region 5: Eric Sain, AHWD, GRI, C2EX, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Region 6: Gary Reggish, SFR, CRS, C2EX, Novi, Mich.
Region 7: Ed Neaves, AHWD, C2EX, Bloomington, Ill.
Region 8: Patty Zuzek, SFR, CRS, SRES, Burnsville, Minn.
Region 9: Steve LaRue, AHWD, CRS, C2EX, Lawrence, Kan.
Region 10: Cindi Bulla, AHWD, GRI, C2EX, Amarillo, Texas
Region 11: Kevin Sigstad, CCIM, CPM, Reno, Nev.
Region 12: Connie Fogle, AHWD, SFR, CRS, GRI, C2EX, Sugar City, Idaho
Region 13: Geoff McIntosh, C2EX, Rancho Mirage, Calif.