Inman is accepting applications for five additional Community Leader spots at Inman Connect New York, Jan. 26-28, 2027, at the New York Hilton Midtown. The new members will join a core roster already in place and help attendees make connections before, during and after the event.
Community Leaders welcome attendees, make introductions and take part in conversations on Inman Community. For a first-time attendee who arrives at Connect without knowing anyone, one introduction can turn into a referral relationship or a standing call with a peer in another market.
“Agents and brokers have spent the past two years resetting how they run their businesses, and in January, they want to know what’s working,” said Inman CEO Tom Bohn. “A lot of those answers sit with the person in the next seat at Connect, someone who already worked through the same problem in another market. Community Leaders put those people in front of each other. For a lot of attendees, that’s where the move from reset to results starts.”
From Ambassadors to Community Leaders
The program grew out of Inman’s Ambassador Program, whose members helped attendees find their way around Connect, brought people into conversations and made introductions across the industry. Professionals who have been part of that history include Sherry Chris, Ben Kinney, Mauricio Umansky, Veronica Figueroa and Katie Lance.
Inman introduced its inaugural group of Community Leaders at Inman Connect San Diego this summer and extended the role into Inman Community, so the work continues between events. The five New York spots add to that roster.
What the role involves
Agents and brokers build their businesses locally, but many of their most useful relationships come from other markets. A broker in another state may have already solved the recruiting problem you’re working through. A team leader elsewhere may run a process that saves agents hours each week.
Community Leaders help set up those exchanges, at Connect and on Inman Community. The work is practical: greeting attendees, making thoughtful introductions, joining community conversations and sharing what has worked in their own businesses. Participants also widen their own networks across markets and give peers a direct look at their expertise.
What other Community Leaders have to say
“Some of the best leaders in this industry are already doing the work without a title. They’re making introductions, sharing what’s working and helping the people around them get better. The Community Leader program is a chance to take that beyond your own market, build relationships with others who lead the same way and help build a community that stays connected well after the event. That’s what excites me about bringing this group together for New York. We’re looking for people who see someone else’s success as something worth contributing to. Those are the people I want to build alongside.” —Matt Richling, Team Lead and Realtor, New Purveyors, RE/MAX
“What the Community Leader program means to me is having the opportunity to bring people together who might not otherwise cross paths. I’ve learned that some of the most valuable conversations happen when we get past the small talk and start sharing the real challenges we’re facing, what’s working, what’s not and how we’re adapting. I love being able to help create those connections and make people feel like they’re part of something, whether it’s their first Inman or their 10th. I’m looking forward to Inman Connect New York to reconnect with familiar faces, welcome new ones and continue learning from each other. Because no matter where we do business or how long we’ve been doing it, we all have something to bring to the table.” —Tiare Kabazawa, Realtor, Coldwell Banker Realty
“This program has connected me with incredible agents around the country, so when my military clients get orders, I know exactly who to call at their next duty station. Bouncing ideas off leaders in completely different niches has made my own business sharper, and in an industry where everyone knows a dozen agents, it’s helped me stand out. At Inman Connect New York, I’m looking forward to seeing the Community Leader program’s new direction and how it helps more agents find their niche and grow their business around it.” —Lindsey Schmidt, Realtor, Fathom Realty
How to apply
Applications for the five Community Leader spots at Inman Connect New York close Nov. 15, 2026.
