Speaker Bios
General Session Speakers
New AE Orientation Speakers
Professional Standards Speakers
Keith Garner
Keith Garner is the Vice President of Information Technology Services at NAR. Prior to NAR, he was a consultant for Stragetic Technology Resources in Chicago; a Technical Architect for Resource Information Management Systems in Naperville, Illinois; and system administrator for The Net Squad, a startup company. Keith lives in Chicago and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1997. Living in Chicago for most of his life, he is a Cubs fan, even though the “Billy Goat” curse is still at work.
Hilary Marsh
Hilary Marsh, Managing Director, Editorial Development for REALTOR.org, is a Web content guru. Before joining the National Association of REALTORS , Hilary led Content Company, an online consultancy specializing in Web content strategy and management. Among the clients were the American Hospital Association and the University of Chicago. A frequent national speaker on Web content issues, Hilary founded NetContent/Chicago, and is a founding member of CM Professionals.
Steve Francks, RCE, CAE
Steve Francks began his employment at the Washington REALTORS® in April 1997 as Director of Education and was promoted in 2000 to Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, Steve oversees administration, communications, government affairs, member services and professional standards, in addition to the education program. In 2005, he served as president of the Washington Society of Association Executives, and was awarded the “Association Executive of the Year. Steve has earned the RCE and CAE designations.
Mark Allen, RCE, CRS, CIPS, GRI
Mark is the Chief Executive Officer of the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®, a position he has held since 1998. He is also the chief executive officer of 10K Research, a firm providing research and reporting services to real estate organizations worldwide. Prior to his employment at MAAR, Mark worked in various aspects of the real estate industry, culminating as a managing partner of a large real estate brokerage company. Mark has earned the REALTOR® association Certified Executive (RCE), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designations from the National Association of REALTORS® and the Duke University Certificate for Nonprofit Management.
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Steve Murray
Steve is the editor of REAL Trends, Inc., the leading provider of strategy and trends information in the residential realty services business, and president of Murray Consulting, Inc. He has over 28 years experience in the residential real estate field, including responsibilities with leading relocation management, national franchise and asset management firms in prior years. Steve also manages the activities of five CEO groups and has played a significant role in several national studies.
Laurene K. Janik
Laurie Janik, the General Counsel for the National Association of REALTORS®, has been with NAR since 1977. As General Counsel, she is responsible for assuring that the programs, policies, and activities of NAR comply with the law and for defending the association against legal challenges and initiating litigation to protect and preserve association assets and policies as necessary. Laurie is a frequent speaker at REALTOR® association meetings and is well-known for helping association presidents and executive officers better understand legal issues and responsibilities. She received her B.A. degree from Northern Illinois University and a Doctor of Law degree from Loyola University in Chicago. Laurie is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Illinois Bar, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She is a member of several bar associations.
Jay Thompson
Jay Thompson is the Broker / Owner of Thompson's Realty in Phoenix, Arizona. Thompson's Realty has no brick & mortar presence, but operates as a "virtual brokerage". He is the founder of PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com and contributes to several real estate weblogs. Jay has conducted numerous real estate blogging seminars, has been quoted in BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Reports, and is often called upon local television news reporters to opine on the Phoenix real estate market. Approximately 95% of his real estate business has been built through blogging and social media. Jay employs no "traditional" marketing or prospecting methods.
Gerald L. Allen, RCE, CAE
Gerald Allen is the Manager, Community & Political Affairs – Promotions, for the National Association of REALTORS® in Washington, D.C. Before joining NAR in 2002, Gerry was the Director of Legal Services for Hometest Inc., a Maryland-based environmental-testing company. He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, and the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association. He has earned the RCE and CAE designations.
Mary Martinez
Mary Martinez manages NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®' traditional and digital library collections. She has 18 years of experience in the real estate field, the last 10 years being at NAR's Information Central. In 2006 she received the Digital Pioneer Award for launching the Virtual Library eBooks Collection, a collection of 1,000 downloadable books, videos, and audio books. She earned her masters degree in library and information science from Dominican University.
Melynn Sight
We all know that marketing is important to big companies like Coke and Xerox, but what does it have to do with running an association? Many of us tend to think marketing is about selling, and that’s not something associations should be doing. Well, as you’ll hear from Melynn Sight, marketing an association is as natural – and just as important – as shaking hands with new members or asking long-time members how they’re doing. Finally, Melynn helps associations understand the distinct groups in their audiences so they can communicate with them more effectively. Melynn has marketing degrees and 25 years of experience. She’s helped big corporate clients get their message across effectively, and now she’s following her passion for working in the nonprofit world to use the same skills to help associations.
