2018 DMAR Director Candidate Slate Announcement

North District Candidates

Phil Heter | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 20
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 44
# Years Licensed: 44

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
DMAR Director, representing the North District 2015-2018 
Chairman of Audit & Investment Committee 2017, Committee Member 2018
North District Chairman 2017-2018
Golf Committee 2017
New North Office Location Committee 2017-2018
SRES designation - involved with several senior residential communities in the north area 

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. How will advancements in technology further change the traditional brokerage model, and how will we adjust to those changes? How will DMAR remain agile in terms of how and what we offer for the betterment of our members?
2. What will we do as DMAR to appeal to the non-member licensees? Does the division of members and non-members have an adverse effect on the public? What will we offer to attract the Non-R's to the REALTOR® family? 
3. Member mobility. Our industry will continue to evolve. Studies now show a large number of brokers work from home, many having little need for a traditional office setting. The water cooler gossip is all but gone. What will we create to offer the exchange of ideas between our members. 

Adam Johnson | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 1
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 14
# Years Licensed: 14

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I became a licensed real estate agent in 2004, after settling in West Virginia. After two years in the real estate industry I branched out with two of my fellow agents to create our own independent real estate office in West Virginia. As business expanded, I obtained my license in two other states to accommodate my growing clientele. This growth encouraged me to start my own real estate services business, which also provided to clients post-settlement services and property management. In 2009 our office merged with Coldwell Banker. The merger allowed me to apply my business and service skills with a professional brand whose cutting edge marketing tools helped to launch my career as a consistent top producing agent with Coldwell Banker. Also that year, I worked my way up the latter with Historic Highlands REALTOR® Association as Director, secretary, Vice president. I was also part of a committee that reviewed ethics and sat as a board member on two REALTOR® tribunals. With a proven success record in my professional career, I mindfully work and care for each client's needs. I am constantly on the pulse of the ever-changing market. I enjoy working with people and helping them find a place called "home." Being part of the organization that has helped me, it only seems fair to give back. Along with my inter-faith members, I also help Habitat for Humanity in the Denver Metro area.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
Inventory in general in the metro area and, adding to that, affordable inventory. 

Charles Nefzger | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 2
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 13
# Years Licensed: 13

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
A lifelong resident of the Denver Metropolitan area, I graduated from Aurora Central High School in 1966. I spent the bulk of my career in various kinds of customer service, customer service management and sales jobs. In 2004 my former wife and I relocated to Palm Beach County, Florida.  In 2005 I fulfilled a long-standing dream and obtained my Florida Real Estate License.  I successfully practiced real estate in Florida from 2005 until my return to Colorado in 2016.  During that time I went through a trying period during which the Miami-Dade MLS attempted a takeover of the Palm Beach County MLS and stopped data-sharing.  My experience in that matter gives me great perspective regarding the ongoing battle between REcolorado and IRES. Upon my return to Colorado, I obtained my Colorado Brokers license on June 6, 2006. From 1973 to 1978 I was an active member of Capital Hill United Neighborhoods. During that time, I chaired the Land Use and Zoning Committee for four years and chaired the People's Fair Committee for two years.  In 1976 I was a member of the Executive Campaign Committee for ERA Colorado working to garner over 60 percent of the vote.  In 1979 I purchased my first home in the Whittier neighborhood of Denver.  In 1980 I organized my block to obtain a city block grant and we worked together to provide the labor and install sod and trees in the parking strip on the block.  In 1980 Reynelda Muse and I organized and led a successful campaign to retain a grocer store at 34th and Downing after Safeway closed its store.  

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. Soaring prices driving middle and lower middle-class buyers out of the market.
2. The plethora of online information sources available to  the consumer providing them with information that may or may not be true but making them feel like real estate experts. 
3. For those of us working the Northern Suburbs, the necessity to belong to two MLS organizations in order to have access to all listings.  

Susan Webber | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 9
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 9
# Years Licensed: 9

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
A qualified and standing member of SRES, ABR and GRI, as well as a trained & certified Master Certified Negotiation Expert. I received my Employing Broker license in 2013 and completed a mini law course through CU to better understand contract law in 2015. I have been a compliance officer with KW offices since 2012. In our office I have been mentoring since 2012, and currently have 22 agents in my program. As a board member in our Keller Williams office I sit on the agent leadership counsel and have since 2012.  I have taught real estate school with American Dream from 2014-2018. I am a former board member to the Heritage Todd Creek District 7 from 2015-2016. I sit on the executive board of the Community Reach Center in Westminster and act as an advocate for this 501c3 organization that deals with mental health issues for the surrounding communities at large.  

