Mary Frances “Fran” Whitley, Director of Administration for the Real Estate Commission, will retire January 1, 2015 after 36 years of service.
Whitley joined the staff of the Commission (then known as the Real Estate Licensing Board) in 1978 as an administrator with financial oversight responsibilities. She soon took on the responsibilities of Financial Officer, and in 1987, was named the Director of Administration.
Whitley received her Bachelor of Science degree from Atlantic Christian College. In 2007, she received the Old North State Award for dedication and service beyond expectation and excellence to the State of North Carolina.
As Director of Administration, Whitley has managed the Commission’s finances, personnel, information technology, publications, and information services.
One of Whitley’s responsibilities has been the annual renewal of real estate licenses. She has seen the number of license renewals grow from fewer than 25,000 to about 100,000 in recent years.
Whitley also oversaw the development of the Commission’s first Web site. Most recently, she played a key role in the creation of the design and features of the Commission’s new award-winning Web site, including easier navigation, improved search functions, and display on mobile devices.
Whitley has always managed the Commission’s data and recalls when licensee records were housed in file drawers within the Commission’s offices. Since that time, she has overseen the maintenance of Commission records from paper files to microfilm to microfiche to digital storage to cloud storage. Utilizing changing technology, she has kept the Commission’s record keeping systems functional and efficient.
Whitley has been a dedicated member of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO®) and in 2006 was elected its President. She has twice received an ARELLO® Presidential Award for her outstanding leadership and service.
Whitley is a member of the Board of Directors for The American Red Cross of Eastern North Carolina. She is a member of the Board of Advisors for Project Enlightenment, an early childhood education and intervention program of the Wake County School System, which focuses on building children’s strengths in order to help them succeed in school and life.
The Commission congratulates Mrs. Whitley on her long and distinguished career, with many thanks for her service to licensees, the Commission, and to citizens of this State.
This article came from the October 2014-Vol45-2 edition of the bulletin.