We look at the 2012 leadership of our various associations this month, including our cover model, Barbara Moore of Lennar, who heads the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
Northeast Florida Association of Realtors
Dane Leslie
Vice president/managing broker, Watson Realty.
The organization
NEFAR is a trade association of licensed Realtors and invited affiliate members in Duval, Clay, Putnam and Baker counties. It provides training, education programs, oversees the Multiple Listing Service and lobbys.
What he’ll do
“NEFAR will continue to provide quality educational programs and other member benefits/services to our Realtors. We want all of our members to be knowledgeable about the positive trends we are seeing in the market place and will be encouraging everyone to be prepared to share that information with the community at each and every opportunity.”
How selected
Elected by members. Due to his president-elect moving out of the area, he will serve a second year.
2012?
“We are certainly not in a position to predict the future and with next year being an election year, it will certainly be an exciting one for all of us. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, is forecasting an increase in the number of homes sold as well as a very modest level of appreciation during 2012. We view those predictions as very positive signs for our industry. We have to keep taking small steps forward to achieve our overall goal of a stable real estate market. The 2011 modest increase in number of homes sold coupled with the significant decreases in available inventory set up well for con tinued progress in the new year.
“I think we tend to get what we expect so I am cautiously optimistic that good things will happen in 2012.”
Northeast Florida Builders’ Association
Barbara Moore
Division president, Lennar Homes
The organization
The Northeast Florida Builders Association is a not-for-profit trade association for members of the construction industry and invited affiliates that serves the Northeast Florida area. NEFBA provides its members education, training, networking, financial benefits and representation in government and community affairs.
What she’ll do
Moore’s main points iof interest include legislative issues, NEFBA councils, philanthropic concerns through Builders Care, training and increasing communication to the members.
How selected
Elected by the membership.
2012?
“We will see the start of a real recovery in 2012. People will begin understanding that we have reached the bottom and are turning around and that will begin our recovery. We have some things to tackle as a part of that but I think we will start to see a turnaround. So, I am cautiously optimistic that this will be there year that we will start to see things turn in the other direction.
“What I would like to see is that the housing industry (real estate and construction) to really be in the forefront in 2012 to help get the word out and help produce things that will make people feel more comfortable making the decision to buy.”
St. Augustine Women’s Council of Realtors
John Whitesell
Broker/associate, Keller Williams Atlantic Partners
The organization
The chapter meets monthly to network and hear speakers of interest to the real estate industry. Despite the name, it is not a female-only organization.
What he’ll do
“Our plans for 2012 are to develop more intensive programs that provide quality information to our members at each event that help their business.”
How selected
Selected by a nominating committee and elected by members.
2012?
“I see 2012 exploding off the second half of 2011. St. Johns County continues to lead the seven-county MSA in all categories and accounts for 38 percent of all new construction permits pulled. A large influx of people relocating from colder climates to our area should also continue well into 2012. There is still inventory that needs to be cleaned up before see we positive price gains, but distressed inventory should reduce again in 2012. The market over $300,000 is still sluggish, but the pressure on the lower end should help push those sales in 2012.
“I think 2012 is going to be a boom year for St. Johns County.”
Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville
Brenda Ezell
Managing shareholder, Ezell Law Firm
The organization
CREW promotes the advancement of women in the commercial real estate industry by facilitating the exchange of information and ideas, providing a forum for the discussion of issues and providing educational programs.
What she’ll do
“In 2012, CREW Jacksonville will celebrate its 10-year anniversary as a chapter of the CREW Network, which has over 8,000 members. The theme for 2012 is the ‘Power of 10’ and we will focus on using the power of connecting with other women in the industry as well as the power of what we’ve accomplished over the past 10 years.”
How selected
Elected by the membership.
2012?
“I believe that growth in the real estate industry in 2012 will be driven primarily by the government and healthcare sectors. Additionally, multi-family development will continue an upward trend as homeowners who were affected by the foreclosure crisis look to find alternative housing.
“I think economic growth will continue to lag, but will improve over 2011. Additionally, 2012 will be a great year for the members of CREW Jacksonville because we will have an enhanced focus on professional development and business to business referrals.”
NAIOP
Gordon Steadman
Vice president of development, Elkins Constructors
The organization
NAIOP was the acronym for “National Association of Industrial Office Properties” but the longer name isn’t used anymore. It represents industrial and commercial real estate professionals and Steadman heads the affiliate that serves Northeast Florida.
What he’ll do
NAIOP Northeast Florida will work on legislative issues, provide continuing education, and create networking and business opportunities.
How selected
Elected by chapter members
2012?
“The big picture is going to be a slow recovery mode. This year is a pivotal year due to the presidential election and the economic challenge Europe is facing. Indicators show we are out of a recession, and that is good news. The challenge is – how long will it be before we see a suitable level of recovery? NAIOP is optimistic and we are pushing forward with our initiatives.
