IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Dare Tulloch PRESIDENT Joan Dorsey
15 AWARDS COMMITTEE
17 COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Daphne MacDougall Scott McClaine
Stephanie Prentice
Monica Rawles John VanderSyde
COMMITTEE MEMBERS BY THE NUMBERS
5 BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE
21 DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION COMMITTEE
33 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
15 GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE
5 NOMINATING & ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
54 PRO STANDARDS COMMITTEE
16 PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
Jenn Cox
Tondra Devarel
Jim Dorsey
Claire Forcier-Rowe
Melissa Grohowski
Larry Lewis
Scott Shaheen
Karen Smith
Susan Stynes
Together, we are inspiring and creating communities of opportunity.
In early 2024, the staff of the Richmond Association of REALTORS (RAR) and the Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service (CVR MLS) gathered to develop a collective vision for our organizations. In CVR MLS, the communities of opportunity we create, strengthen, and maintain are for the benefit of our Participants, Subscribers, and their clients.
The MLS is a technology platform that enables the orderly exchange of real estate listing data, thereby undergirding and facilitating an organized marketplace for the sale and purchase of real estate. The portfolio of technology products provided and supported by CVR MLS allows real estate professionals to conduct business. We focus on products that affect the transaction from the listing appointment to the closing table.
RAR provides members with numerous continuing education opportunities and guides adherence to the Code of Ethics. RAR is the lead advocate in the region for the protection of private property rights. With the Partnership for Housing Affordability (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established by RAR twenty years ago), RAR is recognized regionally as a leading voice in the creation of communities of opportunity—
communities that feature safe streets, affordable housing, high quality public schools, jobs that pay sustainable wages, transit that connects homes/ education/employment, and woven throughout is a rich tapestry of natural, recreational, and cultural amenities accessible and affordable to all. In short, we believe that each child born today in our region should have the opportunity to reach 18 years of age healthy, whole and with live options for their future. We believe home ownership is a path to household wealth; and inclusive home ownership opportunities can help ameliorate historic wrongs and narrow the racial wealth gap.
Just as 2024 has been a year of tremendous change in the real estate industry, we know that more changes are likely in the coming year. To best meet the challenges and opportunities of change, we seek to remain both agile and disciplined. At CVR MLS and RAR, our goal is to equip our members to thrive in a fundamentally changed real estate landscape. We are grateful for the courageous, committed, volunteer leaders who partnered with us and placed enormous trust in us this year. This engagement and trust enable us to lead through change and seize the opportunities before us.
To best meet the challenges and opportunities of change, we seek to remain both agile and disciplined. “ “ – LAURA LAFAYETTE
Translating Communities of Opportunity into Impact
At the Richmond Association of REALTORS® (RAR), we have a mantra:
“people will not buy a house, until they have first bought into a community’s quality of life.” And our collective quality of life in metropolitan Richmond will not be what it can and should be until each person has the opportunity to flourish. A “community of opportunity” is a regional ecosystem in which people have a chance to be their best selves and experience positive health, educational, and vocational outcomes. Safe, sustainable, attainable housing is the foundation upon which a community of opportunity is built.
In the Richmond region, RAR has been and will continue to be a driving force in advocating for and advancing the cause of housing. Earlier this year, Henrico County asked PHA to administer its newly established Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Over the next five years, PHA will be responsible for allocating $60 million to for-profit and nonprofit developers for the construction of homes affordable to working families in the county. We are honored and excited to play a small, supportive role in PHA’s efforts.
Within the Association itself, we provide members with the education, advocacy, and risk management services that are necessary, if our members are to have the opportunity to build professional, ethical and profitable careers. In 2024, we experienced increased enrollment in our programmatic efforts—networking events, virtual and in-person classes, and Town Halls with Legal Counsel attended by over 3,500 members.
At the Central Virginia Regional Multiple Listing Service (CVR MLS), the staff and leadership recognize that maintaining a timely and accurate database of residential listing data makes an orderly real estate market possible. While the compensation field has been removed from the MLS system, the database remains a robust, essential repository of listing data that enables participants to meet the needs of their clients. In addition to the MLS system, CVR MLS supports a state-of-the-art portfolio of technology products— ShowingTime, SentriLock lockboxes, TransactionDesk, etc.—to facilitate the success of our participants.
