(November 14, 2018) Capital Area REALTORS® (CAR), announced that the Board Directors voted to elect Kathy Nichelson as Chief Executive Officer and Association Executive effective immediately. Nichelson succeeds CAR’s previous CEO and AE Daniel Sale who stepped down earlier this year after accepting a position at the St. Louis Association of REALTORS®.
Nichelson has more than 35 years of association experience, beginning her career at CAR in 1995 as Administrative Assistant to the CEO where her tasks and functions grew to include responsibility and oversight of various membership programs, communications, education, website management, professional standards administration and earned the position of Director of Member Service. She earned the REALTOR® Association Executive (RCE) designation through the National Association of REALTORS® in 2016. Nichelson had been serving as Acting CEO since September 1, 2018.
“After a thorough and deliberate review of Nichelson’s qualifications and the needs of CAR, the Board of Directors is pleased that she will provide the continuity needed as we move closer to finalizing our MLS merger with three other associations. Nichelson’s understanding of emerging real estate trends and the REALTOR® organization along with her extensive experience and vast network within our industry made Nichelson’s appointment as CEO an easy decision for us,” said President Nicholas Campo.
Nichelson was instrumental in developing CAR’s “Charity of Choice” program. Through an application process, CAR’s Community Service Committee chooses one local charitable organization each year as the recipient of CAR’s fundraising efforts. CAR has raised more than $175,000 for local charities since implementing the program.
“I have had the pleasure of working for the Capital Area REALTORS® and its members for more than twenty years. I am honored to be provided the opportunity to serve as CEO and look forward to the challenge of ensuring that we remain an industry leader,” said Nichelson.
Founded in 1921, the Capital Area REALTORS® along with its West Central Chapter in Galesburg is the voice for real estate in the Capital Area representing approximately 950 members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry. CAR is also a founding partner of RMLS Alliance, LLC, a brand new regional multiple listing service (MLS) and commercial information exchange (CIE). CAR has taken a lead role in the creation of this new entity along with the Peoria Area Association of REALTOR®, the Egyptian Board of REALTORS® and the Quad City Area REALTOR® Association.
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