? by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Selby Kaiser of Prudential Network Realty doesn’t have a grandiose scheme planned for her upcoming year as president of the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS®.
She’s going to do what she feels is right — follow other good leaders.
Specifically, she is going to follow Cathy Whatley, owner of Buck and Buck Realty and National Association of REALTORS® president.
“Her [Whatley’s] big goal is housing opportunities,” said Kaiser, who will take office in January at the NEFAR installation banquet. “We are going to join her in that effort. We are going to build a house for HabiJax. Cathy asked for tangible events that would support that effort. We are also going to have seminars open to the public.”
Also following Whatley’s lead, Kaiser said she wants to help make sure “hometown heroes” such as teachers, firefighters, policemen and nurses can all afford to live in the communities that they serve.
“These people are who we depend on to give us the kinds of communities that we want,” said Kaiser.
Being president wasn’t always a goal of Kaiser’s. NEFAR asked her and she said yes. Although, she has worked as a director, officer and on many different committees over the years, her ascent to the presidency just felt right.
“I worked for many years with the association and when they wanted me to do it, I said yes,” said Kaiser. “I thought it would be something meaningful to me and hopefully I can make some kind of a contribution to the association. I also thought it would be very interesting.”
Kaiser, who used to be an office manager, said she got involved with NEFAR so she could help the association run more smoothly for the producers in her office.
“When I first got involved in the association, I managed an office,” said Kaiser. “Most of the people who chair committees and are directors are office managers. I always felt that one of the reasons I did that was so that the association would run well for my producing associates and they wouldn’t have to take their time to serve the association, unless they wanted to.”
As president-elect, Kaiser has had a busy year.
She attended several FAR and National Association of REALTOR® meetings.
“I was surprised at how well prepared NAR and FAR are to launch an incoming president,” said Kaiser. “There were a lot of opportunities to get up to speed and to get ideas from other presidents from around the country and around Florida.”
Kaiser is taking over for Charlene Perez Ferren and said she was very helpful in preparing her for her upcoming role.
“She kept me posted on issues and was very helpful in telling me what to expect and what to plan for,” she said.
Currently, Kaiser is not a manager of an office. She is out listing and selling real estate with her partner and twin sister, Linda McMorrow.
“I really would not have accepted the position if it has not been for my sister and partner Linda,” said Kaiser. “She has made as much of a commitment as I have because she will be taking over some of the things that I should be doing for our business when I am away on president business.”
Another goal of Kaiser’s is to get to as many of the council meetings as she can during her year.
“I’m going to try to get to as many as I can, just so I can meet people who can’t always come in for the big NEFAR meetings,” said Kaiser.
Kaiser will follow Ferren’s lead on meetings next year.
There will be four meetings in addition to the annual installation meeting. And the four meetings will be held at four different locations around town to help give easier access to members on the east, west, north and south sides of town.
Kaiser said the association used to be more of a social group, but is now more focused on education, training, technology and legislation.
Kaiser has been a real estate agent since 1981 when she started in Virginia.
She moved to Jacksonville in 1983 and started with Stokes and Company and then became director of sales at Villages of San Jose, where she met Linda Sherrer, who was director of sales at Epping Forest.
When Sherrer and her partners started Prudential Network Realty, Kaiser joined her at Epping Forest.
Currently, she and McMorrow sell all over Jacksonville, though their main farm area is still Epping Forest.
Kaiser, who was born in Tallahassee, has been married to Fred for 39 years. They have two children, Laura Elizabeth and Thomas.
When she is not working, she enjoys painting, learning the piano and doing needlepoint.