The Chicago Association of REALTORS®, the “Voice for Real Estate” in Chicago since 1883, represents over 17,000 members from all real estate specialties including commercial sales, development, property management, appraisal, auctions and residential sales.
Learn how we help our 17,000+ members. Membership options are available for licensed real estate professionals and those affiliated with the real estate industry!
REALTORS® Real Estate School offers all kinds of real estate licensing and training. Browse self-paced, online training or live classes in our modern, downtown classrooms!
How can we help your business succeed? Your membership includes multiple resource guides on industry topics, tools to increase your knowledge and market statistics to help your serve your communities.
STEPHANIE BRIMO
REDFIN CORPORATION
What is your favorite place in Chicago?
The architectural tour never gets old to me. I love seeing the city from the river. It’s a unique view you don’t see otherwise.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
It’s important to cultivate great working relationships. This is a huge association, but you run into the same people over and over.
ANTJE GEHRKEN
A.R.E. PARTNERS
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
On cooler days, my husband will light me a fire in the woodburning stove of our great room, I’ll pour Scotch (neat, single malt, please), grab my book and recline. Bliss.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
Enhancing the outreach to our communities and the connection to the members that serve those communities.
MAURICE HAMPTON
CENTERED INTERNATIONAL REALTY
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
Create peace and happiness with every human and creature.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Never, ever give up. You are building a business, not working a business.
ANTHONY HARDY
KELLER WILLIAMS ONECHICAGO
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
Leap tall buildings in a single bound. I could see if the roof is in good condition.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
You get what you go after.
DRUSSY HERNANDEZ
FULTON GRACE REALTY
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
The Botanic Gardens. It’s beautiful and peaceful.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
I love to teach. I also enjoy working with the orientation team. Working with new members has been both rewarding and exciting.
AYOUB RABAH
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
Turn back time.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Be kind, be patient and be flexible.
HUGH RIDER
REALTY & MORTGAGE CO.
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
Boating on Lake Michigan.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Surround yourself with people you can trust and rely on- life is too short to always be looking over your shoulder.
TRACEY ROYAL
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
If I could have one superpower, it would be to move things with my mind.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
Increasing CAR’s presence on the West Side of Chicago and western suburbs. Also, I look forward to sharing the benefits and resources that CAR has to offer its REALTOR® members.
RACHEL SCHEID
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
I love walking around Chicago neighborhoods! I typically walk around Lincoln Square, where I live. I always spy something new: a freshly painted yellow door, new lawn decorations for the season, fresh books in an outdoor library.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
I am extremely excited to work with such a dynamic group of industry advocates!
ANDY SHIPARSKI
COMPASS
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
To rid the world of hatred, disrespect, prejudice and racism.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
The continued efforts to impact all communities and neighborhoods of our amazing city and all of our efforts to protect the rights of property owners.
GRACE KAAGE
@PROPERTIES
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
With a glass of wine and cuddling with my seven-month-old.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Be kind. Everyone you know is going through something you may know nothing about.
MARKI LEMONS RYHAL
EXIT STRATEGY REALTY
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
The lakefront at nighttime.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
Mentoring the next generation of leaders.
NICK LIBERT
EXIT STRATEGY REALTY
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
I love the lakefront path so much! I do “morning miles” several times a week as a start to the day to soak in our natural beauty and the skyline, uninterrupted by what will come later on in my routine.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Through trial and error, I have discovered that time management is absolutely key to growing your business consistently. If you start your day with lead generation, everything else will fall into place.
MICHELLE MILLS CLEMENT
CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
To clone myself. I haven’t mastered being in three places at once yet, although I’ve been getting close with Zoom on my desktop, cell phone and iPad all at once!
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
The importance of self-care. It’s easy to get bogged down with work and your career goals overall. If you take care of yourself, you can be your best self at work, at home, for your family and most importantly, for yourself.
CHRIS PEZZA
THE APARTMENT SOURCE
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
The member lounge at CAR. If you’re confused, clearly you’ve never been!
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Never answer the phone at 4:59 PM on a Friday!
VICKY SILVANO
BAIRD AND WARNER
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
Museum Park – where all the great museums of Chicago are – and to watch the great skyline of Chicago!
What excites you most about CAR in the year ahead?
The great energy of this leadership team and the increasing commitment to serving our members in every neighborhood and supporting all communities.
AMIR SYED
GUARANTEED RATE
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
I always schedule something fun at the end of the week, like a dinner date with my wife, a couples dinner date, a friends night or golf tee time. This allows me to work with more excitement and celebrate my hard work.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
We’re always in a storm, coming out of a storm or approaching a storm. In other words, we’re always going to have problems. That is life.
ERIKA VILLEGAS
RE/MAX IN THE VILLAGE
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
We love to take walks and enjoy our backyard almost every day!
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
New leadership brings new opportunities and ideas to the table, and I love that I get to learn from three women I have admired for a long time.
MARTY WALSH
DREAM TOWN REALTY
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
The opportunity to be a part of the coming change in the city.
What is one thing you’d like to see CAR accomplish this year?
Be a force and voice for the people.