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. I believe that REALTORS® face a continuing challenge in dealing with discount brokerage companies that attempt to minimize our roles and reduce commission.
2. I think we all see this low inventory market a continued challenge for many to make a significant living and if not prepared for an eventual shift, many REALTORS® will face certain departure from this chosen career.
3. I see the current rise in real estate prices forcing many buyers out of the market as interest rates rise, and salaries are not keeping up.  New/younger buyers find it more difficult to enter until much later than ever before.

 

West District Candidates

Richie Averill | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 2
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 2
# Years Licensed: 2

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
DMAR/CAR/NAR member since April 2016
DMAR Government Affairs Committee Vice-Chair, October 2017-Present
DMAR West District Chair-Elect, October 2017-Present
CAR Leadership Academy Graduate, January 2018-April 2018

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
Although there are many challenges facing our profession, there are three that stay top of mind for me. The first challenge centers on the "disrupters" of real estate. Companies like Trelora and REX that advertise as a "new way to do real estate" and that they are "changing the experience." Further research shows that yes, they do change the experience and offer a new way to conduct a real estate transaction; however, I see these challenges as an opportunity for us as professionals to embrace the latest technology that enhances our industry. Furthermore, we shall continue to sharpen our people and sales skills to ensure we provide the best service in real estate. The second challenge, affordability, touches on several interconnected issues. Supply and material costs are going up creating higher starting price tags, increasing population in major metro areas keep the demand high and supply cannot keep up, and wages not keeping up with cost of living all contribute to the affordability issue. The third challenge is the generational differences in our communities. Not only are millennials looking for different types of housing than those in other generations, but they also have a different mindset. Millennials may not fully understand the value of homeownership and wealth building. Many are living with their parents or renting for longer periods of time. I embrace this challenge and see that this is an education gap. I am optimistic that we can overcome these challenges and further our industry, yet recognize that we REALTORS® must remain educated and engaged in order to make a positive difference.

Jason Eckhoff | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 4
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 4
# Years Licensed: 4

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I serve as the Managing Broker of The Peak Properties Group Denver West where I lead a team of 10 talented professionals. I remain active my community through a great number of ventures. I lead the networking meetings for the Denver Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. I’m also in charge of a Mastermind group of local professionals. I am the Co-Founder and Secretary of the Greater Denver Area Sports Association. Our mission is to create a safe and positive atmosphere for the LGBTQA community through engaging social and competitive sports within Colorado.  In my field, I have received numerous awards and recognition. I have earned top sales in my company for the last four years straight, each year doing more than $35 million worth of business. The Peak Properties Group was recognized as a Top 5 Medium-Sized Business (all categories) in the Denver Metro Area, as well as a Top 5 LGBT-Owned company in the Metro Area by the Denver Business Journal. Our team also earned the distinction of a Top 4 Real Estate Team awarded by the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS®.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
The challenges that we face in the real estate profession are based from the economic growth and development of the city. First, I’m interested in how we continue to foster the development of small business. Small business is the engine that drives our economy, and I don’t want to see that engine stall or not meet its potential. Second, I’m concerned about how we increase urban development and ensure the Denver Metro Area continues with good, sustainable growth. Some of the municipalities have enacted (or are considering enacting) slow growth/no growth measures, which, while noble in intent, have unintended consequences that could be risky down the line. For instance, affordable housing is an issue with which I’m intimately familiar, and if you limit housing growth, you drive up real estate costs even further. So, how do we keep on a good path of growth that makes it a place for everyone, and a place of robust small business? Finally, like most people, I worry about infrastructure, notably transportation. I’d like to see better public transportation options in and out of our county for commuters going to Denver. The frequency of public transport leaves a lot to be desired, and there has got to creative solutions to ensure swift and easy mobility for us all. I don’t have a ready-made answer for this, but it’s an issue that’s worth exploring in some depth.

Christine Malara | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 7
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 25
# Years Licensed: 17

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
DMAR West District Board of Director 2015-2018
25+ years experience
Sat on Nominating Committee 2017-2018
Currently sit on Electronic Lockbox Committee 

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. Professionalism within the industry
2. Low inventory
3. Industry disrupters

Charity Timmens | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 6
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 6
# Years Licensed: 6

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I have served on boards previously through my children's school.  I believe in having relationships with people and think that the best way to do that is by talking to them and learning about them.  I believe I could bring an open mind and a different set of views to the board.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1.  People not understanding how important it is to use a REALTOR®.
2.  Giving our profession a voice.
3.  Changing people's mindset about REALTORS®.  That we are not all bloodsucking monsters just out to make a buck.

