Association Executives Committee
Overview of Programs and Responsibilities

Association Management Programs and Resources

AE Section on REALTOR.org -- The AE Section on REALTOR.org includes news items, highlights of current events, association management tools, and information on AE committees, programs, products, and services.

New AE Orientation -- First-time association executives, both local and state, are invited to attend one of two New AE Orientations offered each year in the winter and summer at NAR's Chicago headquarters. Approximately 80 new AEs attend the orientation each year.

Road Map for New REALTOR® Association Executives -- This online resource is an orientation tool for AEs who are new to the REALTOR® organization. Posted on the AE center of REALTOR.org, this orientation resource features a checklist of must-know responsibilities for an AE’s first weeks and months on the job. The site also includes advice from peers and other information on policies, procedures, references, and resources. As NAR becomes aware of new AEs, the association directs them to this site and invites them to the New AE Orientation.

REALTOR® Association Models Planning Tool -- This self-evaluation resource allows association staff and volunteer leaders to align their expectations of the association, to identify where they want to be in delivering association services, and to help determine what kind of staff and volunteer leadership traits are needed to lead the association. This tool also generates personalized AE job descriptions and personalized “elected leadership focus” that can be used to develop customized job descriptions for elected leaders.

The Answer Book: The Source for REALTOR® Association Management Leaders -- This comprehensive compilation of REALTOR® association management information, is a valuable resource for AEs and volunteer leadership, and is provided free and only online. It is a reference for the REALTOR® Association Management Self-Study Course and the RCE exam.

"The Future of Real Estate: Mobile, Local, Social”(2010) -- This report, which is housed at www.aestrategicissues.com, identifies emerging trends and issues that are likely to impact the real estate industry in the near future. This report may serve as a resource for REALTOR® associations, brokers, sales associates, and affiliated professionals in their strategic planning.

Local REALTOR® Association Compensation Profile -- A profile of local REALTOR® association compensation and benefits data for the chief staff executive position. The 2010 Local REALTOR® Association Profile is available at REALTOR.org. 

AE Competencies and Body of Knowledge -- This document identifies five competency areas in which an AE shall be proficient to successfully serve the evolving REALTOR® association through the 21st century. Within each competency there are three levels of knowledge -- Administrative; Management; Leadership. Each of the five competencies is attached to topics that lead to proficiency at the three defined levels.

Webcasts -- Presentations on timely topics are periodically presented to AEs via webcasts, enabling AEs from associations with limited travel budgets the opportunity to participate in professional development offerings from the comfort of their own offices. Past webcast topics include human resource management, RPAC administration and fundraising, ILD policy, orientation for new local AEs, REALTOR.com update, and an overview of the NAR/DOJ settlement over VOW policy. Most of the webcasts are archived on REALTOR.org for 90 days.

AE Calendar -- The REALTOR® association online calendar, populated by NAR staff, is posted on REALTOR.org. The calendar enables local and state associations to schedule plans, so all major REALTOR® association initiatives and events are coordinated on an association-wide basis. With advance information, AEs can allocate necessary resources and schedule local activities so they are in sync with national events. Current calendar entries are highlighted each week in the INS.

Award Programs -- The REALTOR® AE Recognition Program is a consolidated effort by the Association Executives Committee (AEC) and NAR to honor excellence in the REALTOR® association management profession. The following awards are included in the program: William R. Magel Award of Excellence; Dr. Almon R. (Bud) Smith, RCE, AE Leadership Society; William D. North Annual AE Institute Scholarships; Terry McDermott Community Leadership Award; RCE Scholarships.

Professional Development Programs

AE Institute -- The AE Institute is an annual four-day educational conference for AEs, focusing on aspects of REALTOR® association management and real estate industry issues and trends. The 2012 Institute is March 16-20, in Louisville, Ky. The curriculum will be built around the following program areas: 1) Association of the Future; 2) Best in Show; 3) Better You, Better Members; 4) Getting the Structure Right.

Self-Study Courses -- The free REALTOR® Association Management Self-Study Course, which covers 28 topic areas to increase awareness and understanding of all REALTOR® association management issues, is completely online and includes automatic scoring and immediate access to correct answers. Expanding on the content of this course is the Advanced REALTOR® Association Management Self-Study Course (E138-68; $125), which is also online and serves as preparation for the RCE exam. The Professional Standards Advanced Administrative Concepts Self-Study Course (138-36; $75) provides in-depth study of professional standards and goes beyond the information that is taught in the NAR Professional Standards Administrator Training.

RCE Designation Program -- RCE is a professional designation specifically for REALTOR® association executives that comprises an experience- and education-based application and exam. There are more than 400 total designees to date. The exam is available in both a written and online format.

The University of Chicago Certificate Program -- Due to declining program participation, market saturation, and budget constraints, this program, which NAR has offered in partnership with the University of Chicago since 2005, will be discontinued at the end of 2013. AEs who are currently on track to earn the certificate will have an opportunity to complete the certificate requirements with course offerings at AEI and Midyear through the end of 2013. Participation in NAR's REALTOR® Leadership Program can also be used as credit toward completing the certificate. AEs who are not interested in earning the certificate can choose to audit any of the classes on a course-by-course basis, at a reduced fee, without pre- and post-work assignments.