Safe, sustainable, attainable housing is the foundation upon which a community of opportunity is built. “ “
OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS, PHA WILL ALLOCATE for the construction of affordable homes. $60M
President’s Report
BY JOAN DORSEY
When I assumed the office of President, I indicated that one of my priorities in working with staff in 2024 would be to provide numerous opportunities for our members to increase their industry knowledge, hone their professionalism, and enhance their value proposition to sellers and buyers. We kept that promise. Given the changes to how compensation is offered and communicated, never has there been a time in the real estate industry when it has been more important for REALTORS® to know their value, articulate their value, and demonstrate their value.
I am proud of how the leadership and staff of the Richmond Association of REALTORS® proactively prepared our members to practice in a new landscape—we prepared them through consistent, transparent communications as well as numerous educational classes and town halls. Moreover, we expanded the breadth of the CVR MLS Matrix system through a data share with our Tidewater counterpart—REIN (the Real Estate Information Network). A subsequent data share with our neighbor to the north—BRIGHT MLS—will be accomplished in the coming months.
In the broader community, RAR continues to be a much sought after and highly respected voice advocating for the development of more housing units across the full spectrum of price ranges, from affordable to workforce to market rate housing.
Given the changes to the way real estate professionals must practice and given a tight regional housing market with insufficient inventory, 2024 has been a challenging year. But we have taken several opportunities to network, to laugh, to enjoy one another’s company—the Spring Fling and RE Expo come to mind.
In 2025, we will need to continue the path we charted this year—to see and seize the opportunities presented within the challenges. One of our great strengths as REALTORS® is our ability to adapt; we do it with every transaction. We will continue to lean into this strength. While we cannot always control the circumstances in which we find ourselves and our industry, we can control our attitude toward the circumstances. Let us choose to be proactive, positive, and professional.
Strengthening Richmond’s Housing Landscape
The Impact of the Partnership For Housing Affordability
In a year marked by rising housing costs and mounting pressures on families across Richmond, the Partnership for Housing Affordability (PHA) continued its role as the backbone organization in reshaping the region’s housing landscape. With a renewed focus on policy and impact, PHA’s efforts have taken center stage, demonstrating our commitment to making metropolitan Richmond a place where affordable housing is not just a vision but a reality.
The organization’s transformation this year started with the launch of its new brand and website, designed to better reflect the evolving needs of our community. The new platform serves as both an educational resource and a rallying point for local residents, policymakers, and developers.
At this year’s State of Housing Event, before four hundred stakeholders and community members, we released our first-ever regional policy agenda, a blueprint that outlines actionable steps to increase affordable housing in the greater Richmond area. The agenda, developed in collaboration with housing advocates and local officials, emphasizes the need for more coordinated regional efforts and policy changes that prioritize long-term affordability. With this agenda, PHA is pushing for bold initiatives such as increased public investment in housing and leveraging land to create mixed-income communities.
The most tangible expression of PHA’s impact this year is its administration of Henrico County’s $60 million affordable housing trust fund. This initiative will create 150 affordable housing units annually, a critical lifeline for moderate income families in a market where housing prices continue to escalate. The trust fund, guided by PHA’s expertise, is already setting the stage for sustainable, equitable housing growth in Henrico County. 150 WILL CREATE affordable housing units annually
PHA’s efforts this year underscore our role as a leader in tackling one of the region’s most pressing challenges. With a bold, new vision and strategic initiatives in place, we are helping to create communities of opportunity, one step at a time.
THE NUMBERS
5,372 HRL total number of calls 14 HRL average call time MINUTES
The Housing Resource Line offers residents a direct line to vital housing information and referrals. This service helps connect
1,030 Partnership
$229,980
Amount of financial assistance residents were connected to (as of 10/28/2024)
TOTAL
Impact of Marketing Content
Over the years, we’ve partnered with local creative teams specializing in photography and film to produce content for consumer placements and a stock library for members’ marketing use.
500+ DOWNLOADS of the Creative Commons license stock imagery
100+ PHOTOS ADDED of the interior and exterior of local model homes All marketing content for REALTORS®' use is hosted at RARealtors.com/MarketingContent
The campaign supports our consumer-facing site, WeAreTheR.com. Ads incorporating the new stock library appeared in print and digital consumer placements with the tagline “Realtors: Your Local Community Advocates,” to draw consumers to resources promoting the value of using a REALTOR®.
5 NEW CANVA TUTORIALS to help members learn how to make their own marketing content
Impact of Events
RPAC BRICK UNVEILING
JANUARY 11, 2024
This event was held for investors who gave $2,500 to RPAC in 2023. They are honored with their name engraved on a brick outside of RAR’s main entrance.
