If you have been considering applying for the CEO role at the Women's Council of REALTORS®, now is the time to act. Applications close on April 17th. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the most respected leadership organizations in real estate, and we do not want the right candidate to miss their window. Details on the role and the application link are below.
Some leadership roles come with a desk and a title. This one comes with mountains, rivers, a thriving community, and the chance to work alongside some of the most genuine, hard‑working real estate professionals in the country. The Boise Regional REALTORS® Association (BRR) represents more than 6,000 real estate professionals across the Treasure Valley. The organization is now looking for a Chief Executive Officer who wants to be part of a growing region, build meaningful relationships, and help REALTORS® succeed in one of the most exciting housing markets in America.
Education is one of the most powerful drivers of perceived association value. When agents believe their association helps them become more successful in their business, engagement increases dramatically.
Across the country, while some MLSs are exploring mergers or outright asset sales in response to consolidation pressure, technology costs, and uncertainty about the future, other MLS leaders are leaning in. They are modernizing operations, strengthening broker relationships, mitigating risk, and increasing the value of the most important asset they control: their data.
About a year has gone by since my last article about why great Association Executives are getting fired and the landscape hasn’t improved much so I’m back at it. My observation is that many Association Executive failures don’t start with the CEO. They start with a board that never defined what success actually looks like. Six, twelve, or eighteen months later, everyone is frustrated. The board says the CEO “isn’t the right fit.” The CEO feels blindsided.. Confidence erodes. Staff morale drops. And another talented executive exits the industry wondering what just happened, sometimes after a very expensive lawsuit.
The WAV Group Customer Experience Index reveals that agents and brokers today are looking for education options that are carefully matched to their experience level and specific needs. One-size-fits-all programming no longer cuts it. To stay relevant and retain members, Associations must deliver learning experiences that speak directly to where each practitioner is in their career journey. That means education leaders need a constant pipeline of fresh ideas, innovative formats, and connections to speakers who truly understand the modern real estate professional.
MLS and Public Records data is rich with insights. The problem is it can be very difficult to tap into the perspectives delivered by it. Some MLSs recognize this and are doing something about it. They are taking the powerful combination of active listing data and robust public records and transforming it into localized, actionable reports that help brokerages, teams, individual agents, demonstrate true market expertise and perspective.
For decades, the relationship between REALTOR associations and MLS organizations has followed a familiar structure. Associations often own the MLS, frequently through a for-profit subsidiary, and MLS access has traditionally required association membership. That model is now under increasing legal, competitive, and strategic scrutiny. A new WAV Group case study examining San Diego’s long-standing Open MLS environment offers real evidence to help leaders evaluate their next move.
Education beyond CE is a great place to start to drive home the value of the Association. With effective, targeted communications, the Association can position itself as a partner in success, segmenting the type of education available by customer segment. For example, a new agent needs to know how to get to their first deal quickly so they can afford to stay in the business. A part-time agent may need to learn how to do enough business to be able to leave their other job and work in real estate full-time
The Huntsville Area Association of REALTORS® (HAAR) is beginning a leadership search at a moment of extraordinary growth for both the organization and the region it serves. HAAR is seeking a progressive, forward-thinking Association Executive who brings fresh ideas, proven leadership experience, and a genuine passion for elevating the value of the REALTOR® community across North Alabama.
While the expansion news is exciting, the working relationship Hive MLS has created is even more newsworthy. Hive’s model allows an Association to get out from under the burden of the daily management of their MLS operation without losing their local identity in the process. By wholesaling services from Hive, Associations maintain the revenues generated from their MLS operations, but leave the day to day management to the MLS leaders at Hive MLS.
These agreements underscore the MLS’s role as a foundational asset for the industry. Brokers, teams, agents, and clients all benefit from a more connected system that delivers accuracy, transparency, and reach.
