Inspire a Shared Vision
Otto Catrina, 2009 graduate of the NAR Leadership Academy
and newly appointed to the Academy Advisory Board
Q. How long have you been a REALTOR® ?
A. I originally earned my California sales license in 1988, but my background was in the hospitality and food service industry. When there was a downturn in the market in the 1990s, I went back into the restaurant business for a while. I got back in the business for good in 2001, and earned my broker’s license in 2002. In fact, some of my restaurant customers were the first to encourage me to enter real estate.
Q. How did you get involved with REALTOR® association work?
A. That started very soon after I got back into the industry. I first was appointed to the Professional Standards Committee at my local association, the Bay East Area Association of REALTORS® .
I always felt it was important to support some form of education to help the REALTORS®, whether it was a new legal issue on the state or federal level, some change in the forms we are required to complete or a transaction-related issue. I then became president of the Marketing Committee and served on the Executive Team.
Q. Tell us about your experience with the NAR Leadership Academy.
A. It was a defining moment in my career. I’ve always strived to hold leadership positions because I find it to be a learning process. At our first meeting, I was in a room REALTORS® who were association presidents and committee chairs – it was kind of intimidating. But I looked past the titles and saw them as professionals. We stay in contact through FaceBook. The class continues to communicate because we developed a really strong bond over the five-module period.
Q. Tell us about your experience on NAR committees – your past and current roles
A. On the state level, I serve on the Legislative and Property Management committees, and was 2009 vice chair of the REALTOR® Expo committee. In 2010, I’ll be chair of the Expo committee. Nationally, I will serve on the Land Use committee, and my Academy class nominated me to be the liaison on the Leadership Advisory team.
Q. What do you see as the most important leadership challenge in leading (working in) a committee?
A. One has to put forth the effort to be a leader. The challenges include getting volunteers, growing their teams and identifying who are the future leaders by recognizing strengths. A leader makes decisions that will benefit the membership as a whole and inspires a shared vision.
Q. Any tips you want to share for those new to committee leadership?
A. The main thing is to not just focus on getting an appointment, but to focus on the content. Be teachable, open and transparent. Understand that people have different leadership styles. And above all, have a good time.
