REALTORS change lives – NAR Leadership Summit Kickoff #TBT
This is a Throwback Thursday to a day that I will cherish for the rest of my life. To give an impromptu presentation to a group of giving leaders throughout the United States was not just intimidating (I’m being real), but very empowering and humbling at the same time. If you don’t want to read the blog post, skip down to the video!!
**********
The National Association of Realtors has an annual Leadership Summit where they invite all the incoming presidents and association executives, from all over the United States, to Chicago. The purpose is to network, brainstorm and learn about their leadership roles in the upcoming year.
As 2019 president for the Residential Board of Governors for The Miami Association of REALTORS, I was really looking forward to this event. Imagine hundreds of dedicated leaders with the same goal, to improve the real estate industry, to change status quo and help change the perception of our industry. I could taste the energy before I even got there.
It became even cooler when I was asked to participate in a storytelling session, which I had no idea would be the kickoff of the event until the night before. I shared the stage with 2 upcoming presidents, Michelle Billings from Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors and Koki Adasi from Washington DC’s Greater Capital Association of Realtors. This had to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. With little time to rehearse and the creative direction of NAR’s Director of Production, Jennifer Braun and the amazing Deborah Pardes, Director of DrumCafe, we kicked off this powerful event. Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and unforgettable memory!
Before I show you the video, I want to preface it with the concept of our stories. The theme of the summit was “Own Your Story” and the subject was a specific client that “moved us” and how we may have impacted their lives during our career. The ultimate goal was to demonstrate the power REALTORS® have to affect people’s lives in a positive way.
The event took place at The Harris Theater in Chicago. The opening, as you will see, encompassed a super talented drum group that accompanied our stories. My segment starts at around minute 6:00 and it’s about 2 clients that have become dear friends and couldn’t imagine my life without them. Without further ado, here’s my story about Ken and Ritch.
As for the “Ines Garcia” on my presentation slide … I gasped when I saw that afterwards. Let the record show that if you are ever to drop one of my last names, please drop the Garcia before you drop the Hegedus … my dad earned that one 😉