Pathway to Achievement Program

Promoting diversity within Realtor® membership

The Pathway to Achievement Program is designed to promote diversity within the Realtor® membership. The program aims to increase minority representation in the real estate sector and enhance their chances of building a sustainable and prosperous career in the industry.

Pathway to Achievement forges an alliance between the recipient, sponsoring broker, a broker—assigned mentor, local association, and Minnesota Realtors®. 

The sponsoring brokers play a vital role by providing a mentor and educational training to the program recipients. The mentorship, training, and startup assistance are designed to maximize the recipients' potential for success in the real estate industry during their first year. Overall, the Pathway to Achievement program seeks to create a supportive environment where minority individuals can thrive and achieve long-term success as real estate licensees.

Program Expectations and Ideal Candidate Guidelines

  • Must be 18 years of age
  • Newly licensed Realtor® within the past year (not relicensed)
  • Be considered to have what it takes to be a successful real estate salesperson
  • Must be an individual from a multicultural and minority background
  • Must have prepared a one-year or five-year business plan
  • Sponsoring broker must complete an application and provide a mentor

Program Award

  • One year of Realtor® association dues (local, state, and national)
  • Six months of MLS fees
  • Six GRI courses, which count toward C.E. (continuing education) credits
  • Free MNR UNITE! convention ticket

Application and Award Schedule

  • September 3–October 15: Applications open
  • October 16–October 31: MNR collection and review process
  • November 1–December 1: Applicant interviews and recipients selected
  • December 2: Notification to award recipients, their brokers, and local associations

Applications are NOW CLOSED for 2024–2025.

For more information, contact Donnie Brown at dbrown@mnrealtor.com

2024 Pathway to Achievement Recipients

Congratulations to the 18 Pathway to Achievement scholarship recipients for 2024! We’re excited to watch these new agents grow and thrive in their real estate careers.

Randrell Abernatha

Randrell Abernatha

KW Classic Realty Northwest
Broker: Gregg Hartos
Minneapolis Area Realtors®

Alivia Boddie

Alivia Boddie

KW Classic Realty Northwest
Broker: Gregg Hartos
Minneapolis Area Realtors®

Sterling T. Brown

Sterling T. Brown

Coldwell Banker Realty
Broker: Patrick Ruble
St. Paul Area Assoc. of Realtors®

Nathaniel Burkhalter

Nathaniel Burkhalter

RE/MAX Results
Broker: Michael Vanderheyden
Southeast Minnesota Realtors®

Ashley DuBose

Ashley DuBose

Bridge Realty
Broker: Arman Vatani–Oskooi
Minneapolis Area Realtors®

Victoria Evans

Victoria Evans

KW Integrity Realty
Broker: Lynn Fratzen
St. Paul Area Assoc. of Realtors®

Jacqueline Howard

Jacqueline Howard

BHHS North Properties
Broker: Peggy LoveJoy
Minneapolis Area Realtors®

Chaz James

Chaz James

Premier Real Estate Services
Broker: Noel Johnson
St. Cloud Area Assoc. of Realtors®

Momodou Jatt

Momodou Jatta

KW Integrity Realty
Broker: Lynn Fratzen
St. Paul Area Assoc. of Realtors®

Jiao / Jennifer Lin

Jiao / Jennifer Lin

Bridge Realty
Broker: Arman Vatani-Oskooi
Minneapolis Area Realtors®

Antwonette Lucas

Antwonette Lucas

RE/MAX Results
Broker: Michael Vanderheyden
Southeast Minnesota Realtors®

Xinyi / Vanessa Mao

Xinyi / Vanessa Mao

Keller Williams
Broker: Claire Shaw
Minneapolis Area Realtors®

Fariji Mwanzia

Fariji Mwanzia

KW Realty Integrity Edina
Broker: Matt Brady
Minneapolis Area Realtors®

Rashad Nixon

Rahshad Nixon

Coldwell Banker Realty
Broker: Angela Brasel
St. Paul Area Assoc. of Realtors®

Claudia O'Ryan

Claudia O’Ryan

Carriage Realty
Broker: Karen Stang
Minneapolis Area Realtors®

Omar Subane

Omar Subane

Edina Realty
Broker: Greg Wojtowicz
St. Cloud Area Assoc. of Realtors®

Kristopher Wright

Kristopher Wright

Edina Realty
Broker: Jamar Hardy
Minneapolis Area Realtors®

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pathway to Achievement Program?