 

South/East District Candidates

Matt Mathias | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 3
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 3
# Years Licensed: 3

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I have had the privilege of serving on the DMAR Board of Directors since October of last year and am actively involved as a member of the Government Affairs Committee, Douglas Elbert District Committee and the Electronic Lock Box Task Committee. From 2007 through August of 2014 I, together with my family, owned and operated a restaurant. Prior to that, from 2000 to 2006, I was the Territory Manager for a structural wood manufacturer. My longest career spanned from 1979 until 1998 working for the national technical trade association of the glue laminated timber industry as District Manager for 14 years and the last six as the CEO. I also had the pleasure of serving on the Douglas County 4-H Foundation and the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation Boards of Directors prior to 2006.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. Credibility: REALTORS®, by example, should be continually raising the bar of professionalism. We need to articulate our value and relevance to the real estate transaction.
2. Adaptability: If you don't think the real estate profession is changing - rapidly - come out from under your rock. Our industry is facing challenges from sources that believe removing the personal nature of a relationship is progress. Challenges have to be identified and then be effectively addressed.
3. Private Property Rights: In our Declaration of Independence, we declare that we have an unalienable right, endowed by our Creator, NOT government to pursue happiness. The Founding Fathers equated property with pursuit of happiness.  Private Property rights are constantly under assault. We as REALTORS®, together with our national, state and local associations, need to be vigilant and engaged especially as individuals in the fight to protect and defend private property rights. Support of RPAC is PARAMOUNT.  RPAC is the "guardian" of our livelihood.

Greg Nelson | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 12
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 12
# Years Licensed: 12

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I have been and continue to be very active with DMAR and am currently acting as the South/East District Chairman (2016-2018) and in 2017 was appointed to the Board of Directors. As a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, I continue to serve our military as a member of the American Legion and volunteer with the Taskforce Denver Homeless Organization that provides services to Veterans in need.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. Online alternatives/competition to our Metrolist service. 
2. Technology. The consumer has greater access to information. This can give them the perception that a REALTOR® is no longer as valuable. 
3. Affordable housing.

Jennifer Routon | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 2
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 11
# Years Licensed: 11

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I would love the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors for DMAR. I have been a fulltime REALTOR® for almost six years with Madison & Company Properties. Prior to joining Madison & Company I worked in multi-family property management for 15 years. I got my license during that time in 2007 as a requirement for my position as a Regional Manager. I served on the Board of Directors of the Apartment Association of Metro Denver for two years and really enjoyed it. I love being a part of my industry and the opportunity to affect change in a positive way. I just completed the CAR Leadership Academy in April and that experience really inspired me to get more involved locally.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
I think the three most significant challenges for our industry include issues like the most recent Ballot Initiative 66, which is also why I think it is imperative for REALTORS® to get involved in their local and state associations. REALTORS® need to understand these initiatives and how they negatively impact their business and what they can do to help defeat initiatives like this. I also worry about limited listing service companies. The consumers are being inundated with commercials and flyers offering low price solutions to selling their homes, but they don't understand the impact of not working with a professional and the value and resources that professional brings to the table. Additionally, I feel there is a lack of professionalism throughout the industry and would love to be a part of trying to change that. Possibly make it harder to get a RE License, add more continuing education and make it more expensive. 

 

Central District Candidates

Mark Callaghan | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 5
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 5
# Years Licensed: 5

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I am currently a Director of the SPIRE Owners Association, Inc. SPIRE is Denver's best selling condo community located at 14th and Champa, with 496 condo on 42 floors. I have served on this Board for the past five years. I have also served on several other homeowners association boards over the year. I was recently joined the Board of Directors for the Denver Theater District. Prior to real estate, I was a Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeart Radio, and have also owned an advertising agency in Northern Colorado. 

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. Agent-to-agent respect
2. Lack of professionalism
3. Lack of training/education

Marti Furay | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 19
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 30
# Years Licensed: 36

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
Licensed since 1982, I have held a Managing Broker/Employing Broker license since 1992. I have owned a Metro Broker Franchise for over 12 years (1993-2005-Metro Centre), have specialized in REO asset liquidation for 29 years serving multiple banks and loan servicing companies 1983-2011, served as REO Liquidation specialist at Keller Williams 2007-2009, served as REO Broker and then Managing Broker Lucero Real Estate 2011-2017 and served on the Colorado Association of Hispanic REALTORS® (member 2009-2013, Board of Directors 2013-2018). I have alsoo served on multiple committees associated through Denver's Office of Economic Development for the City of Denver 2013-2018 including Denver Urban Renewal, Globeville, Elyria Swansea work boots on the Ground and the GES Mile High United Way organization. Chosen as the exclusive Broker for the City of Aurora NSP (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) to find, market and assist with Affordable Housing initiatives in Aurora from 2008-2011. (They were awarded #1 Top City in the NSP Program in the Nation among 65 participating cities! Currently active member of DMAR's Community Alliance Committee. Currently active in the community as a charter member of the Shalom Salaam Sisterhood organization - which is steeped in bonding diverse groups of women and educating the community in inclusive initiatives to bring neighbors together with a better, more tolerant understanding. I also fully invested in activities and try to frequently attend events within the DMAR organization to help support all the Districts and their activities.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. Maintaining a level of ethics, education and standards in this highly competitive market to insure we are not only serving the needs of the client, but also continuing to best serve our community as a whole.
2. Keeping up with the most advanced technology, which can best serve the needs of conveying information to the client.
3. Staying on top of methods to keep communication open to the public and insuring that our industry will remain transparent, which ultimately will help the community understand the nuances of a transaction.

