Meet the 2018 Ohio REALTORS Leadership Academy Class
The Ohio REALTORS 2018 Leadership Academy class (seated, from left): Brian Whitta, Monica Bess, session facilitator Marilou Butcher Roth, and Jan Jedlinsky. (Back row, from left): Kyle Oberlin, Sarah Ford, Maura Schmitt, Dennis Hitchcock, Sarah Martie, Jo-Ann McFearin, Kathy Shiflet, Jennifer Allen, and Tricia Tennyson.
By Tiffany Meyer
Ohio REALTORS President
The Ohio REALTORS is pleased to announce the 12-member 2018 Leadership Academy class. These REALTORS embarked on an intense self discovery program focused on goal-setting, communication, business relationships and personal growth. Congratulations to:
Jennifer Allen, Lake & Geauga Area Association of REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "Staying on top of the legal changes happening continually in the real estate market is something most agents either have no idea is important or relevant to what they are doing, yet they can be impacted greatly."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "Outreach to the many new agents joining the market. Providing them with the information on self improvement, education, services offered, what the membership even means."
Monica Bess, Heartland Board of REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "Advertising and marketing that gives real estate professionals exclusive use."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "Consistent REALTOR professionalism within the active field of real estate."
Sarah Ford, Toledo Regional Association of REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "Technology. With more and more tech savvy consumers and the abundance of information on the Internet, there could be less need for agents."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "Inconsistency in the mindset of agents. Some agents don't understand or practice the ethical standards we REALTORS adhere to."
Dennis Hitchcock, Guernsey Muskingum Valley Association of REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "Convincing home sellers who insist on trying to overprice their home to accept a realistic competitive market analysis approach."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "Not having licensed home inspectors."
Jan Jedlinsky, Columbus REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "How can we do a better job of communicating the value of using a REALTOR in a real estate transaction -- someone who will ethically and professionally take clients through every step of the transaction…always looking out for their best interest."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "How do we more effectively raise the professionalism of members."
Sarah Martie, Columbus REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "We don't know what we don't know. The path to getting your real estate license is relatively simple. In as little as three weeks you could go from having zero knowledge in the real estate industry to having marginally more with no 'street smarts.' Pass a test and voila! You are now qualified to guide people through the biggest monetary transaction most of them will make in their lives. After three weeks and a test are any of us truly qualified to take on such a task? Perhaps some are, I wasn't. In an environment where every technology group seems to be vying for a piece of the real estate market and professionalism is always a concern I believe that increasing agents' knowledge about the intricacies of the sale and purchase process is vitally important. The fact of the matter is that we don't know what we don't know and that can be dangerous and expensive to all parties. Columbus REALTORS has implemented a Certified Mentor Designation and I think that is an amazing idea. I believe that I have learned more from my conversations with seasoned agents, from attending REALTOR events such as NAR conferences and local board events, from masterminds and networking than I EVER could have learned from a three week-long class. I also realize that none of us can ever stop learning. There is too much to know and the role of a REALTOR is always evolving and changing. Perhaps we need more mentorship or possibly on-the-job training hours to help us remind us all of the magnitude of our role and the importance of knowledge."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge:"Increased REALTOR knowledge and contribution to legislation in Ohio."
Jo-Ann McFearin, Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "Agent professionalism -- overcoming the public perception that we lack training and competency especially with all the online resources available. We need to demonstrate that we are highly trained professionals and that we bring value before, during and after the sale. Newer agents need more ‘real world' real estate training to be prepared for challenges they will encounter and to best represent our industry. Among REALTORS there is a need to improve working relationships and respect."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "Increase member involvement. We need to impress new and seasoned agents on the value and benefits of being involved locally, and/or on a state and national level. It is never too late to get involved and help make a difference in our industry. We need to help fellow agents see where and how they can make a difference possibly by specifically asking them to fill a position, or inviting them to come to an event, etc. There needs to be greater engagement on the brokerage level to encourage agent involvement in Ohio REALTORS."
Kyle Oberlin, Stark County Association of REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "Ever-changing legislation at both the state and federal level that alters the tax code in a way that negatively affects the real estate industry."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "Political polarization."
Maura Schmitt, Dayton REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "Teams and the way they are marketing and how they're recognized. I believe the general public is somewhat confused with the concept of teams and the difference between the team and the actual brokerage. Many teams fall under an individual's name and when marketing often times the team showcases the success rate of the said agent the team is named after. Not to mention the amount of client's who are under the impression that they'll specifically be engaged with the said agent. For individual agents who do no operate as a team, I believe this eludes to an unfair advantage when advertising success rates."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "Newer and millennial agents who are in their 30's don't understand what this organization brings to the table to help them. Especially deciphering the the automatic three memberships they receive when (becoming a REALTOR). Many brokers and Boards are offering special committees to try and capture this group, who will be a strong influence in our industry, but more work needs to be done. This group of agents, along with all newer agents, really need to understand the value and what this wonderful organization does for our industry."
Kathy Shiflet, Columbus REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "The level of professionalism in agents. Some agents do what they think should be done and not check with other agents."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "Relevancy -- most agents don't understand how important our Association is to our profession."
Tricia Tennyson, Columbus REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "(Outside listing aggregators) and other social media feeds. I'm an agent at an independent brokerage. We are currently being faced with our IDX feed being cut off. We are charged with finding an alternative solution to help the brokerages that still want to feed. There are a lot of feeds our MLS uses and feeds our IDX could use to further our business. What are they? How should they be handled? Is it in our best interest to feed or not?"
Brian Whitta, Heartland Board of REALTORS
Top Industry Challenge: "Professional courtesy is a problem I hear about across the country, and it seems to plague some markets more than others. It is easy to become wrapped up in ego instead of focusing upon what is right for the consumer. There are specific examples of how I have seen professional courtesy waning, and I feel we can do better."
Top Ohio REALTORS Challenge: "We need to engage more members and provide opportunities for them to build stronger relationships."
