A Successful 2025 Fall Conference in Spokane
The 2025 Washington REALTORS® Fall Conference, September 24th-26th in Spokane was a high-energy & focused event! Attendees participated in committee meetings, learning sessions, and the Board of Directors approved the 2026 Strategic Plan, Budget, and Committee Business Plans, as well as elected Matt Side as the 2026 First Vice President.
Check out some highlights and key items below, and thank you to everyone who made the 2025 Fall Conference such a success!
Day 1: Wednesday September 24th
● General Session:
We kicked off the 2025 Fall Conference with an exciting General session. We began with announcements from President John Blom. John discussed new WR initiatives and upcoming events, and gave an overview of the new conference format, including a series of six learning sessions for attendees to choose from. Association leadership shared updates on the 2026 operating budget, the recent roadshow, and the new Active and Fit Direct program for members.
The session included a keynote presentation from national speaker, Maura Neill with “The Long Run: Building a Business That Lasts”, leaving attendees inspired to take on new challenges and address mental roadblocks they face head on.
● Professional Standards Committee:
The meeting focused on recent updates to current professional standards cases. An update on active cases was shared along with a comprehensive review of NAR case studies, highlighting how professional standards are applied in real-world scenarios● From State Legislation to Local Implementation:
During this session, members received an update on the 2023–2025 housing and land use legislation and heard from WR Policy Director Bill Clarke, WR GA Director, Mary Hull-Drury, and SKCR GA Director Taylor Shanaman. The session highlighted the state’s growing role in directing housing supply and zoning, reviewed important bills, and outlined local implementation steps, giving attendees important context on how these changes will impact their communities.
● Learning Session Breakouts:
On day 1, attendees had the opportunity to choose from six learning sessions that were made to provide timely, relevant information. Sessions included legal updates for designated and managing brokers, WUCIOA compliance for residential communities, and the potential risks of relying on AI in real estate. Other sessions focused on building local housing coalitions and navigating generational differences in the workplace, giving attendees actionable tips and strategies they can implement in their business and professional relationships right away.Day 2: Thursday, September 25th
● Membership CORE Committee:
This meeting kicked off with updates about the new WR member benefit, the Active & Fit Direct Program. The committee then heard short reports from the Communications and Education chairs, and concluded after announcements on the upcoming Ignite Leadership Event on October 30th, and committee application deadlines.● Operations CORE Committee:
The Operations Committee meeting heard committee reports along with announcements about upcoming events including WR Hill Day event scheduled for January 28-29th at the Little Creek Casino Resort and the Spring Conference, which will take place April 15-17th, 2026 at the Tulalip Resort Casino.● Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
The DEI committee heard a powerful presentation by Margo Hill-Ferguson, JD, MURP: “Understanding Tribal Land Tenure, Housing, and Homeownership Opportunities in Washington.” where attendees dove deeper into tribal sovereignty, land tenure, and opportunities to expand equitable homeownership in partnership with tribal communities.● Legislative Steering CORE Committee:
The 2025 WR Legislative Steering Committee Chair presented their report, setting the stage for important updates from WR Government Affairs Director Mary Hull-Drury and lobbyist Nick Streuli. The committee reviewed important updates, including the latest from NAR, our lobbyists, and discussed upcoming policy concepts and efforts. This meeting gave members the opportunity to stay informed and involved in critical legislative matters.● RPAC Trustees CORE Committee:
The 2025 WR RPAC Trustees Chair provided a status report on RPAC goals such as major investor numbers, participation rates, and reviewing upcoming fundraising deadlines. The meeting featured guest speaker Nick Scarci, Senior Political Representative at NAR, with a presentation on NAR’s REALTOR Party Pro-Property Platform. The WR Lobbying team presented the slate of Early Endorsement Candidates, and the motion was presented and passed to approve. Trustees were advised of expiring terms and the upcoming October 15th deadline for WR Committee Applications. The next RPAC Trustees Committee meeting will be by Zoom on October 8th at 10am.Day 3: Friday, September 26th
● Board of Directors:
Washington REALTORS® 2025 President John Blom opened the meeting with a welcome and recognition of first-time participants.Additional action items included approval of appointees and regional representatives to the 2026 Executive Committee, amendments to the WR Policy Manual, and the adoption of the 2026 WR Strategic Plan, budget, and committee business plans.
Past President Cheri Daniels, along with President-elect Ryan Beckett and Kitty Wallace, VP of the REALTORS® Relief Foundation, presented a motion to contribute $15,000 to the RRF in support of ongoing disaster relief efforts.
The meeting also featured guest speaker Christine Hansen, NAR First Vice President, and updates on the Mongolia Homestay Program, Member Value Presidential Advisory Group, new member benefits, RPAC progress, and results of the latest WR member survey.
● Leadership Elections:
Matt Side from the Spokane Association of REALTORS® was elected as the 2026 First Vice President. Please help us congratulate Matt for his commitment and service to the association!
Matt Side
2026 Washington REALTORS®
First Vice President