There’s a VIP at the National Association of REALTORS®’ annual conference being talked about at nearly every forum and committee meeting.
That VIP is the association’s proposed three-year strategic plan. And it was the primary focus of a leadership update from NAR President Kevin Sears and CEO Nykia Wright Thursday.
“The real estate industry is evolving, and so is NAR,” Wright said, presenting highlights of the proposed plan to attendees of NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience, which runs through Nov. 16.
The association has spent the last 15 months meticulously gathering feedback from more than 150,000 members and industry stakeholders to craft, draft, review, revise and socialize a strategic plan that rebuilds the member experience and modernizes the association.
Wright and Sears pulled back the curtain on development of the plan, which goes to the Executive Committee for a vote on Sunday.
Member Voices Drive Decisions
NAR gathered a tremendous amount of feedback in developing its road map. It consulted more than 375 industry organizations, engaged with 60 top brokerages, surveyed 75,000 members and association executives, and led focus groups with more than 100 participants.
That feedback identified eight commitments at the heart of the strategic plan.
“These are the things that we have to get right in order for people to consider the association somewhat or very valuable,” Wright explained.
The data has already driven change within the organization.
“It was key in our decision-making when we brought the budget proposal to the Board of Directors in June,” said Sears, informing which programs needed more resources and which should be eliminated or reduced. “So, throughout the entire association, the enterprise, the business, we've been able to use this data to help make efficiencies a reality.”
Leadership and Collaboration Are the Path Forward
Forty-nine percent of members surveyed said they are somewhat or very satisfied with the association. Wright didn’t shy away from members’ “sobering” evaluation, and she asked the audience for accountability as the association implements change.
NAR’s senior executives, many of whom are recent hires, will be tasked with bringing the plan to life. Some are in roles new to NAR, including Sherry Chris, special advisor to the CEO tasked with strengthening brokerage relationships, and Jarrod Grasso, who became the first senior vice president of industry relations earlier this year.
Wright said the executive team will be putting a keen focus on effectively partnering with REALTOR® associations, brokerages and other partners.
“Co-create is the term of 2026,” Wright said. “There is no more ivory tower.”
She added: “People have demanded change. They’ve demanded tools. They’ve demanded technology, and we’re going to be able to deliver that with this new executive team.”