Sales and Marketing Council
Denise Patricolo
Agent, David Weekley Homes
The organization
The Sales and Marketing Council is the marketing arm of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. Monthly breakfast meetings attract up to 450 industry professionals who come to hear speakers, network, receive awards and enjoy the company of their peers. SMC offers educational opportunities, hosts social activities and does charity fundraisers.
What she’ll do
“I want to unite builders and Realtors from all counties and increase membership.”
How selected
Elected by the members..
2012?
“If the signs of stabilization keep occurring we will be on the right path. Some communities have and will continue to thrive in the economic downturn. For example, St. Johns County, with its renowned schools, has the opportunity to come back at a faster pace.
“Call it a stabilization year. If we can continue to maintain a stable housing market then in the next year we will properly position ourselves to be successful in the future. We are off to a better start in 2012 than we were two years ago. We’re on the right track to a vibrant real estate community.”
Mortgage Bankers Association
Carole Hendricks
Branch manager, PrimeLending
The organization
It educates and lends legislative representation to mortgage professionals. They use this platform to keep mortgage bankers informed on current issues, industry changes and promote the practice of the highest ethical standards.
What she’ll do
“My goals reach far past my current role this year. I hope to help re-build our organization that has suffered so much in recent years. I want to create a foundation that will support the growth of all mortgage professionals in our area and across the State. We are working very hard to bring quality to our meetings with current speakers. The board that I currently work with is represented by some of the best in the industry, and their goal is the same. With all of us working together I feel very confident we can bring this organization back where it needs to be in Jacksonville.”
How selected
Nominated by membership, elected by vote of the board and the membership
Her plans to increase membership:
“Our first step is to become visible in the community and support all of the organizations in our industry. We have already seen an increase just by sponsoring events and having great speakers. Our next goal that we are working on is building a new website, branching out to all social media sites, and spreading the word to encourage involvement to all loan officers. We love to have our members bring a guest to our meetings so they can learn how to get involved.”
2012?
“I see the best of the best rising to the top. We have all learned a new way of doing what we do. The bar has been raised and the people we see every day now are in it because they love what they do. They are all pushing themselves to be the person their clients rely on and will refer to for many years to come. I see housing sales increasing later in the year in 2012. Compliance and regulatory changes to be common place in everything we do. I see us all being better.
“We will all do what is right, we will be more educated, we will be smarter, and our industry will rise again to its rightful place. I encourage every mortgage banker or broker to learn more about the MBA and become more involved in an organization that is there to support them and what they do every day.”
St. Augustine/St. Johns County Board of Realtors
Roy Barnes Jr.
Broker/owner of St. Augustine Realty
The organizationIt’s a trade association of licensed Realtors and invited affiliate members in St. Johns County. It provides training and other education programs and oversees the Multiple Listing Service. The board also serves as the lobbying arm of the local real estate industry.
What he’ll do
“The board, staff and committees are all working to increase the level of service to our Realtor members who serve and work with the public. We intend to increase our education and training programs, promote the use of more technology. We also want to increase the ability of our members to help the public and to promote a better understanding by the public of what a Realtor is and how the Realtor organization promotes and works to protect private property rights.”
How selected:
Chosen by a nominating committee, elected by the membership.
2012?
“Realtors, through NAR’s ‘Realtor Party Initiative’ have an opportunity to demonstrate to the public how Realtors work to promote and protect private property rights. This through lobbying efforts and sponsoring real solutions to the problems that have been holding back economic recovery. Hopefully, public awareness of these efforts will cause a better understanding of what Realtors stand for and the benefits they provide to the public. And, that this will cause more of the public to use a Realtor when needing real estate services.
“With the continued difficult but improving economy and with 2012 being an election year I expect to see a lot of lobbying and campaigning. I am hoping to see banks will ease their lending guidelines, process short sales more quickly and to make more effort to ‘work out’ or ‘renegotiate’ problem loans. As the economy grows albeit slowly, I anticipate more volume in the real estate market and more evidence of prices stabilizing and even increasing in some markets. When stabilization is felt by more and more people, I believe that that encouragement will fuel more sales.”
Jacksonville WCR
Liz McMahan
Manager-Vice President, Watson’s Realty’s South Beach office.
The organization
The Women’s Council of Realtors is a national organization and Thomas heads the local affiliate. The chapter meets monthly to network and hear speakers of interest to the real estate industry. Despite the name, it is not a female-only organization.
What she’ll do
“The plans for our chapter in 2012 are to deliver systems and coaching that enable us to provide consistent value to our members. We do this by providing education and networking opportunities to our Realtors and affiliates so they may be able to reach their business goals.”
How selected
Elected by the membership.
Plans to increase membership
“We will first identify our target audience. We want to be sure to recruit Realtors and affiliates who are committed to their industry and who want to grow themselves personally and professionally. We do this by providing them with tools and programs that they will not find in any other organization.”
2012?
“I see interest rates remaining at an all-time low, more short sales and certainly more foreclosures. I also see an influx of cash and investors in the real estate market as well as international buyers. We will also be consumed by the presidential election which could cause our economy to remain stagnant.”