AE Spotlight on Amanda Erickson

AE for Durango Area Association of REALTORS® 2023 AE Representative for CAR

Membership numbers: 430 REALTORS®

How long have you been an AE? 15 glorious years! Sometimes it feels like 100…

How did you get your start as an AE? I started as the association's MLS Coordinator in 2005. My first day on the job was the day our regional online MLS portal launched for the first time to our membership. I think I faintly heard someone say, “Hey, where’s the deep end?! Just throw her in over there!” I guess since I didn’t drown, they decided to keep me around. In all honesty, I loved learning about the world of real estate from the MLS side of things. Before my first day on the job, I didn’t even know what an MLS was. I was as ‘vanilla’ as it gets.

What do you love most about the job? The people and the lifelong connections I’ve made.

What is your biggest success as an AE? Earning the trust and respect of my leadership… and one hell of a minigolf tournament!

What would your members be most surprised by about

your job? Whenever I discuss core standards requirements my members’ eyes cross. They are always surprised at what is done behind the scenes to ensure their success as an organization.

What are the CAR benefits you and or your members use

most? The work CAR does that benefits my members the most is their advocacy through Government Affairs. Without their policy and regulatory work at DORA and the Capitol, the real estate environment would look a whole lot different in Colorado. Locally, they are always willing to contribute resources to advocate for our issues and property rights. Which talent would you most like to have? Either to fly or to be invisible (strange pattern forming there).

What is your most treasured possession? My biggest treasures are my grandkids, but my most treasured possession? I’d have to say home… there’s no place like it.

Which historical figure or literary hero do you most iden-

tify with and why? Well, I’ve been called Pollyanna… always the optimist and the peacemaker in the group.

Motto or piece of advice you live by? Wherever you are, make sure joy is there with you- and that you spread it around!