Become a Leader in Business, Your Personal Life,
and the REALTOR® Organization
The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) Leadership Academy was established in 2004 and created to nurture and train individuals who aspire to become active volunteer leaders in the REALTOR® association, and/or civic and charitable organizations. The deans of the Leadership Academy are Kimberly Allard and Dawn Ruffini.
Throughout the program, Leadership Academy participants will get an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at how the REALTOR® organization operates. Many of the same principles that guide the staff and leadership of this 1,300,000+ member organization can be applied to how you run your business and make decisions that impact your everyday life. Graduates of the MAR Leadership Academy will have the tools to guide the REALTOR® organization through the 21st Century.
MAR Leadership Academy participants will work together in a training course that combines individual study, group sessions, team-building exercises, goal setting, personal profile analysis, network building, and communication skills. This year-long learning experience is designed to train, nurture and inspire tomorrow’s leaders. During the sessions, a series of respected national and regional instructors and leadership volunteers will guide you through the fundamentals of what every good leader needs to know.
2024 Deans:
David McCarthy and Kimberly Allard
Session One:
- January 16th & 17th
- January 16th 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Review program goals and introduction of group projects
- Review of the REALTOR® organization structure
- Full Day – January 17th 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Markey Read, personality types and interaction styles
- January 16th 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Session Two:
- March 26th 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Deep dive into the REALTOR® organization – 3-way agreement
- NAR: history of the organization, the REALTOR® brand, initiatives, governance, how to get involved
- MAR: strategic plan, committee structure, advocacy initiatives
- Local: the role of the local associations: dues, billing
- NERC
- Past Presidents Luncheon
Session Three:
- May 13th & 14th
- May 13th 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- MAR advocacy initiatives
- Meeting with Senator Paul Feeney to understand from a Legislator’s perspective the information needed about the industry
- Advocacy – Federal, State and Local
- May 14th 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Working with the media
- Board meeting overview
- Robert’s Rules
- Observe Board meeting
- May 13th 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Session Four:
- July 11th 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Shari Harley
- Presentation skills
- How to have a difficult conversation
- Shari Harley
Session Five:
- October 15th – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Presentation of Group Projects to Executive Committee
Session Six:
- December 3rd 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Dr. Robin Buckley
- Work/life balance
Applications for the MAR Leadership Academy are invited from interested Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® members. Approximately 15 individuals will be selected to participate in this program. Since the number of participants is limited, applicants who are not selected may be placed on a waiting list and are also encouraged to reapply in subsequent years. Commitment includes the completion of the application. Tuition for the program is $1,000 (includes all training sessions, some meals, all overnight accommodations, and instructional materials for the entire year’s sessions.) Additional costs to the participants will include transportation to and from the meeting sites and minimal expenses which may be incurred while on-site.
The MAR Leadership Academy Selection Committee will include past and current leaders of the REALTOR® organization. The Selection Committee will review applications and interview prospective candidates who may best serve as local, state, or national leaders in the future and are selected based on their business success, their track record of volunteer performance for their local board and/or civic organizations, and their personal integrity. Prospective participants are required to attend an in-person interview at the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® headquarters in Foxborough, MA.
2024 Leadership Academy
Andrew Romano
REALTOR® Association of Southeastern MA
Colleen Murphy
Northeast Association of REALTORS®
Cristina Coppola
Northeast Association of REALTORS®
Cyndi Deshaies
REALTOR® Association of Central MA
Erin Hovan
REALTOR® Association of Southeastern MA
Joselin Malkhasian
Greater Boston Real Estate Board
Mark Vadala
North Shore Association of REALTORS®
Nate Daniel
REALTOR® Association of Central MA
Robyn Nasuti
REALTOR® Association of Central MA
Sarah Schouler
REALTOR® Association of Central MA
Stephanie Bayliss
REALTOR® Association of Central MA