The Institute of Residential Marketing recently conducted elections for its IRM Board of Trustees, electing five new trustees for 2009. Their three-year terms start following the 2010 International Builders’ Show.

Elected by the IRM membership, the IRM Board of Trustees, with the assistance of various IRM committees, develops and provides sales and marketing educational support and programs for NAHB members. The IRM Board also keeps building industry professionals aware of new marketing trends and techniques and provides various forums for IRM members to exchange ideas and discuss common interests.

Newly elected IRM trustees are as follows:

Mary DeWalt, MIRM, CMP

For more than 20 years, Mary DeWalt has been active in her local HBA, SMC and in NAHB.  In addition to her involvement with many committees, DeWalt served on the Executive Board of NAHB and was the 2003 Chairperson of the National Sales and Marketing Council.  She was the 2006 President of the IRM and serves on the Board of Directors of the 50+ Housing Council and the NSMC. DeWalt has also been active in her local SMC with the HBA of Greater Austin, serving as NSMC Chair and Max Awards Chair in 2009, and has also been appointed to the 2010 Board of Directors and the 2010 Executive Board. DeWalt has also received the IRM’s Trina Ripley Excellence in Education Award and NSMC’s Bill Molster Award.

Claudine Ellis, MIRM, CMP, CSP, MCSP

Claudine Ellis is a Broker Associate with Rose & Womble Realty and has been practicing real estate since 2001. She is among the top producing REALTORS in Hampton Roads earning the Diamond Stud Award, the highest sales honor awarded to REALTORS. Ellis is an active member of the New Homes Council and a participant of the NAHB Board Meetings. Ellis is the author of Removing the Fear of Investing in Real Estate. Earning several designations, including MIRM, MCSP, CMP and CSP, proves Ellis values education and makes it a priority in her career. Ellis looks forward to serving the board, promoting education, and carrying out the goals of the National Association of Home Builders.

Jean Ewell, MIRM, CMP, CSP, MCSP, CAASH

Jean Ewell has been a MIRM since 1997 and been very active in the organization since.  Ewell has nearly perfect attendance at the National meetings over 12 years and is committed to the goals of the IRM, with a passion for education. Her service to NAHB includes 2005 IRM President, IRM Convention Education Chair, IRM Education Chair and NSMC/IRM Marketing Chair, along with time on her local SMC Steering Committee and 2009 President of her local Women’s Council of Realtors.

Tom Richey, MIRM

Recognized as a “Legend of Residential Marketing” in 2006 by the National Association of Home Builders and National Sales and Marketing Council, Richey specializes in the management and marketing of residential properties for the top volume builders, developers, and lenders in cities across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.  Richey also works with leading small volume builders, building product manufacturers, title companies, and mortgage lenders. He has also been honored with the Bill Molster and Trina Ripley Excellence in Education Awards. In his 50 years of involvement with NAHB, Richey has served as NSMC Chair, as a previous IRM Trustee, as a founder of two local SMCs and as director and founder of the Builder Marketing Society.

Tom Stephani, MIRM, CMP, CGB, GMB, CAPS, CSP, MCSP

Tom Stephani has more than 35 years of building industry experience, and has been a builder-developer for the past 25 years, taking on custom homes, small single-family projects and commercial work. He has built in the Chicago area, Colorado Springs, Rockford, Ill., and Wisconsin. In addition to his run as 2009 NSMC Chair, Stephani is also a past chair of the IRM Education Committee and the Admission and Standards Committee, is a NAHB Life Director, served as chair of the CGB Board of Governors, served as president of his local SMC and has been honored twice as Builder of the Year by the McHenry County HBA in Illinois.

All activities by the IRM Board are reported to the National Sales and Marketing Council Board of Trustees for their approval. All IRM trustees are required to advocate NSMC/IRM benefits by promoting IRM during client meetings, education courses, local Sales and Marketing Councils meetings and events and throughout the industry.

Congratulations to the new 2010 IRM Trustees!

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