Enhancing Your Industry Edge in 2015

As you plan for a successful 2015, our C.A.R. Board of Directors has developed a new Strategic Plan for next year and beyond to ensure Chicago REALTORS® have a competitive industry edge. The new 2015-2017 plan resulted from the inspired suggestions of our dedicated Young Professionals Network (YPN). Who better to turn to than the young thought leaders who built YPN into one of the most involved in the nation? The culmination of the partnership between our board and YPN leadership is C.A.R.’s new mission and vision statements, and revamped goals. These will serve as a framework for how we will continue to stay ahead of your emerging business and professional needs. Our Strategic Plan features a new mission statement: “The Chicago Association of REALTORS® provides advocacy, professional development and resources that are designed to enhance business success, service to clients and engagement in communities for a diverse community of real estate professionals.” The new vision statement is: “The Chicago Association of REALTORS® prepares educated and innovative real estate professionals to become engaged leaders in our ever-changing communities.” To fulfill our new mission and vision, here are the five targeted goals where you will see expanded benefits in 2015 that we’re confident will help meet – and potentially exceed – your business goals. • Advocacy Impacts and positively influences housing and commercial real estate public policy actions in the Chicagoland region through engaged REALTORS®. • Professional Development & Business Success Enhances members’ business and professional success through delivering exceptional services, programs and tailored education, which are relevant to a dynamic industry environment. • Member Engagement Fosters an engaged community of members that value and utilize C.A.R. programs and services. • Community Engagement Has a visible and positive impact in the communities C.A.R. members serve. • Organizational Capacity Creates robust organizational systems and finances, and fosters employee and volunteer leadership to enable the attainment of the other goals. Through our new Strategic Plan, C.A.R. will keep you attuned to best practices and ways to stay involved – and ahead in our industry. Please help me welcome Hugh Rider as 2014-2015 president, and the new Board of Directors – and read more about them in this issue. C.A.R. leadership and staff look forward to offering you the new tools and resources that will bring you added value in the coming year to empower you and your business. Sincerely, Ginger Downs, RCE, CAE, CIPS, IOM Chief Executive Officer Chicago Association of REALTORS®