2006 Graduates

Sharon Bailey, GRI
Century 21 TEAM Real Estate
20 Doc Stone Road
Stafford, VA 22556-4515
Phone: (540) 659-1450
Fax: (540) 659-1375
Email: c21bailey@aol.com

There are times in your life when you "know that you know". Being part of the VLA is one of those time. Your heart and your head are full to the brim and but for the outlet of the retreats you would burst. Everyone who participates has a desire to lead and to grow; the VLA gives us the oportunity to enhance those skills and grow as individuals and as members of our profession. I am honored to be a part of this program and to know the people who make it what it is.

Candice Bower, GRI
Keller Williams Realty
50 Catoctin Circle, Suite 100
Leesburg, VA 20176
Phone: (703) 669-0099
Fax: (703) 669-4014
Email: ccbower@earthlink.net

It is exciting to see the VAR is ahead of the usual organizations by understanding the complex diversity of the paradigm shift of the market. Creating the VLA is an excellent approach for future leaders. The courses are a great opportunity to learn through knowledgeable speakers along with experienced individuals. I congratulate the teamwork involved in creating these courses. VLA has given me the opportunity to hone my leadership skills and exposed me to different approaches and ideas for which I am always thankful.

John Brockwell
G.E. Matthews, Inc.
2002 Snead Avenue
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
Phone: (804) 518-0500
Fax: (804) 518-0505
Email: john@therealtorpro.com

Lori Chapman, CRB,CRS,GRI
Real Estate III - West
500 Faulconer Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Phone: (434) 979-0174
Fax: (434) 296-1614
Email: lchapman@cfw.com

An item that the participants of the Virginia Leadership 2005 can fully agree is we were the first class. We all came not knowing what to expect. We came because we care about our Realtor association. We came to share, learn, and motivate. We came because we stand for an association that promotes the ownership of real estate to ALL people.

Virginia Leadership 2005 was a great success, not because it will make me a better leader, but a better follower. Being a Virginia Realtors Land Institute past president that may sound strange. It is the shear membership size of NAR, VAR, and many Virginia local associations that produce these large numbers of followers. It is for this reason it is equally important to understand followship. Get involved passionately in committees, associations, or organizations where you can learn to be a good follower. When you learn to follow, you will also learn to lead.

I leave this Academy with new friends. I leave knowing both the Virginia Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors has great leaders because we place our followers first. I leave knowing I want to follow more, learn more, give more, and hope that others follow with me

Benton Downer
Downer & Associates
P. O. Box 17
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 296-0545
Fax: (434) 296-0715
Email: benton@downerandassociates.com

I am proud to be a member of the Policy Board which voted to start a Leadership Academy for VAR. I am prouder still to be a member of the First Class of the VAR Leadership Academy.

Throughout this course I have learned different approaches to leadership. A good leader does not always have to be out in front. A good leader is someone who can help form a vision and move positively toward that vision, always understanding that there are different ways to achieve the prescribed goals. What you learn in this course can be used in all aspects of your life, from home, to business, community involvement, volunteering in the association of Realtors or any other organization.

One of the most important things I have learned is my personality type and how that affects my decision making process and how I plan my day to be at utmost effectiveness. If you can understand your personality and that of the others on your team, you can then determine the most effective way to communicate and move forward in your common decisions.

I have learned of the many decision making traps that we commonly fall into. I myself have fallen into every one of these traps multiple times and many bad decisions were made. I did learn from most and promised never to do them again, only to find myself right there again. Now I know how to avoid these traps so as to try to not make the same mistake twice and hopefully, not even the first time.

There are leaders in all of us. Through the VLA we can find how to bring out that leader within. It is my job as a leader to point others in a direction to help them find their leadership strengths. The best direction I can give to those who truly desire to be a leader in the Real Estate Industry is the VAR Leadership Academy.