RPAC APPRECIATION RECEPTION
NOVEMBER 21, 2024
This annual reception is held in recognition of RAR’s RPAC Investors and their commitment to the Association’s advocacy work. Every year, RPAC’s Fair Share ($99+) and Major ($250+) Investors are invited to engage with area elected officials.
RAR GOLF TOURNAMENT AND SPRING FLING AT MAGNOLIA GREEN | APRIL 24, 2024
RAR’s Golf Tournament and Spring Fling at the beautiful Magnolia Green Golf Course were great successes. Tournament players competed for prizes, and all members were invited to join the Spring Fling.
LOCKTOBERFEST | OCTOBER 3 – 21, 2024
CVR MLS hosted the third annual Locktoberfest, a great opportunity for agents to return idle lockboxes to win some great prizes, including a grand prize of free CVR MLS fees for 2025.
RE EXPO | OCTOBER 22, 2024
This highly anticipated expo brought REALTORS® of Central Virginia together for a full day of education, networking, and opportunities to develop new business relationships. This event included a networking breakfast, keynote speaker Kyle Scheele, breakout sessions, a luncheon, and happy hour on the tradeshow floor.
INSTALLATION RECEPTION AT THE JEPSON ALUMNI CENTER DECEMBER 11, 2024
The leadership of RAR and CVR MLS for 2025 are installed and outline their visions for the coming year.
Keynote speaker Kyle Scheele
Impact of DEI
The Richmond Association of REALTORS® has adopted the following Commitment to Inclusion:
The Richmond Association of REALTORS® is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization and the communities we serve. We recognize that diversity is not only essential but enriches our industry, strengthens our communities, and drives innovation. By promoting equity and embracing an inclusive culture, we are setting a standard for action where we can build a stronger, more resilient real estate community working together toward a future where all individuals have equal opportunity to thrive.
Signatures on Our Pledge
Kelsey Croston, staff, Danielle Bowers, Chair of the DEI Committee, Connie G Rodriguez, Vice Chair of the DEI Committee
Our Company Values
SERVE WITH CARE
We genuinely care about our members and lead with a culture of exceptional customer service.
23,420 ticket inquiries received in 2024 Nº 1
354 New REALTOR® applications processed from January 1st to October 30th, 2024
NUMBER OF CALLS RECEIVED IN 2024
9,602
Calls received by CVR MLS
17,514
Calls received by RAR
WORK AS A TEAM
We understand our individual strengths and recognize that we are at our best when we work together. Nº 2
Nº 4
KEEP IT HONEST
We are always reliable, sincere and authentic in our communications. Nº 3
PUSH BOUNDARIES
We foster an open-minded environment in which people can explore new ideas with room to fail or succeed.
$110,000 of interest income earned from RAR’s LION loan (Local Impact Opportunity Note) at Virginia Community Capital was donated to 12
philanthropic organizations chosen by the Philanthropic Committee
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We are passionate about the impact we have on our membership and the community’s collective quality of life. Nº 5
1,000+ staff volunteer hours for 17 NONPROFITS
Impact of Advocacy
The Richmond Association of REALTORS® plays a key role in encouraging the creation of housing opportunity throughout the Richmond region by supporting policies, plans, and candidates who prioritize this essential human need.
IN 2024, YOUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM:
SUPPORTED the creation of Henrico’s $60 million Affordable Housing Fund
MAYORAL RACE
To support pro-housing policies, the Richmond REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) endorsed Dr. Danny Avula for Mayor, the winning candidate, and endorsed in all nine council races.
These candidates have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing housing opportunities, enhancing the quality of life for all Richmonders, and are steadfast allies of the real estate community.
ADVOCATED for policies that allow homeowners to build accessory dwelling units
LOBBIED to simplify and expedite permitting for residential developments
Many thanks to the 2024 RPAC Major Investors.
This list reflects only RPAC contributions received before September 13, 2024.
To become a member of the RPAC Elite, invest $250 or more in Richmond RPAC.
Log in to RARealtors.com and look for the Invest in RPAC link on your member profile page.
