Rob Reuter

By Rob Reuter, YPN Manager

YPN has hit another milestone. On Thursday, Aug. 8 2013, the Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port Association in Florida confirmed the formation of their Young Professionals Network becoming the 300^th network of YPN.

In addition to establishing its 300^th network, YPN also achieved the following milestones in 2013:

Map of YPN Networks as of August 2013

• More than 150 NAR Committee & Advisory Board positions are filled by YPN members, including nine chair and vice chair positions.

• 23 YPN members will be 2014 presidents of their local association.

• 170 YPN members are RPAC Major Investors so far in 2013.

It’s amazing how far YPN has come in such a short amount of time. But we need to keep going! In an association where the average age is 57, and only 11 percent of total membership are under 40 (according to NAR’s 2013 Member Profile), there is a need for the network to introduce future association leadership and involvement opportunities.

YPN Attendees at NAR’s 2012 Leadership Summit.

The idea of forming the Young Professionals Network grew out of REALTOR® Magazine’s 30 Under 30 program as a way to connect young professionals in the real estate industry. In January 2009, local and state associations began to form YPNs, and 17 networks were established by that August. Since then, at least one network has formed every month (with the exception of two months) in the last four years.

In 2011, over 70 YPN chairs and liaisons joined a conference call to answer a question posed to them by NAR’s Leadership Team: Absent of youth, what is the unique competency or perspective that YPN provides to the real estate industry that can’t be duplicated by any other organization?

After an hour of discussion and refinement by the 2011 YPN Advisory Board and association staff, the following value proposition was established for YPN:

The Young Professionals Network is a dynamic entry point for real estate professionals striving to become more successful in their careers and gain leadership experience. By providing this entry point, NAR is building a new, diverse generation of leaders, strengthening members’ affinity for the REALTOR® brand early in their career, and gaining a valuable perspective on generational shifts. YPN’s growth has been driven by REALTORS®. YPN has evolved from a magazine offshoot to a determined, passionate, savvy group of members who use social media effectively and transparently and who are committed to strengthening the REALTOR® brand.

We hope YPN continues to grow and contribute to the betterment of the industry including establishing networks globally.  Look for the announcement of a special YPN initiative in San Francisco at the 2013 REALTORS® Conference & Expo where we will also be announcing the 2013 Networks of the Year.  Congratulations to everyone involved with YPN on this achievement!