By Michele Gillis
Staff Writer
Though she started her career in the military, Carol Hill of Prudential Network Realty says her marching orders always led here to a career in real estate.
Now, she’s gone from military leadership to company leadership to the top position in the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors as the 2010 president.
“My primary growth experience that prepared me for a leadership role was the three years I served in the United States Army,” said the senior vice president of real estate operations for Prudential Network Realty.
Hill will use her organizational and delegating skills to help her balance her job and her responsibilities as president of NEFAR.
On leadership, she says:
• “I have learned to surround myself with great people and allow them to do their jobs.”
• “I believe that our association wants a leader who will listen to their input, and they want someone who has problem-solving abilities and who will make sound decisions.”
• For those who want to be leaders in the future, she says to be patient, listen, observe, learn from those that have come before you and never forget the lessons learned and the people that helped you become who you are today. “Start at the grass roots, take on ever-increasing responsibilities and challenge yourself. Build on your strengths and abilities and concentrate on areas that need improving.”
• Learn from others. “Millie (Kanyar, the outgoing president) was a fantastic role model. She was a very inclusive president. Each officer was encouraged to voice their opinions and be an active participant in association related decisions. Early in her presidency, she brought together the officers, board and staff for a full day of strategic planning, outlining association’s priorities for the next three years. By doing this, she laid the foundation for future presidents to lead our association.”
• Be prepared. While serving as president-elect in 2009, Hill’s training to was through and extensive. She attended courses such as the Florida Realtors Spokesperson Issues Training, conventions such as the National Association of Realtors Leadership Summit and gatherings such as the Florida Realtors’ Chief Executive Officer Symposium. Plus, she was at the major state and national association meetings.
Hill’s path to the top has been direct.
“After my military training, my real estate career began at the age of 22, when I began working for a real estate investment firm in Northern Virginia,” she said.
She then worked with a Coldwell Banker company in Northern Virginia for five years before coming to Jacksonville, and has been with Prudential Network Realty for 20 years. Now a top executive, she oversees the Human Resources and Marketing departments, participates in the development of the company’s strategic growth plans, and oversees the facility and capital asset management.
Hill recognizes that there are challenges ahead.
“It depends on whose crystal ball you use,” said Hill. “While no one knows that tomorrow brings, our industry will still be working with a lot of short sales and foreclosures in the real estate market.
“Unemployment will still have an effect on many households and families in the buying and selling process and may even affect their buying power and personal credit qualifications.
“Commercial markets are beginning to see higher vacancy rates due to the loss of many small and large business owners. The good news is the interest rates will probably remain fairly stable and the property management offices are seeing an increase in their business.”
Hill began her active participation in NEFAR when she was asked to serve as chair of the Community Affairs Task Force. She has been a member of the Budget and Finance Committee and was treasurer for two years.
Hill anticipates facing a few hurdles in 2010 and intends to use her leadership skills to overcome them.
Her goals?
• “For our real estate community to continue to educate the consumer and be their voice and advocate when they are considering one of their most important purchasing decisions, a place to call home.”
• “Support the state association in its efforts to defeat Amendment 4 through education of our members and the general public on the negative impacts of the amendment on real estate and homeownership in the future. It is our goal to defeat Amendment 4 through our education outreach programs and our state and local calls to action.
• “We will continue to offer educational assistance to homeowners who are facing the possibility of losing their home and how crucial it is to involve the Realtor at the beginning. Many times a Realtor may be able to offer solutions that a homeowner did not know even existed.”
• Fully support the new Leadership Development Academy. (See related story, page 4.)