Your Business. Our Social Network. Your World.
Real Estate’s Newest Power Couple
Every industry has those defining moments when there becomes a noticeable shift in its core power base. At times, it may be due to the simple changing of the guard as we see when one generation relieves the next. At others, it is due to an unerring respect for the industry that is served. The Real Estate industry is no different. As it heads into its fifth year of decline there is hope in sight in the form of the newest power couple on the block.
Long hailed as one of the most influential leaders of the industry, Bob Hale, President and CEO of the Houston Association of Realtors, is now joined by his wife Susie Hale, President and Founder of FrogPond.com. Together, they hold court with a sphere of influence that reaches every aspect of the real estate industry. Bob Hale has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Association of Realtors® since 1988. Through Bob's leadership, HAR has grown to become the largest trade association in Houston and the second largest local Realtor® association in the country, with more than 29,000 members and counting. Thanks to his vision and drive, HAR.com is a household brand in the greater Houston area and the most frequently visited web site for Houston real estate. "Serving as CEO for the Houston Association of Realtors for the past 20 years I have taken a wild and exciting ride. There are numerous reasons HAR has the national reputation it enjoys. This would not be possible without the unique vision of the elected leadership who are not afraid to take the lead in innovation and their support from a highly motivated and professional staff team. Unlike many associations HAR never took part in a regional MLS which decision resulted in the successful merger with 3 surrounding associations. To keep pace, at the time, with the new internet brokers HAR was the first association to offer its members an IDX solution so they could effectively compete. HAR created HAR.com, its public website over 10 years ago which attracts 1 million consumers monthly viewing Realtor listings generating over 500,000 free leads to Houston area Realtors annually. Unlike most associations HAR has no nominating committee for director or officer candidates which provides for a totally democratic governance process. New initiatives HAR is introducing include Realtor videos for the web and the ability of a Realtor to have their client rate and comment on their service. The ride gets wilder and more exciting with each new day. I would not trade it for anything."
Bob has been called by many titles other than President and CEO. He has been termed a visionary, innovator and exemplary leader in an industry that is known for being ever evolving. To his credit, these inferences show us that he is indeed a leader of the times and more than capable of continuing to steer us into the future.
Susie Hale, affectionately known as “The Frog”, is the founder of FrogPond.com, the leading provider of communications & marketing solutions for the real estate industry. Her FrogPond Publisher products have rapidly become established as the easiest, most affordable way for real estate related companies and associations to deliver their message. FrogPond’s Publisher allows organizations to publish state-of-the-art, multimedia online magazines and newsletters with “cut and paste” simplicity. Leaders of Fortune 500 companies in the real estate industry rely on Susie for advice, products and services to maintain their high-tech, high touch relationships.
With the recent launch of FrogPond TV™, Hale has not only expanded FrogPond’s educational base with live interviews of the industries top leaders, but is providing a source of programming that will continue to evolve to meet the needs in the Hale sphere of influence ranging from managers, employees and agents to consumers, and most importantly, prospective consumers.
As Susie explains, “We have always been fortunate to attend some of the world’s leading conferences and to get to know some of the most forward-thinking pioneers in real estate. When I realized what a small percentage of professionals are able to have those same experiences, I became passionate about creating a single, internet based source where anyone with an interest could come and learn. I also became passionate about providing a way for professionals and companies to share that knowledge, along with their own branding concepts and messages, with their own audiences.”
By not only coming to a healthy realization, Hale has forged a clear path for the industry to follow in order to find a solution to it’s educational needs. This insight is what helped her become the visionary she is today. Every industry must have leaders that possess a focused insight, otherwise we would never experience change and push evolution to its limits.
When combined, the resourcefulness of this Houston based couple, allows them to touch and mentor an entire industry and beyond. So it comes as no surprise that they both have been formally honored by the industry they respect so much. Over the years Bob has been named as one of the National Association of Realtors 25 Most Influential Thought Leaders in the American real estate industry for 2006, one of Inman News’ 100 Most Influential Real Estate People in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and most recently as the Inman News 2008 Innovator of The Year. Never one to stand on the sidelines, Susie was recently named one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Real Estate.
Accolades such as these are the result of decades of dedication, hard work, innovation, vision and passion for what they do. We all strive to understand and meet our individual challenges and it is refreshing to see the industry’s newest power couple are the perfect example of how to overcome those challenges. A recent quote from an article that David Mendel wrote for Houston REALTOR, not only applies to Bob, but Susie as well in that every thing she does has the same innovative, leadership style. A team is a team…and they are a team like no other.
“Bob has driven an innovation curve far beyond what has been deemed historically possible at the local association and MLS level. In so doing, Bob has set the example to everyone in the industry what can be accomplished with a highly motivated team led by a leader who deeply cares about the people who are part of the market he serves… Bob is a student of real estate, whether it is understanding and influencing regulations at the state or national level or interpreting trends in technology and consumer behavior that can be exploited in the favor of both Realtors® and consumers in the Houston market. In so doing, he has created a laboratory for others to study his accomplishments” comments Mike Long, CEO of Move.com
As we prepare to end another year of turmoil, in an industry that is facing challenges around every corner, Dick Gaylord, the 2008 President of the National Association of Realtors, helps us end by commenting "Bob and Susie Hale have devoted a great part of their lives to service and leadership in the real estate industry. I feel fortunate to be able to avail myself of their wise counsel, and encourage others to do so, and count them among my trusted friends." Given the acknowledgments and support we see for the Hale’s around the country, we can rest a little easier knowing that the industry has this tremendous power couple to help provide the education, guidance and tools it will need to start the new year with optimism and encouragement.
Long hailed as one of the most influential leaders of the industry, Bob Hale, President and CEO of the Houston Association of Realtors, is now joined by his wife Susie Hale, President and Founder of FrogPond.com. Together, they hold court with a sphere of influence that reaches every aspect of the real estate industry. Bob Hale has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Association of Realtors® since 1988. Through Bob's leadership, HAR has grown to become the largest trade association in Houston and the second largest local Realtor® association in the country, with more than 29,000 members and counting. Thanks to his vision and drive, HAR.com is a household brand in the greater Houston area and the most frequently visited web site for Houston real estate. "Serving as CEO for the Houston Association of Realtors for the past 20 years I have taken a wild and exciting ride. There are numerous reasons HAR has the national reputation it enjoys. This would not be possible without the unique vision of the elected leadership who are not afraid to take the lead in innovation and their support from a highly motivated and professional staff team. Unlike many associations HAR never took part in a regional MLS which decision resulted in the successful merger with 3 surrounding associations. To keep pace, at the time, with the new internet brokers HAR was the first association to offer its members an IDX solution so they could effectively compete. HAR created HAR.com, its public website over 10 years ago which attracts 1 million consumers monthly viewing Realtor listings generating over 500,000 free leads to Houston area Realtors annually. Unlike most associations HAR has no nominating committee for director or officer candidates which provides for a totally democratic governance process. New initiatives HAR is introducing include Realtor videos for the web and the ability of a Realtor to have their client rate and comment on their service. The ride gets wilder and more exciting with each new day. I would not trade it for anything."
Bob has been called by many titles other than President and CEO. He has been termed a visionary, innovator and exemplary leader in an industry that is known for being ever evolving. To his credit, these inferences show us that he is indeed a leader of the times and more than capable of continuing to steer us into the future.
Susie Hale, affectionately known as “The Frog”, is the founder of FrogPond.com, the leading provider of communications & marketing solutions for the real estate industry. Her FrogPond Publisher products have rapidly become established as the easiest, most affordable way for real estate related companies and associations to deliver their message. FrogPond’s Publisher allows organizations to publish state-of-the-art, multimedia online magazines and newsletters with “cut and paste” simplicity. Leaders of Fortune 500 companies in the real estate industry rely on Susie for advice, products and services to maintain their high-tech, high touch relationships.
With the recent launch of FrogPond TV™, Hale has not only expanded FrogPond’s educational base with live interviews of the industries top leaders, but is providing a source of programming that will continue to evolve to meet the needs in the Hale sphere of influence ranging from managers, employees and agents to consumers, and most importantly, prospective consumers.
As Susie explains, “We have always been fortunate to attend some of the world’s leading conferences and to get to know some of the most forward-thinking pioneers in real estate. When I realized what a small percentage of professionals are able to have those same experiences, I became passionate about creating a single, internet based source where anyone with an interest could come and learn. I also became passionate about providing a way for professionals and companies to share that knowledge, along with their own branding concepts and messages, with their own audiences.”
By not only coming to a healthy realization, Hale has forged a clear path for the industry to follow in order to find a solution to it’s educational needs. This insight is what helped her become the visionary she is today. Every industry must have leaders that possess a focused insight, otherwise we would never experience change and push evolution to its limits.
When combined, the resourcefulness of this Houston based couple, allows them to touch and mentor an entire industry and beyond. So it comes as no surprise that they both have been formally honored by the industry they respect so much. Over the years Bob has been named as one of the National Association of Realtors 25 Most Influential Thought Leaders in the American real estate industry for 2006, one of Inman News’ 100 Most Influential Real Estate People in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and most recently as the Inman News 2008 Innovator of The Year. Never one to stand on the sidelines, Susie was recently named one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Real Estate.
Accolades such as these are the result of decades of dedication, hard work, innovation, vision and passion for what they do. We all strive to understand and meet our individual challenges and it is refreshing to see the industry’s newest power couple are the perfect example of how to overcome those challenges. A recent quote from an article that David Mendel wrote for Houston REALTOR, not only applies to Bob, but Susie as well in that every thing she does has the same innovative, leadership style. A team is a team…and they are a team like no other.
“Bob has driven an innovation curve far beyond what has been deemed historically possible at the local association and MLS level. In so doing, Bob has set the example to everyone in the industry what can be accomplished with a highly motivated team led by a leader who deeply cares about the people who are part of the market he serves… Bob is a student of real estate, whether it is understanding and influencing regulations at the state or national level or interpreting trends in technology and consumer behavior that can be exploited in the favor of both Realtors® and consumers in the Houston market. In so doing, he has created a laboratory for others to study his accomplishments” comments Mike Long, CEO of Move.com
As we prepare to end another year of turmoil, in an industry that is facing challenges around every corner, Dick Gaylord, the 2008 President of the National Association of Realtors, helps us end by commenting "Bob and Susie Hale have devoted a great part of their lives to service and leadership in the real estate industry. I feel fortunate to be able to avail myself of their wise counsel, and encourage others to do so, and count them among my trusted friends." Given the acknowledgments and support we see for the Hale’s around the country, we can rest a little easier knowing that the industry has this tremendous power couple to help provide the education, guidance and tools it will need to start the new year with optimism and encouragement.
Comment
About
Badge
© 2009 Created by Ardynn Media Founder Michael D Harris Jr on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
You need to be a member of Connected To The World to add comments!
Join this Ning Network