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Banking on the Benefits of ‘Being in the Room’

By MNR News posted 08-23-2024 03:50 PM

  
Serving on association committees yields exponential returns on time invested.
As a Realtor® with 38 years in the business, Deb Greene knows the value of time. Dedicated to helping countless clients buy and sell homes over the decades, she has always stretched beyond the limits of clock and calendar to further her education, build her network, and serve the real estate industry. With a string of designations trailing her name (eight at last count), she is a renowned continuing education instructor, and mentor to up-and-coming Realtors®. And though her days are bursting beyond full, Greene has always made serving on Minnesota Realtors® (MNR) committees a high priority.

“There are so many reasons that I volunteer for MNR,” said Greene, an agent with Coldwell Banker who was MNR Realtor® of the Year in 2013, and has served on numerous committees at MNR, NAR, RPAC, and the Minneapolis Area Realtors® (MAR). “I feel like I’m much more in the loop for both current issues and those on the horizon. There’s simply no substitute for the deep knowledge I gather from ‘being in the room.’”

And Greene has been in many rooms over the years, including MNR’s Member Engagement Committee, Finance, Forms, Government Affairs, the Nominating Committee, the Board of Directors, Professional Standards, and others. Driven by a passion to serve, she strives to expand professionalism across the real estate community and deliver the highest level of service to clients. 
“We all have an obligation to protect our industry and our reputation,” Greene said, reflecting on her work for the Professional Standards Committee. “I serve to help enforce the Code of Ethics, but also because I learn so much through the hearings.”
Of course, joining a committee is not all about selfless philanthropy, Greene observed. It can be a steppingstone to a more prosperous career.
“The sense of camaraderie you get while sitting in a room of real estate professionals is invaluable. It’s a setting where lasting friendships are made. Not only is this fulfilling on a personal level, it’s good for business. I have made and received countless referrals from Realtors® I have served with on committees,” Greene noted.
Currently, MNR hosts 16 committees spanning a spectrum of real estate disciplines and areas of interest, from Communications, Finance, and Public Advocacy to Member Engagement, Risk Management, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Visit the MNR Committees page for a complete list of committees and volunteer opportunities. Applications for 2025 positions are open through September.
This article was originally published in the 2024 July/August issue of The Minnesota Realtor®. Read it in the digital magazine. 
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