Hello Friends & Colleagues,
Summer is officially here in the Pacific Northwest! Along with the beautiful weather, it appears summer is bringing with it a continued, changing landscape for our economy and industry. And while we’re seeing a well-needed uptick in inventory, we can’t hide from the headlines of rising rates, inflation, economic concerns, and global unrest. As season professionals, we know we need to stay positive, adapt to change, and control what we can control… which includes our own attitudes! As our friend Ryan Hills from TheREsource.tv recently put it, we need to “get up and keep moving.” I encourage everyone to watch Ryan’s inspirational video by CLICKING HERE.
Shifting gears into WMBA updates, in May we had our annual Dinner Auction. This year we partnered with Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kitsap Counties and it was a HUGE SUCCESS! We helped raise over $32k for their important organization! Please join me in congratulating and sending our thanks to Lisa Goldsmith, Kim Callis, and the entire WMBA Auction Committee for their incredible work putting together this event. And of course, thank you again to all of our generous sponsors and donors.
We also held a PAC Event in June where we welcomed our WMBA lobbyist Jessica Fortescue to join local leaders to discuss recent industry legislation, the new faces at the Capitol, and ways Jessica and the WMBA can continue to ensure our collective voices are heard, and industry interests maintained. Thanks to all those who attended and for their generous donations supporting this critical function of the WMBA. If you’d like to learn more and donate, please visit our PAC page here: https://wa-mba.org/wmba-pac/
To conclude this year’s WMBA events, we held our annual Golf Tournament at Washington National. It was an absolutely beautiful day for golf, filled with lots of smiles and laughs from all that attended! Thanks to our sponsors and the extraordinary WMBA Golf Committee led by Robert Lipston, Anne Marie Bachman, and Teresa Olson; and of course, to all the many volunteers it takes to help create yet another, awesome event for our association!
As we wrap up this WMBA year, I think the best way I can describe my time as Board President is one of optimism and transition. Optimism that if anything’s been proven over the years is that we – as an industry – can get through anything. Our transition to a new “normal” following a global pandemic and record-breaking production years will require us to remain steadfast and positive through the coming months. Get involved in associations like the WMBA, stay engaged with your teams and relationships, and focus on serving your clients and communities to the best your ability.
I firmly believe that the people in this business are some of the highest character, most resilient, and hard-working in any profession. We serve the vital role of helping families achieve the dream of homeownership and our mission going forward in the months and years ahead will require us to tap into this resiliency. I have no doubt in my mind, that we will get through it together and be stronger than ever.
Thanks again to all of our incredible committee and board members for your commitment and dedication to our association.
Stay well, enjoy the summer, and keep moving.
Jim Demarco,
WMBA President
