Stefanie Hahn
By Stefanie Hahn
In an interesting change of pace, I am writing this post from our state REALTOR® Association meetings.
I wish you were here. No…I really wish you were here.
According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2009 Member Profile, 15 percent of our industry is age 40 or under. At these meetings, there aren’t even 15 people who fit that bill. These meetings (and I suspect those of many other states around the country) are demographically less diverse than a Friday night bridge game – and the decisions being made are going to impact our businesses for quite some time.
If you haven’t already, stop what you are doing and find out more about getting involved. Open a new browser tab and search for your local REALTOR® Association. Find out what committees they have and offer to help with one. I can tell you from my experience here that every committee wants to learn more about the millennial generation and how to communicate with us. They are eager to reach out to people like me and to share the benefits that come from being a part of one of the nation’s best industry groups.
I started attending these meetings to promote my newly created YPN chapter. For me, the hardest part was getting past the intimidation of the meetings themselves. Quite a few of my state’s real estate heavyweights lead committees here – and being the “new kid” was a bit daunting. As it turned out, they were happy to have someone like me around, and when I was able to help them with a few of the tech-tastic things that I know, they welcomed me in with open arms. Combined with the excitement generated over the growth of YPN, and the support it is getting from NAR, my involvement in these meetings has only become more exciting and fun. Continue reading »
Brooke Wolford
By Brooke Wolford
I was recently invited to attend my first YPN group in Minneapolis by fellow Lounge blogger Nobu Hata. As many of you know, the Minneapolis YoPros were just named Chapter of the Year — I now understand why.
I went in not knowing what to expect. I have attended other local networking groups in the past and kind of walked away with a “well whatever” feeling. However, the Minneapolis YoPros chapter is different.
I left there completly amazed and energized. It seemed as if everyone there was in love with real estate, just as I am. I learned so many valuable things. They have clear goals and agendas. They make the events worthwhile for everyone.
Now I feel as if I can conquer the world! …Well, at least the Twin Cities. It really made me see how I can take my career further and it gave me the tools to do it. At the same time, it also made me want to get more involved with the industry nationally.
If you haven’t had a chance, attend your local YPN chapter events. It will truly benefit your career.
Brooke Wolford is a REALTOR® with Edina Realty, Hastings, Minn. Follow her blog at strugglingrookierealestateagent.blogspot.com.
By Erica Christoffer and Katie Tarbox, REALTOR® Magazine
The Young Professionals Network (YPN) had a lot to celebrate at their annual networking event this year, which was held at the chic pool deck of the Hotel Solamar and sponsored by NAR Community Affairs, HP, HouseLogic, and the Center for REALTOR® Technology.
More than 300 young professionals attended the event, which featured wine, mini-sliders, and sweet bites of dessert. Members of YPN, which is targeted to REALTORS® under the age of 40, came from across the country to share business ideas and optimistic predictions for 2010.
YPN manager Rob Reuter honored Minneapolis with the 2009 Chapter of the Year Award. Houston and Missouri were honorable mentions. Jared James, the Web Choice for REALTOR® Magazine’s 30 Under 30, was also acknowledged.
Additionally, winners of the Center for REALTOR® Technology (CRT) Spotlight Awards were recognized at the event. Tina Merrit, the director of training at Virginia-based firm Long and Foster, won her Spotlight Award in the category of Advocate. As the creator of Wolkia, a real estate technology resource, Merrit’s focus is education.
Ed DeRosa, director of technology at the Florida Association of REALTORS®, received the Spotlight Innovator award. DeRosa saved the association $150,000 through his video conferencing and webinar series initiative. Brandon Rodriguez, a practitioner in Dallas, Texas, was honored in the Pioneer category. He successfully created a virtual office that competes with the bigger firms in his market.
Taqi Rizvi, chief technology officer at the Houston Association of REALTORS®, won the Visionary award. He created one of the first MLS public Web sites in the country, HAR.com, and led a team to implement more than 100 practitioner and consumer tools.
Photos by Kevin Berne
In an effort to make connects and tap into valuable business resources, 26 young real estate professionals have successfully founded a new YPN chapter in Fairfield County, Conn.
Here are some quick facts:
Chapter name: Fairfield County YPN
Main contact: Richard Eimicke (Staff Liaison)
Email: richard@nfcar.com
Main phone number: 203-744-7255
Number of members in chapter: 26
Officers: Co-Chairs: Andrea Kramer and Rhonda Woods
The group is planning a kickoff event and networking reception on Oct. 28 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Westport Country Play House in Westport, Conn., with coffee and pastries. REALTOR® Magazine’s “30 Under 30 Winner” Jared James from Milford, Conn. will be the keynote speaker. The event is open to all 5,933 Fairfield County REALTORS®.
The Young Professionals Network is a great place to connect with other real estate industry professionals. By getting involved or starting your own local chapter, you’ll create a bridge to many industry tools, resources, and networking events. YPN is now 29 chapters strong nationwide, with 8 new chapters approved in September alone. For more information, or to download a chapter application, visit www.realtor.org/ypn.
With a growing interest among members of the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, the group has officially formed a new chapter of YPN.
C.A.R.’s application was one of eight approved in September, bringing the grand total to 29 YPN chapters nationwide.
With two networking events already under their belt, members of the new YPN group are planning another education event/meeting and networking
reception during the C.A.R. EXPO on Wednesday, Oct. 8 in San Jose, Calif.
Quick facts:
Chapter name: CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Young Professionals Network (C.A.R. YPN)
Main contact: Carmen Hirciag
Address: 525 S. Virgil Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020
E-mail: carmenp@car.org
Main phone number: 213-739-8333
Number of members in your chapter: 40
Congratulations to C.A.R. YPN!
The Young Professionals Network is a great place to connect with other real estate industry professionals. By getting involved or starting your own local chapter, you’ll create a bridge to many industry tools, resources, and networking events. For more information, or to download a chapter application, visit www.realtor.org/ypn.
YPN-national would like to welcome five new chapters of YPN:
- Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS® (Nashville, Tenn.)
- Columbus Board of REALTORS® (Columbus, Ohio)
- Houston Association of REALTORS® NextGen (Houston, Texas)
- Ada County Association of REALTORS® (Boise, Idaho)
- San Diego Association of REALTORS® (San Diego, Calif.)
Don’t see your city on the list? The Young Professionals Network boasts local and state chapters across the country. Peruse a growing list of all chapters of YPN to see if one is in your area. Continue reading »
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