by David Chapman
Staff Writer
The Sales and Marketing Council prepared for the future in more ways than one during last month’s breakfast program at the University of North Florida.
Amber Williams of Standard Pacific Homes was voted SMC’s chair for 2011 after receiving more votes than ballot mates Amber King of D.R. Horton and Carrie Budds of Countrywide. Williams will serve as secretary/treasurer and first and second chair before taking the lead position in 2011.
SMC members also helped the future for daniel by collecting baskets, canned goods and money in a food drive for Thanksgiving. Over $3,000 worth of food was donated.
The other focal point of the meeting was aimed at keeping the future of Realtors and site agents secure.
Andrew Wooten, a security consultant with Safety Awareness Firearms Education (S.A.F.E.), was the guest speaker and discussed agent safety in his presentation “Site Agent Safety.” Wooten also works with NEFAR in its safety programs.
“A person’s best weapon is themselves,” said Wooten, who stressed the importance of Realtors and site agents using their heads in potentially dangerous situations.
He advised that more often than not, Realtors and site agents do not pay attention to details and can make themselves more of a potential victim.
“Look around,” he said. “The holiday season is dangerous and not everyone has the best intention at heart and you guys especially never meet a stranger.”
Wooten also shed some light on a commonly held notion regarding criminals in the real estate industry.
“Women will attack a site agent seven times more than a man,” he said. “Why? Because you let your guard down and don’t expect it.”
He also advocated Realtors and site agents to use local law enforcement to their advantage and schedule regular site visits, always stand and greet people instead of being nonchalant and never allow clients to be behind them.
Self-defense items like pepper spray and tear gas, he said, can be effective but advised that their contents are only potent for a year before they should be replaced. On top of that, the market for those items is unregulated and often unreliable to begin with and Realtors and site agents would be wise to do research before making a purchase.
Wooten said the most important thing one can do in a dangerous situation is natural and doesn’t require pepper spray, tear gas or even kung fu.
“Breathe,” he said. “It’s the secret to self-defense. Air constricts your mind and doesn’t let you think as freely as you could.”