Cathy Whatley joins a list of recent neighbors who have ascended to the highest place in their profession. A few days ago, she took over the gavel as president of the National Association of REALTORS®.
Does the name “Yank Coble” means anything to you? How about “M.G. Orender?” Well, certainly you can handle “Jim King.”
All are — or soon will be — at the top of their professions. Coble is a Jacksonville doctor who is president of the American Medical Association. Orender runs Hampton Golf — it’s a LandMar division — and is the president of the PGA of America, the organization for golf club professionals. King is going to be president of the Florida Senate.
The obvious: congratulations and good luck to all.
The semi-obvious: having people in high places can very much help this area, even though you may assume that some are mostly ceremonial positions. They can aim conventions to our area, and their personal stature certainly gives us the legitimacy of being at least a good step above, say, Hahira, Ga.
By serving in these positions, they serve their professions. But they fact that they have ascended to the highest place means they have spent years of service to their organizations. In these leagues, one doesn’t sign up and get anointed the next day.
Coble’s presidency has little affect on our professions. Orender has some; homes and golf have become brother and sister. King has a lot; the president of the Florida Senate can control legislation and there are some who feel that his coming position is more powerful than any other in the state. (Maybe he can convince the governor that we need representation on state licensing boards.)
Whatley’s ascension affects us in many ways. We know her; if we have a bee in our bonnet, we can tell our story to someone who might do something about it. She also will be a relentless advocate for our professions; you know her and how she works ... she’s not going to treat the NAR presidency as a throne.
Can we continue this national leadership? No reason we can’t. We have excellent people with the ambition and wherewithal to move forward, we’re in a market that’s becoming nationally recognized, all the big companies are moving here and are finding out that we don’t have grits for brains, and we have a big state with power at the national level.
Two names quickly come to mind: Russell Grooms and Ron Coppenbarger. Grooms soon will be president of the Florida Association of REALTORS®. Coppenbarger already has been president of the Florida Home Builders Association. Both have the energy, the prestige and, we suspect, the desire to take on the daunting challenge of moving through national chairs to the top.
Like our industries, the future is bright for continued leadership from this area.
— Fred Seely is the editorial director of Bailey Publishing & Communications Inc. and editor of this newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected].