Some people have it, and some people don’t. I’m not talking about super yachts or tickets to fly to the moon but rather the ability to see into the future. Everyone can procure a crystal ball or tarot cards, but not everyone knows how to actually use them. Then there are those magical souls that have a sixth sense and can put their fingers to their temples and see into the future! While I may not be clairvoyant, when it comes to real estate my abilities are pretty close. When you’ve been in the industry as long as I have, you gain a knack for knowing what will happen next. But, that’s all I can say on the matter because my job is to tell you about all the fun parties I attended!
COMPASS held its annual retreat in San Diego, and surprise, surprise a number of agents from the freezing Chicago tundra were in attendance because why wouldn’t you travel to California in November? Agent Patrick Shipp shared that he was excited to see CEO Robert Reffkin and his wife attending the OUT at COMPASS party, the company’s official LGBTQ group. If I knew how to use my social media accounts I would post my excitement as well!
Speaking of California, NAR held its NXT Conference in Anaheim Nov. 14-16. The event featured Realtors from all over the United States and celebrities such as Mindy Kaling! NAR installed its new leadership team. There were a few local shoutouts with North Shore-Barrington Association of Realtors’ Young Professionals Network earning accolades as the YPN Network of the Year! Betsy Brint of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate in Highland Park also got some love as she was named honorable mention in the Good Neighbor Award. Matt Difanis, of RE/MAX Realty Associates of Champaign, was named 2024 Association Leadership Liaison, Sarah Ware, of Ware Realty Group LLC, was tapped as 2024 NAR Housing Issues Liaison, and the gal with the hair you can’t miss Deena Zimmerman, of Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial, was announced as the 2024 Commercial & Industry Specialties Liaison.
Over 1,000 attendees showed up at the Lincoln Park Builders’ 34th annual Real Estate Forum on Nov. 16 at Theater on the Lake. I can only imagine the numbers that will turn out next year for the big 35th annual event! On Nov. 18, Weinberg Choi Residential hosted a private screening of the new Trolls movie at the Webster theater, with more than 100 folks dancing and singing in the aisles.
Now the birthdays! Mike Jones from Main Street Real Estate Group will celebrate Dec. 6. Next up, Kelly Maguire, Barbara O’Connor, and Andy M. Shiparski all share a Dec. 8 bday. Todd Mullen is on his own on Dec. 9, while lucky Judy Pettas celebrates on the 13th. Michelle Mills Clement, Michael Bauknecht and Mike Sato will get their parties going on the 15th, 16th, and 17th, respectively. Kathleen Malone and Rafay Qamar are Dec. 19 bday twinsies, while Jeff Lasky will celebrate on Dec. 20, Kelley Regan on Dec. 21 and Walter Krajewski on Dec. 22. Leo Aubel calls Dec. 23 his big day, while Denise Salazar-Carosella has to share her Dec. 25 birthday with a lot of other merry folks. Jeff Metz will get wiser on Dec. 27, while JoAnn Sworan and Jennifer Evans will do the same thing on Dec. 29. Mimi Luna never has to work on her Jan. 1 birthday, while Leslie Struthers will celebrate on Jan. 2.