Daily Real Estate News  |  March 20, 2008  |   REALTOR® Tapped for Vets Village
Phil Landis, a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and a former REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards winner, has been named president and CEO of Veteran’s Village San Diego, an intensive rehab and training facility for homeless veterans.

Landis, a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Ranch & Beach in San Diego, was appointed to the position after having served as the interim CEO since September 2007. Landis has served as a member of the VVSD board of directors for the past 11 years and as chairman since 2001. In his new position, he will be responsible for overseeing operations of VVSD’s facilities and veteran assistance programs in addition to fundraising and a variety of other duties.

Landis was named a REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards winner in 2007 for his continued commitment to VVSD, which provides food, clothing, housing, substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, and job training and placement to veterans.

“REALTORS® build communities, and Phil is a shining example of that,” said NAR President Dick Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif. “He has made a tremendous contribution to the veterans in San Diego, helping them get back on their feet and receive the assistance they need. Phil’s story inspires all of us at NAR, and we are proud of the recognition he is receiving for his hard work and continued dedication to VVSD.”

Landis served as a platoon leader in Vietnam, and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantryman Badge for his service. For more than 30 years after returning home, Landis said he blocked out memories of that experience until Memorial Day 1996, when he attended a rededication of the Vietnam Peace Memorial in San Diego and the memories came flooding back. He sought counseling and decided the best way to heal himself was by helping others. That year, he joined VVSD’s board of directors and has been active ever since.

“The opportunity to continue serving this population of homeless veterans is profoundly humbling,” said Landis. “As a veteran myself, I understand the many challenges that other vets face coming out of war and know that it can be a difficult time in your life. But I’ve been a successful real estate agent for more than 20 years and I know firsthand that you can get past those challenges and go on to do good things in your life, including help others.”

Source: NAR