Leadership Development Programs

Volunteer Leadership Guide -- This online resource, which briefs incoming local and state association presidents on their responsibilities and informs all volunteer leaders of the resources available to them at NAR, is filled with essential information for the first-time volunteer leader. The guide is updated and promoted annually for the August Leadership Summit.

REALTORS® Excelling in Association Leadership (REAL) Self-Study Course -- This online self-study course provides an introduction for REALTORS® who want to get involved and pursue a leadership position with their local or state association. This training tool, which is available at no cost, covers the following six topics: Real Estate Issues and Trends, Enhancing Leadership Skills, Meeting Management, Governing Documents and Policies, Legal and Regulatory Activities, Visioning, Planning and Budgeting.

REALTOR® Leadership Program (RLP) -- This program, which is designed to produce quality REALTOR® leaders who are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead local and state associations, comprises an initial online course and two live-presentation interactive courses. Local and state associations can host these courses, which are also offered at NAR meetings.

Leadership Express -- The Midyear Leadership Express, for association staff and volunteer leadership teams, is formatted as three 40-minute sessions, scheduled concurrently and then repeated, allowing attendees the opportunity to attend two of the three workshops. All sessions are presented by industry leaders, association management experts, or leadership consultants.

Networking Opportunities

Association Management Roundtables -- Offered at each of the two national meetings, the roundtables are for local and state AEs and focus on a variety of administration topics in a setting that encourages idea exchange and networking.

Local Presidents/Presidents-elect Roundtables -- Offered at each of the two national meetings, these leadership roundtables focus on a variety of local topics in an informal setting to encourage information exchange and networking.

RCE Leadership Luncheon -- Sponsored by the RCE Certification Subcommittee, this ticketed luncheon, held at each national meeting, features keynote speakers on industry issues.

State and Board Leadership Forums -- The State Leadership Forum and the Board Leadership Forum are both offered at NAR's Midyear and Conference meetings for presidents and AEs to attend together. Presidents-elect are also encouraged to attend. The forums are structured according to association membership size so presidents can exchange ideas and information with other presidents of like-size associations. In addition, the forums provide presidents with the opportunity to convey grassroots concerns to national association leaders who attend and respond to questions from forum members.

The following explains which subforum breakout AEs and Presidents should attend:

Large State Subforum: The 17 largest state associations, based on total membership
Medium State Subforum: The next 17 largest state associations, based on total membership
Small State Subforum: The remaining 16 state associations, and Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands

Mega Board Subforum: Boards with 7,000 or more members
Large Board Subforum: Boards with 2,000 to 6,999 members
Medium Board Subforum: Boards with 500 to 1,999 members
Small Board Subforum: Boards with fewer than 500 members

Association Leadership Development Staff

Cindy Sampalis, Managing Director, Association Leadership Development
Email: csampalis@realtors.org; 312/3298302
Department administration
Association Executives Committee (including work groups and new initiatives)

Cynthia Bair, Manager, Leadership Education
Email: cbair@realtors.org; 312/329-3280
AE Institute Advisory Subcommittee
AE Institute program management
Recommendations and Recognition Subcommittee/Awards Programs
Board Leadership Forum
Department budget

Laurie Oken, Manager, Leadership Development
Email: loken@realtors.org; 312/329-8307
REALTORS® Leadership Program
Leadership Express
Volunteer Leadership Resource Guide
AE Institute programming
University of Chicago Strategies in Nonprofit Management Certificate Program
State EO Forum

Renee Holland, Manager, Professional Development
Email: rholland@realtors.org; 312/329-8545
RCE Designation Program
RCE Certification Subcommittee
REALTOR® association management and volunteer leadership self-study courses
The Answer Book and AE Competencies and RCE Body of Knowledge
RCE Leadership Luncheon

Krystal Allen, Manager, AE Information and Resources
Email: kallen@realtors.org; 312/329-8514
New AEs (includes New AE Orientation Program, outreach communications, online resources)
REALTOR® Association Models Planning Tool
REALTOR.org committee/governance information on AE page
RCE ADF Workshop and exam process
Virtual course delivery/technical production assistance

Courtney Wilson, Coordinator, Marketing and Outreach
Email: clwilson@realtors.org; 312/329-5972
Marketing and research (surveys) for all ALD programs and products
Annual AEC Auction
State AEC chair/vice chair outreach
AE YPN outreach
REALTOR.org program/product promotion for AE page
Association online calendar
Self-study course customer service
AE Roundtables

Debra Jordan, Secretary, Association Leadership Development
Email: djordan@realtors.org; 312/329-8304

Dolores Plambeck, Secretary, Association Leadership Development
Email: dxplambeck@realtors.org; 312/329-8877

Last updated 07/2011