22 KCRAR REALTOR®
members graduated yesterday from the UMKC REALTOR® Leadership Academy, a
10-month program where students studied advanced industry principles,
leadership development and business management practices. KCRAR partnered with
UMKC’s Henry W. Bloch School of Management for the creation and development of
the Academy.
The commencement ceremony followed their final capstone
presentations in which the graduates presented their final research and
insights exploring the risks to the real estate industry that were found in the
National Association of REALTORS® commission
D.A.N.G.E.R Report.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our graduates and their commitment to this
incredibly important program,” KCRAR CEO Kipp Cooper said. “We heard a number
of great ideas that will help keep us relevant as an association to our members.”
2018 KCRAR Treasurer Bobbi Howe spoke to the group on her own
experience in a leadership academy and how it has positively influenced her
career. She left the graduates with two challenges. The first was to use their
new education and build on it; the second was to encourage fellow REALTORS® to
explore their own professional development by attending committee meetings, trainings or the even the Leadership Academy.
Howe said that her career would not be what it is today if the
one person hadn’t recommended her to the leadership academy she attended early
on in her career. After Howe spoke to the graduates, a commencement ceremony followed,
where each graduate received their certificates of achievement.
“The UMKC REALTOR® Leadership Academy is like no other in the
nation,” Cooper said. “It’s a small investment for a UMKC-quality curriculum
providing practical tools, personalized business coaching and team-based
activities that can take their career to the next level. When agents dedicate
themselves to the Leadership Academy, they truly have an opportunity to improve
their business and become the best resource in their community.”
Brian Klaas, Dean of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management,
said the education these graduates gained at the Academy will be directly
applicable to their careers in the real estate industry.
“This program was really
designed to provide a lot of opportunity for hands-on learning,” said Klaas, “so you would have
students that have the opportunity to come cover rigorous material, learn some
difficult concepts and then very quickly apply it.”