Golden R | $5,000
JACK TORZA Long & Foster REALTORS®
SHANNA STORY Parr & Abernathy Realty, Inc
THOMAS JEFFERSON Joyner Fine Properties
JOHN POWELL Long & Foster REALTORS®
TOM INNES RE/MAX Commonwealth
KAREN SMITH RE/MAX Commonwealth
BETH DALTON Long & Foster REALTORS®
JOHN FINN United Real Estate Richmond
LIBBY GATEWOOD Napier Realtors, ERA
RHONDA CARROLL Samson Properties
Crystal R | $2,500
DAPHNE MACDOUGALL The Steele Group
JENNIE BARRETT SHAW The Steele Group
KATHERINE HAWKS The Steele Group
JENN COX Jenn Cox Realty
JOHN O ’ REILLY BHG Base Camp
TODD ROGERS Hometown Realty
CURT REICHSTETTER Two Dog Realty
NATHAN HUGHES Sperity Real Estate Ventures
Sterling R | $1,000
DAKIA KNIGHT ICON Realty Group
SANDY OWENS RE/MAX Commonwealth
LATOYA WASHINGTON Conveant Realty
MARY ANN WHITE Napier Realtors, ERA
REED WILSON The Wilson Group
KIM ATKINSON Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
DAWN BRADLEY Long & Foster REALTORS®
TONDRA DEVAREL Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
ELMER A. DIAZ Samson Properties
BLAKE EUDAILEY BHHS PenFed Realty
MELANIE HERRING Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
JASON HESTER Rashkind Saunders & Co
HEATHER PLACER MULL Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
JIM NAPIER Napier Realtors, ERA
JOAN DORSEY Long & Foster REALTORS®
STEPHANIE PRENTICE United Real Estate Richmond
KRISTIN KRUPP Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
Governor’s Club | $500
BO STEELE The Steele Group
KAREN STEPHENS Long & Foster REALTORS®
SUSAN SWINK Compass
SCOTT SHAHEEN Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
DARE TULLOCH Long & Foster REALTORS®
NANCY CHEELY The Steele Group
SHANE LOTT Rashkind Saunders & Co
MAHOOD FONVILLE Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
CLAIRE FORCIER ROWE BHHS PenFed Realty
SCOTT RUTH Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
JASON SAUNDERS Rashkind Saunders & Co
GRAHAM RASHKIND Rashkind Saunders & Co
MONICA RAWLES Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
JOHN MARTIN Shaheen Ruth Martin & Fonville
MARY K MCDONALD Long & Foster REALTORS®
REGINA BANKS United Real Estate Richmond
Capitol Insider | $250
Shaheen Ruth Martin Fonville
WES ATIYEH Joyner Fine Properties
DICKEY HALE
Shaheen Ruth Martin Fonville
ALICE BUCHANAN SCOTT
Long & Foster REALTORS®
JIM DORSEY Long & Foster REALTORS®
Martin Fonville
SARAH FREEMAN Long & Foster REALTORS®
JUDITH FLAIG GRAFFUM Harvest Realty, Inc.
MEGHAN
ANNE INNES RE/MAX Commonwealth
BILL LAFRATTA Shaheen Ruth
FERAS ALMOMANI
CHRISTY BURTON OMARZAI Hometown Realty
PATRICE CARROLL Keller Williams Realty
NAT CROSS Realty Richmond
TERESA MELTON BHHS PenFed Realty
ANNEMARIE HENSLEY Compass
LEIS LINARES ICON Realty Group
Capitol Insider | $250
BETH ROBBINS United Real Estate Richmond
CYNTHIA SAADY Fathom Realty Virginia
SUSAN STYNES River City Elite Properties
TERRY TYSON RE/MAX
ANN VANDERSYDE Long & Foster REALTORS®
JOHN VANDERSYDE Long & Foster REALTORS®
JAMIE YOUNGER Long & Foster REALTORS®
Impact of Programs
The Richmond Association of REALTORS® strives to foster professional development in the real estate community by offering its members a diverse selection of programs and educational opportunities.
8 Code of Ethics trainings
8 designation and certification offerings
13 TOWN HALL sessions with Attorney Michael Lafayette
175+ continuing education courses
500+ hours of continuing education credit
Year IN NUMBERS
CREDIT HOURS
26,114 total continuing education credits earned
13,427
total class registrations
13 town hall sessions TOWN HALLS
350+ self-reported watch party attendance OCTOBER OFFICE WATCH PARTY
LEARNING.RAREALTORS.COM USAGE
2,553 RAR Members logged onto Learning.RARealtors.com for the first time
2,171 handouts downloaded
910 post-course surveys submitted
4,936
total attendees
560 live attendees (as of October 28) TOP SESSION
7 videos with RAR Legal Counsel TOP VIDEO Overview of CVR MLS Listing Agreement VIDEO LIBRARY
AImpact of LDA
s an organization, the Richmond Association of REALTORS® knows that our position of respect and influence in our region is due in large part to the quality and dedication of our volunteer leaders.
