As my term as 2023 president of Greater Chattanooga Realtors begins, I think it’s important to discuss where I’ve been, where I came from and where I plan to lead our association this year.
I’ve had the pleasure of living in Chattanooga all 44 years of my life. And I’ve witnessed firsthand the changes our community has undergone.
One thing that’s remained constant is real estate is still a people business. It’s a face-to-face, voice-to-voice, handshake at the end of the deal business. I consistently see up close the importance of building relationships and how to best serve the needs of every party involved.
Looking back, I believe the importance of these relationships and the need to competently serve others led me to a career in real estate. I became a Realtor in 2007 and then a managing broker in 2015. Every day, I have the privilege of guiding fellow Realtors in their efforts to do business the right way.
Helping others led to me wanting to serve our association. Some folks might think we serve only Chattanooga, but Greater Chattanooga Realtors represents all 2,700 Realtors in our area, including those in Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia.
This is a large area, but regardless of where Realtors provide services, Greater Chattanooga Realtors strives to be present in our community. Our presence allows us to not only help existing homeowners maintain value in their largest investment but to also be a voice for our local and state elected officials and to serve those who are looking to move to our community.
As 2023 begins, I find the direction in which our association is going encouraging. We’ve spent the last year strengthening relationships throughout our region. We have data sharing agreements with many of our neighboring real estate associations that enable our agents to see most properties available in our area.
We continue to promote the importance of education by providing free courses to our members. And we encourage our members to take an active interest in political causes through our Realtor Political Action Committee. (We saw growth in both participating members and dollars donated in 2022.)
I’m very thankful to my friend and predecessor, Derek English. Derek and the board of directors have set an impressive precedent for me to follow. Thanks to his leadership, we have clear objectives to work toward during my term.
Everything Derek did this past year has given our association a great foundation moving into the new year.
I’m also thankful for those who have helped me in this journey, especially my family, which includes my wife Lindsey, a physical therapist who helps transform lives every day, and our two daughters, who work hard in all their schooling, sports and activities.
Working in real estate often means long and unconventional hours, so I’m thankful for their endless support.
And so begins my term as 2023 president of Greater Chattanooga Realtors. Regardless of who’s leading our association, all who are in my position know how important the role of a Realtor is. We serve as ambassadors for those looking to move to our community. Each day, Realtors work with those who have just arrived and those who have spent their whole lives here – like me.
Realtors, here and across our state and country, help their communities every day. That’s Who We R.
Founded in 1912, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is the voice for real estate in Greater Chattanooga. A regional organization with more than 2,700 members, Greater Chattanooga Realtors serves Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia. The association is one of approximately 1,100 local associations and boards of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors owns and operates a Multiple Listing Service that is one of approximately 600 MLSs in the country and services more than 3,000 MLS users. Local association membership consists of Realtors servicing the Greater Chattanooga area and specializing in a variety of disciplines, including appraisal, commercial, industrial, land, multifamily, property management and residential. Affiliate members who represent related industries work alongside these Realtors, including mortgage lenders, home inspectors, title and closing services, pest inspection and control services and insurance providers.