After a nationwide search, Ohio’s 33,000 Realtors have a new leader and it’s someone they’re familiar with: Scott R. Williams, the association’s current vice president of public policy.
On Jan. 1, Williams will take the reins from Ohio Realtors’ current CEO, Robert E. Fletcher, who is retiring after nine years as chief executive and a total of 28 years at the association. Williams will be Ohio Realtors’ seventh CEO since the association’s inception in 1910.
According to a video announcing Williams’ appointment, Ohio Realtors conducted “an exhaustive nationwide search” to fill the CEO position, contacting over 75 candidates, 16 of whom were individually interviewed and 11 of whom made it to the final search committee’s interview process. The search ended with three “long, exhaustive interviews” with Williams.
Scott Williams announced as CEO of Ohio REALTORS from Ohio REALTORS on Vimeo.
Ohio Realtors hired Leonard Pfeiffer & Company, a headhunting firm used by real estate organizations such as the National Association of Realtors, MRED, and the Chicago Association of Realtors in the past, to conduct the search.
“This allowed Ohio to expand and broaden our horizons and further our reach in finding our next candidate,” said Ohio Realtors’ President-Elect Anjanette Frye in the video.
Ohio Realtors President Tiffany Meyer declined to comment on how much the association had spent on the CEO search, but said in an email that the association had allocated “ample funding” to retain Leonard Pfeiffer & Company and had “remained within budget for the search.”
Asked what made Williams stand out from the other candidates, Meyer said, “Scott has an unparalleled understanding of Ohio and presented the search committee with a phenomenal plan to take the association to even greater heights on day one.” Inman has asked what that plan is and will update this story if and when we hear back.
In 2019, Williams will prioritize restructuring Ohio Realtors “to become more member- and local board-focused, striving to implement programs and initiatives that will help Ohio’s Realtor community succeed in the near- and long-term,” Meyers said.
Williams has worked in the association’s government affairs office since 2003 and in that time has boosted members’ grassroots involvement, strengthened the Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC), developed a Political Advocacy Fund, launched a State Political Coordinator program and fostered new volunteer leadership by helping to create the Ohio Realtors Leadership Academy, the trade group said.
“Scott has elevated Public Policy into our organization’s leading department, one that is focused on implementing the vision of both leadership and membership,” Meyer said in a statement.
“We’re confident that his leadership and dynamic vision will propel Ohio’s Realtor profession to even greater heights in the days ahead.”
“The leadership and members of Ohio Realtors have a true passion for what they want out of this association,” Williams said in a statement. “I share that desire to strengthen our reputation and am committed to the success of our members, our local boards and Ohio Realtors as a whole.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comments from Ohio Realtors President Tiffany Meyer.
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