by Michele Gillis, Staff Writer
The youngest Northeast Florida Association of Realtor's council is, indeed, the youngest.
It's the Young Professionals Network, and it was formed to help young real estate professionals succeed in their careers.
But, though the name may state "young" in its title, chair Diana Galavis of Watson Realty, said the group is all-inclusive.
"NEFAR YPN has no age restrictions," she said. "While most members of YPN are under 40, any Realtor who thinks he or she would benefit from membership is welcome to join."
Galavis said the YPN helps young real estate professionals excel in their careers by giving them the tools and encouragement to become involved in four core areas: Realtor associations, real estate industry, peers and community.
"They need to attend Realtor conferences and pursue leadership roles with their local, state and national associations," said Galavis. "We want them to take an active role in policy discussions and advocacy issues and be informed about the latest industry news and trends.
"It is also important to network and learn from one another by attending events, participating in online communication, and seeking out mentoring opportunities. They can also become exceptional members of their community by demonstrating a high level of Realtor professionalism and volunteering for causes they feel passionate about."
Galavis said the group was formed to create a network of likeminded professionals in the real estate business.
"Young professionals are the future of the real estate business, but in a field where the average age is 52, younger real estate practitioners often strive for a way to connect with each other and tap into valuable resources that will help them succeed in business," she said.
The YPN holds meetings at NEFAR and has networking events at different venues around town.
"At our meetings we discuss how we can build our base and engage young professionals in the business," said Galavis. "We discuss upcoming events such as lobbying in Tallahassee, conventions, conferences and how we can engage others to get more involved."
Galavis' responsibility is to keep high standards for the network's events and activities. She is to maintain professionalism in all of communications and keep the focus of events on how to help members succeed in business.
The co-chair is Tiea Vincent of Walter Williams Property Management.
"We work together, along with a collective group, to brainstorm ideas and promote the YPN at NEFAR," said Galavis.
Galavis sees her group as the new specialty council at NEFAR.
"Our goal is to bring awareness to professionals about the YPN, the association, provide education and an avenue for industry involvement," she said.