BALTIMORE — Nearly 200 real estate professionals, financial services executives, business leaders, leaders and members the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) gathered at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel to salute Donnell Spivey as the Baltimore-area EXIT Realty broker and owner takes the organization’s helm for a two-year term. Proudly taking the podium carrying two miniature Maryland flags, Spivey signaled to the crowd that he was proud of his state and welcomed the opportunity to showcase its business opportunities.
President Donnell Spivey is supported at NAREB’s Presidential Kickoff Reception by NAREB’s current and past leaders. (Left to right): Maria Kong Douglas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), current board vice chair and past NAREB president; Donnell Spivey, president; Andrea Cooksey, current board chair (Houston, Texas); and Julius Cartwright, outgoing NAREB president (Cleveland, Ohio).
In his remarks, Spivey thanked the audience for their long-time support and shared his vision to make NAREB a household name throughout the Maryland area as well as the nation. The crowd applauded when he announced that NAREB’s national conference will be held in Baltimore in July 2014.
Among the many distinguished well wishers attending the gala reception were NAREB chairwoman, Andrea Cooksey traveling from Houston, Texas and the first woman to serve in that capacity; past NAREB presidents Julius Cartwright from Cleveland, Ohio and Fort Lauderdale, Flo-based Maria Kong Douglas, and Donnell Williams, NAREB’s current third vice-president attending from northern New Jersey.
The kick-off event also provided an opportunity to present awards to individuals dedicated to promoting racial and cultural diversity in the real estate profession, as well as equality in homeownership opportunity. Accepting the recognition during the evening were Rick and Carol McDaniels, Regional Owners of the Exit Mid-Atlantic Region, and Fred Underwood, Director, Diversity and Community Outreach Program, National Association of Realtors (NAR). President Spivey was also the recipient of a NAREB award for his leadership and commitment to the trade association’s credo of Democracy in Housing and his pursuit of sustainable homeownership and professional integrity.
For nearly 30 years, Spivey has distinguished himself in the real estate industry. His efforts in promoting diversity in the profession have been lauded by The Baltimore Sun and U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings, as examples.
Donnell was nominated to NAREB’s board of directors in 2003, became president-elect in 2012, and was installed this past August as the association’s 28th president. Key to Spivey’s vision is the theme selected for his term, “Empowering REALTISTS to Make a Change” by, as he says through continuing professional education and development, with an emphasis on the importance of sustainable homeownership.