Stephanie Malo | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 2
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 2
# Years Licensed: 3

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I have been apart of DMAR on and off since becoming licensed in 2015. I have seen the many benefits of being a REALTOR® and of being apart of DMAR. Being a younger, and somewhat newer REALTOR®, I have been able to grow and learn from these associations.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. The normalization and popularization of flat fee brokerages.
2. Not enough support for newer agents or independent agents not working with big box companies, lack of education for new agents.
3. The evolution of technology and home searching resources

Lori Pace | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 6
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 4
# Years Licensed: 8

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I am a graduate with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Design with a concentration in Architecture and Urban Planning. I began my career with the Denver Urban Renewal Authority dedicated to neighborhood revitalization and Redevelopment. I have been involved in public and private collaborations of real estate acquisitions and development. I have served as a DMAR Central District Ambassador and on the Community Alliance Taskforce. My Professional training in real estate, neighborhood revitalization/development, leadership and sales has created an understanding for the multiple facets of business including residential and commercial real estate.  As a REALTOR® and personally, I have bought, owned and sold both investment properties and residences for the last 15 years providing a unique perspective. I am a professionally trained speaker and my platform is diversity, inclusion and leadership development. I am passionate about diversifying this industry. I have served on numerous community boards and I am a passionate community activist involved in numerous organizations. I live for serving my community and my clients.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
The continued lack of diversity and education around working in multicultural neighborhoods is a challenge in the industry where there has not been much change. Brokerages and leaders in the industry need to be more strategic in not only recruiting agents from underrepresented communities, but also retaining agents. As the demographics of the world change, our agents need to reflect those changes by understanding the needs of people unlike themselves. More opportunities exist with agents and clients with different perspectives than those who are currently around them. Clear goals, strategies and benchmarks need to be created and implemented to measure the success of achieving diversity in the industry.

Lillie Reibold | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 4
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 30
# Years Licensed: 30

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
I have been a REALTOR® for 30 years. I have always been a fulltime REALTOR®, and over the years have worked for several companies and 15 years ago decided to open my own company. I am a Colorado native and moved to Dallas, Texas to go to college where I graduated with a BBA and started my real estate business in 1989. When my triplet girls graduated from college in 2013, it was time to move back home to Denver. I was extensively involved in the Dallas Association of REALTORS® with community work and I worked at bringing more education and training to fellow REALTORS®. In Denver, as in Dallas, I am a member of the Professional Standards and Ethics Committee. It's very important to me to improve our reputation with the public, to serve as beacons of ethical behavior and to treat each other as the professionals that we are. I love what I do, I love the real estate profession and I am constantly looking to make myself better and helping others make better choices and become more profitable.

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. Continuing education of all members to become better professionals.
2. Treating each other with respect.
3. Exploring new ways of improving our industry, which includes expanding the innovative technology that we have available to us and using it to get back to high touch of our clients.

Ryan Schulz | District Position

# Years as DMAR Member: 14
# Years as REALTOR® Member: 20
# Years Licensed: 20

What are your qualifications to serve as a DMAR Director?
2018-Present Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices-Innovative Real Estate
2011-2018 Kentwood, Broker Associate - Recognized by Denver Board of REALTORS® for Roundtable of Excellence Award as a top producer
2007-2011 Fuller/LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, Broker Associate - Recognized by Denver Board of REALTORS® for Outstanding Production, Recognized by Fuller Sotheby’s International for Outstanding Production
2003-2007 RE/MAX of Cherry Creek, Broker/Co-Owner - Sales volume in excess of $12 Million per year, Denver Board of REALTORS® Roundtable of Excellence Award Winner, RE/MAX International Award Winner for 2005 & 2006
2001-2003 Rusinak Real Estate, Broker Associate - Sales volume in excess of $7 million, Company award winner for high production, Acquired several successful investment properties
1999-2001 Stark Company REALTORS®, Broker Associate - Company award winner for high production
Designations: Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
Member AREAA (Asian Real Estate Association of America)
Colorado Public Notary Five Star Short Sale Certified
5280 Five Star Award recipient 2012

What do you feel are the three most significant challenges facing the real estate profession?
1. Data sharing and companies redistributing/syndicating the information of REALTORS® accurately and timely.
2. Continuing to show the need for a professional experienced REALTOR® and making the public clearly aware of all that we do for our clients and the community.
3. Technology and companies that are trying to eliminate our services and professionalism through online platforms and trying to phase out the REALTOR® in the buy/sell process.