Inman

San Antonio Board of Realtors names new CEO after abruptly firing previous leader

Credit: Nan Palmero/Flickr/CC-by-2.0

The San Antonio Board of Realtors has a new leader, having named Gilbert S. Gonzalez CEO two weeks after Shane Johnson was fired less than three months into his tenure.

Courtesy of SABOR

A licensed attorney with a degree from the city’s St. Mary’s University, Gonzalez is no stranger to the 11,000-member organization. He first joined SABOR in 2012 and has, in that time, served as vice president of risk management and general counsel and interim CEO.

“Gilbert is a native San Antonian and already has a strong track record with SABOR,” Chairman of the Board Lorena Peña said in a statement. “His knowledge of the community and his experience with SABOR make him uniquely qualified to lead the organization.”

Gonzalez takes the helm at a rocky time for the organization —  just two weeks ago, former CEO Shane Johnson was fired after less than three months on the job.

Citing a difference in visions for SABOR’ future, its board of directors voted to terminate Johnson quickly for “the least amount of disruption to our members and the ongoing mission of SABOR.” At the time, Peña declined to tell Inman the reasons for the firing, although she did say that it had nothing to do with merger talks between SABOR and the Austin Board of Realtors announced last year.

Gonzalez, who once served as a staff attorney for the Bexar County Courts Administration, said that he is looking forward to leading San Antonio real estate professionals at a time of growth for the city and its nearby areas.

“I am honored to represent the members of SABOR at a local, state and national level,” said Gonzalez. “The growth of San Antonio and surrounding areas makes this an exciting time to be part of the real estate community. SABOR will continue to play an integral role for our members, who are dedicated to building a stronger community.”

Email Veronika Bondarenko