MNR’s Pathway to Achievement Program is designed to promote diversity within the Realtor® membership by engaging more people not in Minnesota's racial majority and in a manner designed to enhance the probability of long-term success in the real estate profession.

MNR’s Pathway to Achievement Program forges an alliance between the recipient, the sponsoring broker, the local association, and Minnesota Realtors® (MNR). Candidates must be a person not in Minnesota's racial majority and demonstrate a commitment to becoming a successful real estate licensee and Realtor®. The sponsoring broker provides a mentor and in-house training for the program recipient to optimize the success of the new licensee. Ideally, the candidate is a new licensee who has not had a license for more than six months and who is aspiring to become a full-time salesperson. The program is intended to provide startup assistance to candidates who have not previously held a real estate license.

What are the benefits of the Pathway to Achievement Program?

The MNR Pathway to Achievement Program in Minnesota offers startup assistance to individuals from racial minorities who are new to the real estate business. The program includes financial support covering:      

Program Benefits:

  • One year of Realtor® association dues (local, state, and national)
  • Six months of MLS and Supra eKey fees
  • Six GRI courses, which count toward C.E. (continuing education) credits
  • Free MNR UNITE! convention ticket 

These benefits are applicable for the following calendar year.

Why is the Pathway to Achievement Program important to brokers?

The Pathway to Achievement Program enables brokers to welcome new salespersons not in Minnesota's racial majority who they believe will become successful salespersons and enhance the diversity of the broker’s office. The brokers are asked to “invest” in the new salesperson by providing mentorship and education for the new salesperson.

The brokers provide education, supervision and mentors for the candidates; the local association provides a dues and fees waiver; and MNR provides a dues waiver, access to additional educational programming and networking opportunities.

What are the Pathway to Achievement Broker Commitment and Mentor Guidelines?

The participating broker must complete a sponsoring broker application by the application deadline and assign a mentor to the Pathway to Achievement receipient. 

  • Brokerage approval and sponsorship are crucial for the program's success
  • The mentorship lasts for 12 months
  • Mentorship is based on mutual consent
  • Preferably, mentors have a minimum of 5 years' experience as a Realtor®
  • Recipient and mentor must be in the same brokerage firm/office
  • Mentor needs to possess enthusiasm, knowledge, and a willingness to dedicate time for new Realtor's® professional growth
  • The mentor's role involves observing the new Realtor's® interactions, providing constructive feedback, and offering
  • guidance on communication and interactive skills
  • Mentor keeps the new Realtor® updated on industry developments and trends
  • Mentor shares professional expertise, experiences, and insights with new Realtor®
  • Availability for real estate-related questions is expected
  • The mentor engages with new Realtors® twice per month and holds quarterly meetings

The Pathway to Achievement Application and Guidelines

  • The application and award process takes place once per year
  • Candidates must complete the Pathway to Achievement application by deadline
  • Must be 18 years of age, completed real estate pre-licensing requirements
  • Newly licensed Realtor® within the past 6 months
  • Be considered to have what it takes to be a successful real estate salesperson
  • Must be an individual from a multi-cultural and minority background
  • Must have prepared a one-year or five-year business plan
  • Sponsoring broker must complete an application and provide a mentor

What is MNR looking for during candidate interview process?

The committees look for a candidate who has not had a license for more than six months and who is aspiring to become a full-time salesperson. The candidate will have considered what it will take to be a successful real estate salesperson and will have worked on a one-year, and five-year business plan. The ideal candidate also considers what can be done to further enhance his or her education and how he or she can best learn and contribute to the real estate profession. Candidate must be willing to invest in their real estate business and complete the requirements within one year. The committees also look for a sponsoring broker who will guide the new salesperson and ensure that the new salesperson has training and support.