By Pamela R. Rorie, Continuing Education Officer
A record crowd of more than 250 real estate instructors, school officials, and publisher representatives participated in the 2018 Real Estate Educators Conference held March 27-28 at the Embassy Suites in Cary. Sponsored by the Real Estate Commission, this year’s event featured the theme Get in the Game.
Commission Chair Robert Ramseur opened the conference and welcomed the crowd with comments on the value of education. Commission Executive Director Miriam Baer’s State of the Commission address informed educators that the past year has seen a substantial increase in license applicants, licensees, calls, emails, and information requests and described the Commission’s accomplishments and ongoing projects.
Corean Hamlin, Director of Education and Licensing, entertained the group with a Two Truths and a Lie presentation reviewing recent Education and Licensing changes, statistics, and future initiatives. Hamlin was joined by Director of Regulatory Affairs Janet Thoren to present rule changes becoming effective July 1, 2018.
Jake Gore, Chief Technology Officer, and Diana Carnes, Systems Administrator, introduced the newly developed Instructor Login program, and addressed recent technological updates in various Commission processes and procedures.
During the first day’s luncheon, the North Carolina Real Estate Educators Association (NCREEA) held its spring meeting under the direction of President Len Elder, DREI. Following the business meeting, NCREEA Immediate Past President Oscar Agurs, DREI, officiated the traditional awards presentation and presented its “Program of the Year” award to Sandy Williams, DREI, for her continuing education elective course, Tackling What Ifs, and their “Educator of the Year” award to Len Elder, DREI.
Commission Chair Ramseur presented the Commission’s Larry A. Outlaw Excellence in Education Award to Len Elder. The award was established in memory of Outlaw, an attorney who served as Commission Director of Education and Licensing for 35 years, from the position’s inception until his retirement in 2014.
In the afternoon, educators received updates on Commission education programs. Education and Examination Officer Deborah Carpenter reminded the group of changes to the Prelicensing and Postlicensing programs, and Continuing Education Officer Pamela Rorie reviewed various continuing education processes and presented the topics for the 2018-2019 Update courses. Day one of the conference concluded with a presentation by Education Officer Katherine Buchholz on Interactivity & Engagement in the Classroom.
Day two of the conference opened with keynote speaker Ryan Ohm, Director of Educational Initiatives with REALTOR® University, whose presentation focused on gamification in education. Roundtable discussions followed in which conference attendees responded to various questions posed by Commission staff.
The conference concluded with the Regulatory Affairs Forum titled Myths and Rumors. Commission Regulatory Affairs Director Janet Thoren, Assistant Director of Regulatory Affairs Charlene Moody, Chief Deputy Legal Counsel Fred Moreno, Associate Legal Counsel II Rob Patchett, and Associate Legal Counsel I Madison Mackenzie entertained educators with discussions of myths and rumors that have circulated about the Commission and its processes and procedures.
The Commission thanks North Carolina’s real estate educators for their continued interest and support, and congratulates Sandy Williams, DREI, and Len Elder, DREI, for their accomplishments.
This article came from the May 2018-Vol49-1 edition of the bulletin.