13 Participants
THE 2024 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY AT A GLANCE
137+ Collective years in real estate
Scott Andrews
Khaliyah Barakhyahu
Danielle Bowers
Alex Clemons
Ayannah Edwards
Mark Goad
David Hebel
Layal Hosn
Mari Kotze
Abby Moncrief
Rebecca Pace
Melody Pike
Connie G. Rodriguez
85+
Designations, certifications and organization affiliations
125+
Average hours of volunteer service per month
The Leadership Development Academy creates an impact on leadership excellence in the REALTOR® community. The program creates opportunities for visionary, service-oriented REALTOR® members to hone their leadership skills for professional, civic and community leadership roles.
Circle of Excellence HONOREES
SARAH FREEMAN Long & Foster REALTORS®
MELANIE HERRING Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville
AMANDA BRENNAN Coldwell Banker Prime
ANNE BRINKLEY Honey Tree Realty
CLAIRE FORCIER-ROWE BHHS PenFed Realty
KIM HERNANDEZ The RVA Group Realty
KHALIYAH BARAKHYAHU EXP Realty
JUDI BAKER Compass
KRISTIN KRUPP Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville
DAKIA KNIGHT ICON Realty Group
LACEY KEARNEY Providence Hill Real Estate
LAURA JARRETT RE/MAX Commonwealth
MELISSA GROHOWSKI Long & Foster REALTORS®
JENNIFER COX Jenn Cox Realty
ELIZABETH GATEWOOD Napier Realtors, ERA
KEOSHOA GORDON Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville
TONDRA DEVAREL Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville
United Real Estate Richmond
KAREN DUKE STANLEY Paragon Real Estate Group
KIMBERLY MOORE-HARRIS Samson Properties
SAM PLOTT BHHS PenFed Realty
SANDRA OWENS RE/MAX Commonwealth
LADONNA LEWIS ICON Realty Group
JANET NOWLIN NextHome Integrity Realty
BECKY MCNEER Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville
TINA WINN Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville
KRYSTYL LEONARD Encompass Realty
BETH LANE Metropolitan Real Estate
THERESA MORRIS Encompass Realty
PAMELA POPE Long & Foster REALTORS®
BETH PRETTY Keller Williams Metro Center
BETH KCRAGET ROBBINS
CONNIE G. RODRIGUEZ Compass
JULIA MORRISON Long & Foster REALTORS®
KAREN SMITH RE/MAX Commonwealth
DARE TULLOCH Long & Foster REALTORS®
JAMIE YOUNGER Long & Foster REALTORS®
DAUNE ZOOK Resource Realty Services
Impact of
Many see the MLS as a basic database where listing agents list and buyer agents search. But the role of the MLS has evolved into more than a storage house of basic real estate data. CVR MLS has built a portfolio of essential and productivity enhancing tools that goes beyond the Matrix database. This suite of tools and resources drives opportunity and is an essential part of the local real estate market.
CVR MLS supports our agents in keeping the local real estate market moving. Our agents help create opportunities for homeownership to more and more people every day. Homeownership supports local schools and businesses and builds strong residential networks to create vibrant and healthy communities. We are proud to provide our agents with the technology to create communities of opportunity.
With the integration of new AI-powered enhancements in the RAR and CVR MLS knowledgebases, members and subscribers can look forward to a more intuitive and responsive search experience around the clock. Data insights gathered from searches will empower staff to address agents' most pressing questions more effectively.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS
Building on our existing partnerships and establishing new, seamless data-sharing relationships with neighboring MLSs will allow agents and clients to access a broader array of property listings without additional training, enhancing their experience and options.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES
Read the inclusion statement written by the 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee on page 18.
WE WANT TO SEE YOU IN 2025!
STRENGTHENED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Through the Leadership Development Academy, the incoming cohort will gain valuable skills that not only contribute to the evolution of the real estate profession but also empower them to make meaningful contributions to their communities, cultivating a future generation of leaders.
CONTINUED ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION
RAR’s proactive engagement in governmental relations ensures that REALTOR® voices are influential in local policy-making, advancing housing opportunities across the Richmond region. In concert, the Partnership for Housing Affordability's administration of Henrico’s housing trust fund will foster a more supportive environment for both developers and homebuyers.
ENGAGING MEMBER EVENTS
In 2025, events like the Spring Fling Golf Tournament and RE TRENDS will provide REALTORS® with rich opportunities to network, exchange insights, and strengthen connections within our real estate community. Additionally, Town Halls and continuing education classes will remain accessible and convenient, keeping members informed and engaged.