SARAH WARE
WARE REALTY GROUP
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
To fly, so I can move across the city with no traffic at any time.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
I am most excited about working with CAR on some of the new programs like the 77 and increasing awareness about some of the benefits that CAR has to offer that many members may not be aware of.
STEPHANIE BRIMO
REDFIN CORPORATION
What is your favorite place in Chicago?
The architectural tour never gets old to me. I love seeing the city from the river. It’s a unique view you don’t see otherwise.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
It’s important to cultivate great working relationships. This is a huge association, but you run into the same people over and over.
ANTJE GEHRKEN
A.R.E. PARTNERS
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
On cooler days, my husband will light me a fire in the woodburning stove of our great room, I’ll pour Scotch (neat, single malt, please), grab my book and recline. Bliss.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
Enhancing the outreach to our communities and the connection to the members that serve those communities.
MAURICE HAMPTON
CENTERED INTERNATIONAL REALTY
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
Create peace and happiness with every human and creature.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Never, ever give up. You are building a business, not working a business.
ANTHONY HARDY
KELLER WILLIAMS ONECHICAGO
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
Leap tall buildings in a single bound. I could see if the roof is in good condition.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
You get what you go after.
DRUSSY HERNANDEZ
FULTON GRACE REALTY
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
The Botanic Gardens. It’s beautiful and peaceful.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
I love to teach. I also enjoy working with the orientation team. Working with new members has been both rewarding and exciting.
AYOUB RABAH
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
Turn back time.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Be kind, be patient and be flexible.
HUGH RIDER
REALTY & MORTGAGE CO.
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
Boating on Lake Michigan.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Surround yourself with people you can trust and rely on- life is too short to always be looking over your shoulder.
TRACEY ROYAL
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
If I could have one superpower, it would be to move things with my mind.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
Increasing CAR’s presence on the West Side of Chicago and western suburbs. Also, I look forward to sharing the benefits and resources that CAR has to offer its REALTOR® members.
RACHEL SCHEID
COLDWELL BANKER REALTY
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
I love walking around Chicago neighborhoods! I typically walk around Lincoln Square, where I live. I always spy something new: a freshly painted yellow door, new lawn decorations for the season, fresh books in an outdoor library.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
I am extremely excited to work with such a dynamic group of industry advocates!
ANDY SHIPARSKI
COMPASS
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
To rid the world of hatred, disrespect, prejudice and racism.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
The continued efforts to impact all communities and neighborhoods of our amazing city and all of our efforts to protect the rights of property owners.
GRACE KAAGE
@PROPERTIES
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
With a glass of wine and cuddling with my seven-month-old.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Be kind. Everyone you know is going through something you may know nothing about.
MARKI LEMONS RYHAL
EXIT STRATEGY REALTY
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
The lakefront at nighttime.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
Mentoring the next generation of leaders.
NICK LIBERT
EXIT STRATEGY REALTY
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
I love the lakefront path so much! I do “morning miles” several times a week as a start to the day to soak in our natural beauty and the skyline, uninterrupted by what will come later on in my routine.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Through trial and error, I have discovered that time management is absolutely key to growing your business consistently. If you start your day with lead generation, everything else will fall into place.
MICHELLE MILLS CLEMENT
CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
To clone myself. I haven’t mastered being in three places at once yet, although I’ve been getting close with Zoom on my desktop, cell phone and iPad all at once!
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
The importance of self-care. It’s easy to get bogged down with work and your career goals overall. If you take care of yourself, you can be your best self at work, at home, for your family and most importantly, for yourself.
CHRIS PEZZA
THE APARTMENT SOURCE
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
The member lounge at CAR. If you’re confused, clearly you’ve never been!
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
Never answer the phone at 4:59 PM on a Friday!
VICKY SILVANO
BAIRD AND WARNER
What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
Museum Park – where all the great museums of Chicago are – and to watch the great skyline of Chicago!
What excites you most about CAR in the year ahead?
The great energy of this leadership team and the increasing commitment to serving our members in every neighborhood and supporting all communities.
AMIR SYED
GUARANTEED RATE
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
I always schedule something fun at the end of the week, like a dinner date with my wife, a couples dinner date, a friends night or golf tee time. This allows me to work with more excitement and celebrate my hard work.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career thus far?
We’re always in a storm, coming out of a storm or approaching a storm. In other words, we’re always going to have problems. That is life.
ERIKA VILLEGAS
RE/MAX IN THE VILLAGE
How do you unwind after a hard day of work?
We love to take walks and enjoy our backyard almost every day!
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
New leadership brings new opportunities and ideas to the table, and I love that I get to learn from three women I have admired for a long time.
MARTY WALSH
DREAM TOWN REALTY
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
The opportunity to be a part of the coming change in the city.
What is one thing you’d like to see CAR accomplish this year?
Be a force and voice for the people.
SARAH WARE
WARE REALTY GROUP
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
To fly, so I can move across the city with no traffic at any time.
What are you most excited to work on with CAR in the year ahead?
I am most excited about working with CAR on some of the new programs like the 77 and increasing awareness about some of the benefits that CAR has to offer that many members may not be aware of.