We all thought we would zoom out of the gates entering 2021. Still, after a bumpy on-again-off-again year with the pandemic driving much of how we engaged with our global colleagues, we were able to take the best of the virtual world, continue collaborating, learn from one another, and then add some in-person time that became even more treasured. We continued to develop worldwide partnerships from the limited windows to travel peppered our 2021 calendar.
With all that said, we continue to build on our platinum success. The ABoR Global program was awarded the 2021 National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Platinum Global Achievement Award for the third year in a row. This places the ABoR Global Business Alliance in the top 8% of global programs nationwide.
The ABoR Global Advisory Group continues to develop dynamic global "Big Rocks" goals that include a robust suite of programming such as the ABoR CIPS Institute, International Insights, and Global Congress held each year. As the Central Texas markets continue to see international investment and relocation, our agents are networking-domestically and internationally to enable our members' clients' connections that help them navigate the global real estate markets more efficiently and at the same time grow their businesses.
During our 2021 CIPS Institute, with leading NAR instructor Trisha Roy, we were graced with key-thought leaders from around the globe, including speakers Susan Horton, ABoR President; Kevin West, EX Currency Exchange; Dee Dee Blizard, First Vice President International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI); Samira Easton, NAR Global Ambassador to Belgium; Mercy Stirling de Duenas, Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios (AMPI) and Certified International Property Specialist (México); Carla Rayman Kidd, NAR Global Coordinator, North America, Central America, and Caribbean; Ed Eakin, NAR CIPS Mentor and ABoR Global Ambassador to Central America; Inelda Brown, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals Austin and Global Ambassador, Panama and Dominican Republic; Frederica Tassis, NAR Global Ambassador to Greece; Samir Arora, President, NAR-India; and Edward Beshara, top U.S. immigration attorney.
GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT COOK & LEARN WITH TEXAS REALTORS®
ABoR Global partnered with Texas REALTORS® to host Global is Local: Cook and Learn with ABoR's Global Business Alliance in August. This hour-long cooking show featured local Central Texas ingredients and dishes while educating members on our region's international real estate market and had a chance to feature just some of our ABoR Global Ambassadors, including ABoR Global Advisors Charley Clay and Régine Nelson; and ABoR Global Ambassadors Sabine McCalla, Lara Pavanelli, and Socar Chatmon-Thomas.
INTERNATIONAL INSIGHTS
The International Insights series, launched in 2021, connects ABoR members with industry leaders, multicultural and international stakeholders, and community leaders on the core issues to help members increase awareness, knowledge, and success in the global real estate arena. Our 2021 topics included Lending for International and Overseas Buyers with Kevin West, EX Money Exchange; Oktay Demirdal, Mortgage Advisor at Angel Oak Homes Loans, and Denise Drexler Vincent, Business Consultant at First American Title. International Markets, Investors and Avoiding Mistakes program welcomed international speakers Samir Arora, President-Elect, National Association of REALTORS® – India; and Sharon Schoenberg, Manager, Global Strategy & Relations, The Canadian Real Estate Association. Along with local expert Laura Fowler, Managing Shareholder, The Fowler Law Firm. Followed by leading expert from the Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS® (SIOR) and Managing Director, SVN at Angelic, Gabriel Silverstein, presented the ABCs of CRE – a Commercial Real Estate Primer for our members.
ABoR GLOBAL CONGRESS
With this year's mantra to Think Globally, Act Locally, our Global Congress was held for one week in October, with daily programming. With all our working-life changes, more agents were asking the question, can I live and work abroad? So, we brought you the Expat Life: REALTORS® Living the Dream hearing from brokers and agents who have moved internationally, including Paul Daemen, Broker Nicaragua Real Estate Team, Keller Williams Nicaragua, Joanna Jennings, Broker and Owner, Upside Realty; and Tiffani Marroquin, Global Real Estate Advisor with BajaSmart Real Estate in México.
Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)
We also brought you The Canadian Road Show in Austin with Krystal Lee Moore, Global Committee Chair, and Sharon von Schoenburg, Manager, Strategy and Relations, both with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). We continue to strengthen our international partnership between the ABoR and CREA, with ongoing programming, events, and networking throughout the year. And there are more good things on the horizon.
Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV)
As the National Association of REALTORS® Ambassador Association to Ireland, we were fortunate to have key thought leader and CEO Patrick Davitt from the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV) speak to our membership during the Global Congress. He shared his insights on how Ireland's real estate market has weathered the pandemic, how the digital economy has supported its agents, and how Ireland builds global connections through ties of citizenship, heritage, and what is known as Global Irish. We look forward to what 2022 has in store as we forge our partnership.
Conozca ABoR Global en Español
An essential cornerstone to our Global Congress is our program Investing South of the Border. This year, Ileana Bogaert, NAR Global Coordinator, South America; Gabriela Hernandez, International Director at AMPI; and Alejandro Escudero, NAR Director of Global Strategy, talked about the market's south of Texas and the resources provided by NAR en Español and we will look to bring you more Conozca a ABoR Global en Español programming.
Central Texas International Homebuyers Report
We topped off the Global Congress by releasing our second annual Central Texas International Homebuyers Report in partnership with the National Association of REALTORS® Research Group presented by Brandon Hardin, Research Economist, NAR Research. And we were joined by Chairman & CEO of ECI Development, Michael Cobb, on how to use Local Data for Global Success.
Global Handbook
The Global Handbook is the nucleus of the ABoR Global program, outlining annual goals, milestones, key initiatives, and opportunities for member engagement each year. Please take advantage of all the programs, events, and resources.
Thank you!
I feel honored and delighted to have received the President's Award from Susan Horton, 2021 ABoR President, in recognition of our global programming this past year. The global volunteers, educators, and speakers' contributions have led us to this moment for the ABoR Global program.
2022 ...
As we conclude 2021, I'm pleased to announce the 2022 Austin Board of REALTORS® Global Advisory and Global Ambassadors.
Jefre Outlaw, Global Advisory, Chair
Charley Clay, Global Advisory, Vice Chair + Global Ambassador, Brazil
Gulay Bozdag, Global Advisory Past Chair + Global Ambassador, Greece & Turkey
Régine Nelson, Global Advisory + Global Ambassador, Spain & Portugal
Jason Finkelman, Global Advisory, Immigration Attorney
Praveen Billa, Global Ambassador, Commercial
Bill Boyd, Global Ambassador, United Arab Emirates
Inelda Brown, Global Ambassador, Panama & Dominican Republic
Stacy Brunson, Global Ambassador, Canada / CREA
Socar Chatmon-Thomas, Global Ambassador, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana
Lieng Chin, Global Ambassador, Greater Asian Chamber of Commerce
Margaret Coltman, Global Ambassador, United Kingdom
Matthew Ditlow, Global Ambassador, Austin Young Real Estate Professionals (AYREP/YPN)
Ed Eakin, Global Ambassador, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC)
Rica Greenwood, Global Ambassador, Philippine
Laura Johansson, Global Ambassador, Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Denmark & Finland)
Susie Kang, Global Ambassador, Korea
Divyaksh Kapur, Global Ambassador, India
Bob Kenney, Global Ambassador, Ireland / IPAV
Maggie Luce, Global Ambassador, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP)
Mara Macon, Global Ambassador, Israel
Rela Manigsaca, Global Ambassador, Asian Real Estate Association (AREAA)
Sabine McCalla, Global Ambassador, Austin Sister Cities International
Joe McKeel, Global Ambassador, China
Lara Pavanelli, Global Ambassador, Italy
Jillian Rose, Global Ambassador, France
Matthias Thiele, Global Ambassador, Germany
Katherine VanDewater, Global Ambassador, Armenia
Memo Vargas, Global Ambassador, Mexico / AMPI
Warm Regards,
Gulay Bozdag 2021 Global Advisory Chair Austin Board of REALTORS®
2022 Think Globally, Thrive Locally!
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