Donna Garcia
Donna Garcia is the Director of Human Resource Services and has been with the NAR since 1984. She joined NAR’s Legal Affairs Division, where she worked for 12 years. In 1996, she joined the Human Resources Division where she has gained extensive knowledge in employee relations, training, compensation and benefits administration. Donna received her M.S. Degree in Human Resource Management from Loyola University and obtained her certification in Organization Development in 2008. Donna is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRP); a certified facilitator for The Pacific Institute’s Investment in Excellence Program; and authors a Human Resources column called HR Connection in REALTOR AE Magazine.
Christine DeRosa, RCE
As the Managing Director of Financial Information Systems for the National Association of REALTORS® , Christine DeRosa is responsible for the acquisition and implementation of financial systems for the association. She also heads up the National REALTORS Database System (NRDS) and the REALTOR® eCommerce Network. Christine has been with NAR for more than 27 years, working in the technology area. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago.
Cindy Butts, RCE, CAE
Cindy Butts, RCE, CAE is the CEO of the Maine Association of REALTORS®, a position she has held for over twenty years. In addition, she is the CEO of a statewide MLS and manages several local boards. She's a past chairman of NAR's Association Executives Committee; and currently serves on NAR's member policy and strategic planning committees. Cindy also writes a blog on association management issues at cindybutts.com.
John Pierpoint
John Pierpoint is the Vice President of Finance and Comptroller for the National Association of REALTORS® . He has been in the Finance Division for 22 years. His responsibilities have included management of the Financial Reporting, Internal Audit, and Payroll/Benefits departments. For more than 12 years, he has also been responsible for the processing of NAR's cash receipts, including all dues revenue, and the application of NAR's dues policies and collection procedures.
Kristine Erickson
Kris Erickson has been with NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® in Chicago for nearly sixteen years – ten as a policy consultant with the Member Policy Department. She reviews local and state association governing documents and consults on NAR policy, and provides hands-on ethics and professional standards training for local associations. In 1998, Erickson took a hiatus from NAR and relocated to Traverse City, Michigan, where she gained hands-on experience “in the trenches” as office manager for a real estate firm. In 2002, she returned to NAR in her policy consulting capacity. Today, Erickson splits her time between Chicago and Traverse City, where she owns a home and sings with two choral groups.
Rodney M Gansho, RCE
Rodney Gansho joined the National Association of REALTORS® in 1990 as a Policy Review Coordinator. Since that time, he has worked exclusively in the Member Policy Department, most recently as Manager of Policy Information. Rodney is also the staff executive for the State Leadership Forum, Multiple Listing Service Forum, and Professional Standards Forum. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois. Rodney obtained his RCE designation in 2004.
Tricia Grace, RCE
After many years in the hospitality field, Tricia turned toward the association world. She spent two years with an association management company before being hired by the Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® . In the seven years she has been with KCRAR as Membership Manager, she has seen it grow from 6,500 to more than 10,000 members. Tricia earned the professional designation of REALTOR association Certified Executive (RCE) in November 2006.
Professional Standards Speakers
Clifford Niersbach, RCE
Cliff Niersbach joined NAR as a Policy Review Coordinator in 1975. Since then, he has held a variety of positions, currently as Vice President, Board Policy and Programs. He is the staff liaison to NAR’s Professional Standards Committee, Interpretations and Procedures Subcommittee, and Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committees. He has worked with various study groups, task forces and presidential advisory groups, and has worked closely with NAR’s Strategic Planning and Structural Audit Committees, and the Code of Ethics Enforcement PAG. Cliff is a member of the American Bar Association and Illinois Bar Association and a REALTOR® association Certified Executive (RCE) designee.
Patrick Reilly
Patrick is the Vice President of Member and Board Services at the New York State Association of REALTORS®. He was the Dean of last year’s AE Institute. Pat has been on several NAR committees including Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee, Professionals Standards Committee, Professional Standards Interpretations Subcommittee, and Association Executives Institute. Patrick is a Professional Standards Procedures Instructor and Professionals Standards Administrator instructor.
Richard K. Haggerty
Richard Haggerty is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for the Westchester County Board of REALTORS®. Richard’s association responsibilities include the coordination of professional standards and arbitration hearings for the Westchester Board, and he also oversees the administration of the Westchester Putnam Multiple Listing Service. Richard has been a speaker and instructor for the National Association of REALTORS® , as well as the New York State and Pennsylvania Associations. He is also a certified real estate instructor for New York State.