James Duncan
Century 21 Manley Associates
1709 Emmet Street
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Phone: (434) 977-7300
Fax: (434) 977-7303
Email: jim@jduncanrealestate.com

Martha Edwards Durnett
Hometown Realty
5326 Twin Hickory Road
Glen Allen, VA 23059
Phone: (804) 747-9933
Fax: (804) 747-7393
Email: marthadurnett@gmail.com

Julie Emery, GRI,SRES,e-PRO,EcoBroker
REMAX Regency
403 Holiday Court
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (540) 341-3541
Fax: (775) 213-3563
Email: Julie@JulieEmery.com

I remember the Policy Board Meeting when Melody first gave her report about starting a Leadership Academy. It sounded exciting but also a great opportunity for learning about all phases of the Virginia Association of REALTORS.

I was very honored to be one of the candidates for the first class in the Leadership Academy. The fellowship that is gained from just being with members that are truly interested in leadership opportunities is simply electrifying! The sessions have encompassed learning about personality types and work groups to seeing who is a leader on a volley ball court. Leadership is not about being able to speak in public and get votes, it is the ability to see a vision for the future and lead our association to new levels of accomplishments for all our members.

Leadership starts at home with the relationships that are formed with your family and your community. A REALTOR has an opportunity to make dreams come true in the home buying process. As REALTORS we help to form and grow communities. What other profession has this task?

The opportunity that VAR has given me to learn about what it takes to be a good leader, will go with me through out my daily life. The lessons learned will not only help my business but make me a better citizen in the community where I live and work. The Academy has taught me to know when to follow and when to step forward to lead.

I hope that others that have hidden talents or want to enhance their talents will take the steps necessary to grow those talents and apply to the Virginia Association of REALTORS Leadership Academy.

Kemper Funkhouser
Coldwell Banker Funkhouser
401 University Boulevard
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Phone: (540) 434-2400
Fax: (540) 434-3644
Email: kemper@cbfunkhouser.com

Amy Hudson, ABR,CRS,GRI
Long & Foster
956 Country Acres Road
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Phone: (540) 382-5270
Fax: (540) 961-1346
Email: amy@timandamyhudson.com

Leadership with VAR to me has always been having the ability and desire to find and maintain the interests of our Associations' future leaders. As excited about VAR as I am, it is my duty to spread that excitement throughout our membership. The VLA has given me a platform in which to do that, and to find those future leaders of our local, state, and even national positions, that we must maintain our presence in. The VLA has given me the extra confidence, knowledge, and desire to spread the association future to all of our membership.

For that I am forever grateful. :-)

Frank Hughes
Prudential McCardle Realty
3449 John Tyler Highway
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Phone: (757) 220-9500
Fax: (757) 220-0703
Email: frank.hughes@mccardlere.com

Luis Lama, CRS,GRI
Long & Foster Real Estate
6299 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22044
Phone: (703) 534-9660
Fax: (703) 536-8723
Email: llama@luislama.com

Being a part of the Charter Class of the 2005 Virginia Leadership Academy has been one of the most positive, energizing, exciting, educational and just plain fun experiences of my life! Twenty Realtors from around Virginia came together in Williamsburg in January, not knowing what to expect and before the first retreat was over we had learned so much and formed a bond that will last us forever. We have had the privilege of interacting and listening to some fantastic speakers and working through some exceptional material on the subject of Leadership. We have learned that greatness involves surrounding yourself with Great People.....and that is what we have been able to do with each other. I highly encourage anyone who wishes to share in this experience and is willing to learn what it takes to be involved in Leadership to step up to the plate and apply for a position in a future Academy!

