As I look back at 2025, I am filled with gratitude for my REALTOR® community. This year has been full of great strides forward as an industry and an Association. I’m very proud to be a REALTOR®, and as I look back at the year’s accomplishments, it’s evident why.
It’s not in many other industries that you will find a group of hundreds of competitors getting together for a party, but that is what we experienced earlier this month as the 2026 President of KCRAR, David Nichols, was installed. That’s because as REALTORS®, we leave our brand, personal agendas and pet projects at the door to come together and accomplish great things for our Association and communities.
One of those great things this year was a refocus on political advocacy. Not only did our advocacy committees restructure to streamline our efforts across both states, but we also expanded with third party firms to help with lobbying, issues tracking and more, strengthening our advocacy efforts. And, of course, we welcomed a new Vice President of Advocacy, James Toy, who has already hit the ground running. I am grateful to be a part of an industry that not only fights for the best interest of our profession, but also fights even harder for our customers and clients to ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American dream of homeownership.
This year I’ve also seen the REALTOR® spirit first-hand through our community involvement. It was the first year where our annual REALTORS® Rock the Block event addressed our market’s inventory shortage head on, as REALTORS® from across the region got their hands dirty building affordable housing with Habitat for Humanity. YPN/KC also got behind Habitat KC, raising over $3,000 for the cause at their “REALTORS® Got Talent” show. This show’s stage lineup included two of our newly elected KCRAR Directors, Cortney Myers and Scott Theis, among other dedicated members.
When we see volunteer leaders performing songs on stage to raise funds for housing in our community, I think that demonstrates just how fortunate we are to be led by members who truly care. I feel confident as I pass the torch to David that our Association will be in great hands. Not only because David is a capable and qualified leader, but because our members are represented not only by him, but by every Director on the board, working together to make our Association and industry even better in the year ahead.
It has been a privilege serving as your 2025 KCRAR President. I hope you all have a happy and prosperous new year.
