Like Michael Corleone in the “Godfather” films, just when Chris Davis thinks he’s out, the Northwest Georgia Council (NWGC) pulls him back in.
Davis is serving his fourth term as president of the group, which is the branch of the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors (GCAR) that serves agents in Catoosa, Dade, and Walker Counties. He is, of course, glad to serve.
Davis’ latest return to the NWGC leadership position was a vote of confidence on the part of his Georgia peers. When two Georgia real estate companies left GCAR to join a different Realtors association, Davis was asked to return as president in order to help reestablish the ties between Northwest Georgia-based real estate companies and GCAR.
His plan involves creating more networking opportunities for Realtors and nurturing the camaraderie among Northwest Georgia and Tennessee Realtors.
“I want us to strengthen and maintain that connection,” he says.
Davis’ starting point was the NWGC’s mission statement, which says the council’s purpose is to “unite those engaged in the real estate profession in Northwest Georgia with the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors, the Georgia Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors, thereby furthering their own objectives throughout the community, state, and nation, and obtaining the benefits and privileges of membership therein.”
In less ornate words, Davis wants the 120 or so Georgia-based members of GCAR to work with the association toward common goals and to profit from their GCAR membership.
Part of Davis’ game plan involves bringing everyone together socially before engaging them in matters of business. Instead of the breakfast meetings held in the past, he and the NWGC are planning to host three luncheon meetings this year. One will feature U.S. Senator John Isakson (date to be determined); another purely social event for all GCAR members could take place in the fall in Georgia, and might feature a carnival-style atmosphere.
“We did something like it before. We partnered with the Family Crisis Center in Georgia, and brought in an entire circus,” Davis says. “Then we donated the proceeds to the Crisis Center.”
Davis also plans to encourage NWCG members to become more active at GCAR. He’d especially like to see Georgia Realtors participate in the next RPAC (Realtors Political Action Committee) phone-a-thon.
Davis says a GCAR membership has many benefits for Georgia Realtors, including education. Members can take several Georgia-specific classes at GCAR to earn their required CE credits, including a number of free courses. For example, Realtors must take at least one licensed law class every time they renew their license; GCAR offers this course for free on a monthly basis. The next class, “Don’t Break It So It Won’t Break You,” will be taught Friday, May 20.
Another vital class GCAR offers covers the annual changes to the Georgia contracts. “Georgia changes our contracts once a year, so we bring in an instructor twice a year to train our agents on the modifications,” Davis says. The next contract class will be offered Wednesday, June 22.
(Jessica Snyder, GCAR’s education manager, says over 90 percent of GCAR’s courses are approved for Tennessee and Georgia CE credits. View a list of courses and register for them at www.gcar.net.)
This year, Georgia Realtors will also have opportunities to become involved in their community through events that will benefit Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity, and other causes. Davis says he wants these agents to have the opportunity to invest in their community. “GCAR will have their events for those organizations, and we’ll have ours,” Davis says.
About Chris Davis
Davis has a long history as a Georgia Realtor. He entered the profession in 1999 when his best friend’s mother, who was a Realtor, suggested he obtain his license. What began as an off-the-cuff suggestion grew into a passion for Davis, who discovered he loved selling homes.
Davis began his real estate career at Jackson Realty in LaFayette, Ga., then worked for a short time at Crye-Leike before moving to GMAC (now Berkshire Hathaway). He opened an office for GMAC in LaFayette and grew the branch to 17 agents before becoming the area manager. As GMAC was preparing to become Prudential, Davis left the company and started Re/Max Real Estate Center in Ft. Oglethorpe. Two years ago, Davis sold his interest in that company and moved to Real Estate Partners, where he remains today.
“I didn’t want to be in ownership or management anymore,” he says. “I just wanted to sell homes.”
Davis is just as zealous about serving his community. He’s been a city councilman in LaFayette since 2012, he’s on the Chamber of Commerce board in Walker County (he’s slated to serve as president next year), and he’s a member of the LaFayette Rotary Club.
In addition to his work and his community service, Davis is a single father. He and his 8-year-old son live in LaFayette, and spend as much time on Watts Bar Lake as they can. When Davis isn’t fishing, water skiing, or spending time with friends at his lake house in Spring City, Tenn., he’s coaching his son’s Little League team, or running a wrestling program for kids.
While Davis has been president of the NWGC before, he’s approaching 2016 with a fresh perspective and renewed energy. Above all, he encourages his peers in Georgia to simply become involved. “Come to our meetings, take advantage of the networking opportunities, and enjoy the camaraderie,” he says. “The more you’re out there, and more people will get to know you and want to do business with you.”