Susan Mekenney, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Re/Max Allegiance
5213 Concordia Street
Fairfax, VA 22032
Phone: (703) 824-4800
Fax: (703) 824-4805
Email: susan@movetovirginia.com

Being selected to participate in VAR's 2005 Leadership Academy was an honor in and of itself! The quality of the speakers, the thoroughness and in-depth detail that has been given to each and every session all contributed to the unquestionable success of the first Academy. I have become more confident in my leadership abilities as a direct result. I also have a greater appreciation for the Leadership and direction that make VAR one of the most respected Associations in NAR. I would encourage anyone who is interested in becoming more active on either a state or local level to apply for the VAR Leadership Academy today

Julie Pearson, GRI, e-PRO
McEnearney Associates
4720 Lee Highway
Arlington, VA  22207
Phone: (703) 525-1900
Fax: (703) 717-6358
Email: Julie@JuliePearson.com

Gail Penman, CRS, GRI
Century 21 TEAM Real Estate
20 Doc Stone Road
Stafford, VA 22556-4515
Phone: (540) 659-1450
Fax: (540) 659-1375
Email: gail.penman@century21.com

The single most important thing to ever happen in my professional life was when I walked in Melanie Thompson's office to interview to become part of her company in December of 1999. She almost immediately got me involved in the local board...and the rest is history.

More than five years later, here I am involved at the state level and loving every minute of it. I was a little nervous before the 1st meeting in Williamsburg once I saw the roster of the class. The nervousness disappeared after the first day. It didn't matter the level of involvement anyone had, we are all people striving to learn and become better leaders, no matter where we were on the leadership ladder.

Now I can say the Leadership Academy is a second most important thing to happen in my professional career, because I couldn't have had this one without having had the first one.

The amount of information and insight I have learned has been phenomenal. The new family I have gained across this state is even more important. The men and women in this academy who are in the current leadership and the upcoming leadership of VAR have a much greater understanding and respect for each other and will be able to better lead and communicate based on what we learned in the Academy.

I was amazed at the skills of Melanie, Mark, Anne, and other staff at VAR with the caliber of speakers they brought in and the creation of the entire program.

I would recommend the Leadership Academy to anyone who is passionate about being involved, committed to the philosophy of volunteering, and always striving to learn and grow in both their personal and professional lives.

Cindy Stackhouse
Century 21 Stackhouse & Associates
5199 Waterway Drive
Dumfries, VA 22026
Phone: (703) 580-0880
Fax: (703) 878-4286
Email: c21cindys@aol.com

Steve Szarmach
Montague Miller & Company Palmyra
6 Centre Court
Palmyra, VA 22963
Phone: (434) 589-1602
Fax: (434) 589-2376
Email: szar@ceva.net

Jacquelin Wade
Napier REALTORS® ERA
14361 Sommerville Court
Midlothian, VA 23113
Phone: (804) 897-3168
Fax: (804) 897-3060
Email: JacquelinWade@Richmond.com

After an exceedingly trying day in the real estate world, I think of the 19 other members of the Virginia Leadership Academy of 2005. During the course of this Academy, we have read and listened to many proven and accomplished leaders; we have looked to each other and within ourselves for inspiration; and we have attempted to identify that characteristic(s) which sets leaders apart, and whatever that quality may be, determine if we possess it.

During this entire process, I have been given the opportunity to meet 19 true leaders - those who are willing to not only be involved in a challenge, but who strive to take as much away as possible from that challenge to help those around them. I have observed people willing to share personal experiences with complete strangers in order to better equip that stranger for a yet unforeseen task.

And most of all, I have been afforded the time to meet people that would have otherwise been unknown to me, and realized that when the dust settles, our faith and the value we place on our families binds us together and creates in each of us the drive to be seen and conduct ourselves as leaders to benefit those which we may never have the opportunity to meet face to face.

May all future academy members be so richly rewarded for their participation.

Shanna Wiseman
Parr & Abernathy
701 West Broadway
Hopewell, VA 23860
Phone: (804) 452-0505
Fax: (804) 452-0391
Email: pandalandlady@aol.com

It is exciting to see the VAR is ahead of the usual organizations by understanding the complex diversity of the paradigm shift of the market. Creating the VLA is an excellent approach for future leaders. The courses are a great opportunity to learn through knowledgeable speakers along with experienced individuals. I congratulate the teamwork involved in creating these courses. VLA has given me the opportunity to hone my leadership skills and exposed me to different approaches and ideas for which I am always thankful