Following the passing of Charles McKee, president of The Realty Alliance, the all-star real estate networking group is starting over with an interim president and a new strategic plan to increase its voice and power in the marketplace.

Acting president Petey Parker says, "Yes, there's a strong awareness that there was only one Charles McKee who could do it all. He was a pivotal point of the organization since its conception. He brought more in his head, heart and experience."

Without McKee, several things have come to light, which have required more involvement of the Alliance's executive committee and board of directors. They are evolving a new strategic plan for the top broker-led organization, says Parker.

Until now, the Realty Alliance had been primarily a networking group among top brokers of the nation. With a strict and limited invitation-only membership of brokers with excellent reputations and high volume sales, the organization consists of members who meet a high test of requirements -- having closed a minimum of $500 Million in residential real estate sales volume for the previous calendar year. Prospective Member Companies must have completed a minimum of 5,000 transaction sides of residential real estate for the previous calendar year.

The organization plans one or two meetings a year for broker support staff, including IT personnel, training directors, marketing directors, and mortgage and title division executives to brainstorm and take information back to their brokers.

"There is a braintrust factor that will continue to be the focus of the Alliance," says Parker. "These brokers are highly influential and respected in the industry."

But the group plans to grow its influence. "There needs to be some advocacy given on the behalf of the Alliance," she says. "The next person they hire as president will be an advocate of the Alliance, creating the voice of the Alliance with the strength and backing of 67 of the leading brokers in the nation."

Parker says the organization is not looking for a member principal, but an outside real estate expert to represent the Alliance with the National Association of Realtors, Capital Hill, and other areas requiring advocacy.

"That's a new direction for the Alliance," says Parker. "We have priority issues, such as the latest MLS issues with the NAR, and what's going to happen in the lawsuit that has been filed by the Department of Justice. This person would get involved and have a majority strength of the Alliance behind them. One voice is saying -- this is an issue and this is how we feel about it. Issues that arise may be present, but the Alliance also plans to stay ahead of future issues, not to sit back and be defensive but to be proactive."

A strategy like this could take the Alliance to the next level -- but what will that level be? More growth?

"We plan to be very strong in the future," answers Parker, "but growth will be selective. Members will be invited in who can meet our careful criteria for people to become members. When we take on a new member, they need to bring something to the table as well as take away. We're looking for reputable firms."

The membership reads like a who's who of real estate. To prepare for the new strategies, the Alliance announces the following appointments:

Officers elected for 2006 are:

• Chairman: Harold Crye: Crye-Leike, Memphis, TN

• Vice Chairman: Helen Hanna Casey, Howard Hanna, Pittsburgh, PA

• Secretary/Treasurer: Steve Baird, Baird & Warner, Chicago, IL

Directors elected to three-year terms are:

• Steve Baird, Baird & Warner, Chicago, IL

• Mary Frances Burleson, Ebby Halliday, Dallas, TX

• Joe Horning, Shorewest, Brookfield, WI

Directors returning to The Realty Alliance Board of Directors are:

• Peter Helie, Prudential Connecticut, Rocky Hill, CT

• Mike Lyon, Lyon Real Estate, Sacramento, CA

• Robert Moline, HomeServices of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

• Pat Riley, Allen Tate Co., Charlotte, NC

"The board is strong in themselves, and involved in real estate issues on the national level," says Parker, "so individually they are able to voice for themselves and their company and share what will make each other better. My observation is that the members truly want each other to be better."

The Realty Alliance membership now includes 67 of the largest full service residential real estate brokerage firms in the United States and Canada. In 2004, these firms produced over $260 billion in residential sales with 95,578 sales associates in 2,576 offices.

Published: January 17, 2006

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