Michael Maerten
Keller Williams Real Estate
20 Years of REALTOR® Membership
Michael Maerten, Written Statements
Please expand on your previous leadership experience.
Leadership started for me at an early age through sports and being named team captain on several teams I played on. Leadership for me was always about setting an example and being there for my teammates. Eventually I became a College Baseball coach and Athletic Department leader to many teams and athletes. I started my leadership jouney within the Real Estate industry as a member of our office’s Leadership Council for many years. Within the Real Estate associations I had voluteered to serve on a Visionary Advisory Group and then a Tech Integration Work Group. After that I joined the Board of Directors of Montgomery County Association of REALTORS® and then as a member of Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® beginning in 2021. I continue to broaden my leadership skills by attending conferences and workshops for leadership which allows me to better serve our members. As a member of the PAR Board of Directors I’ve continued this journey as well at the state level to have our local voices be heard.
What role do you hope to play on the Board?
The role of the board is, especially in one that is as well run as Tri-County Suburban REALTORS®, is to help make critical decisions and guide the success that is already in place. I hope to continue to bring my visionary mindset to the table to help make strategic decisions that will enable us to strengthen our role to the consumers and as such add value as the key component of the real estate transaction. One thing I always keep front of mind is that approximately 50% of our members are not affiliated with a national brand and they rely on the association to provide services and support that they do not get elsewhere.
What Association benefits and/or offerings have provided you the most value in your business?
There are many resources that I use almost daily like Forewarn, DocuSign, and tools brought about by the partnership with Suburban Realtors Alliance. Yet the one piece many members overlook is the Advocacy done by our leadership on a local level to ensure a fair transaction in the municipalities that we work in. The relationships with our advocacy arm has provided all of our members great benefits.
What industry trends do you feel will affect our association in the upcoming years?
The protection of data will be critical. We are often the originators and the stewards of the data that we collect and then share to other members and then third party aggregator websites. The mergers and hundreds of millions of dollars spent on disruption is only beginning to take shape in our industry. We have a responsibility as leaders to advocate for proper use of such data, privacy considerations, and safety for the consumers we serve.
What do you think should be the priority issues being addressed by the Association today?
Continuing to provide the services and support that our members rely on with the same operational excellence that has become synonymous with Tri-County Suburban Realtors. Then forward thinking, continue to collaborate with our membership to elevate professionalism, skills and provide tools to help our members become disruption proof.
Why are you interested in serving on the Board of Directors?
Servant leadership is a passion for me and I love giving. I hope to continue to be a steward to our association and members ensuring our place as the main hub of the transaction. We have so much to offer consumers as their guide, advocate and consultant. The association can continue to evaluate tools and resources to help our members in this pursuit
