power of R your membership
Power of R showcases the value of the REALTOR® organization and the impact of REALTORS® in action.
REaching Out to You
The Counselor Is In
Eight innovative technology companies whose products and services have the
named general counsel of the National
Katherine “Katie” Johnson was recently
potential to offer substantial benefits for NAR members have joined the 2014 REach
Association of
program, a nine-month technology accelerator operation run by NAR’s strategic
REALTORS®,
investment arm, Second Century Ventures. Last year’s inaugural class of REach
replacing Laurie
companies all experienced revenue or customer growth ranging from 100 percent
Janik, who retired
to 2,000 percent. Nearly 200 industry executives mentored program participants,
in 2013. We asked
providing one-on-one guidance on the direction of their products, services, and
Johnson…
promotions. In addition, about 700 REALTORS® tested the products, offering input
early-stage companies offer the industry. The selection process is highly competi-
What does the general counsel do for NAR and its members?
tive, with an acceptance rate of less than 10 percent. Three of this year’s companies
The general counsel oversees two divi-
focus on commercial real estate as their primary market.
sions of NAR: Legal Affairs and Board Pol-
to help tailor solutions best suited for the real estate industry. Learn more about joining an Insight Panel for this year’s class at narreach.com/realtors. Here’s a rundown of the 2014 REach companies and the value proposition these
icy and Programs. Legal Affairs identifies
Back At You Media
SeaSuite by Goby
and responds to the legal needs of NAR
provides Facebook marketing for the
tracks energy use in buildings to opti-
and its subsidiaries, affiliates, state and
real estate industry, with a proprietary
mize efficiency and regulatory report-
local associations, MLSs, and members.
lead generation, communication, and
ing. The platform helps building owners
That includes staying abreast of litigation,
education platform. [backatyou.com]
and managers run better buildings by
laws, and potential liabilities affecting
capturing and distilling multiple build-
associations and REALTORS® so that
ing data sources. [gobyllc.com]
we can provide helpful risk management
Deductr is a tool to make tax time
education and resources. It also includes
less taxing by automatically tracking expenses, mileage, and time, allowing
SendHub is a phone suite de-
protecting the REALTOR® trademark.
practitioners to keep more of what they
signed for real estate pros. It works on
Ensuring the proper form and contex-
earn. It provides one-click access to all
any device and offers real-time analyt-
tual use of the trademark is important
of the information needed to maximize
ics, text messaging, and all the features
to preserving its high value and brand
deductions. [deductr.com]
of a PBX system. [sendhub.com]
recognition [realtor.org/mmm]. Through
Desktime helps commercial
SmartZip’s marketing automa-
ber or association is involved in litigation
brokers optimize their clients’ offices
tion platform uses the power of big data
that presents issues of significance to
and facilities by turning unused space
to help agents win listings by identifying
the association, the industry, or property
into coworking areas and connecting
top home seller prospects accurately
rights, we provide assistance in the form
them to mobile workers who are seek-
and reaching them through targeted
of funds or amicus curiae briefs [realtor
ing work spaces. [desktimeapp.com]
online and offline marketing cam-
.org/programs/legal-action-program]. In
paigns. [smartzip.com]
2014, we’re rolling out a quarterly scan,
our Legal Action Program, when a mem-
FundWell is an online market-
Legal Pulse, that gives members a timely
place that prequalifies and matches
WeVideo enables agents to create,
look at court decisions and trends as they
small businesses and commercial real
edit, and share professional-grade vid-
unfold across the country. [realtor.org
estate investors to lenders, giving users
eos with a few clicks on the web using a
/publications/Legal-Pulse]
access to the best possible funding
desktop browser or any mobile device.
options. [thefundwell.com]
[wevideo.com]
Learn about the work of the Board Policy group and more: realtorm.ag/kjchat.
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REALTOR® MAY/JUNE 2014
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