JAMES M. WETZEL
Affordability a priority
A former executive of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board has been hired to lead one of the state’s largest regional Realtor associations.
James M. Wetzel joined the Worcester Regional Association of Realtors as executive vice president and executive officer last month. Wetzel replaces Dorothy Deed, who was with the association for the past five years and had recently taken a leave of absence for medical reasons.
The hiring of Wetzel, who has more than 22 years of experience in the real estate industry, provides a boost for a growing local association that represents over 1,600 Realtors and is probably the second-largest regional association next to GBREB.
“We anticipate that he will bring greater recognition of our board to the central region,” said Carolyn Chodat, this year’s president of WRAR and owner of Classic Properties in Medway and Milford.
Wetzel – who will oversee the association’s day-to-day operations, manage its finances and implement all of the group’s services and activities – used to direct the Greater Boston board’s Real Estate Finance Association, Building Owners and Managers Association and the Commercial Brokers Association.
Wetzel’s expertise in commercial real estate and finance, and particularly his experience directing industry trade associations, were seen as tremendous assets to WRAR leaders, according to Chodat.
Brand Promotion
WRAR, which has an active Government Affairs Committee that lobbies on a variety of local and state issues including mandatory rent escrowing, will look to Wetzel to help promote the real estate industry’s legislative agenda.
“Worcester is certainly a growing area of commerce [and] a growing area for homeownership and we believe that we will be able to have stronger connections with our communities and with our legislative issues,” said Chodat. “[Wetzel] will be able to have more of a presence with the local leadership, and through working with the Government Affairs Committee, bring our issues even more to the forefront.”
The industry and legislative advocacy work that Realtor organizations undertake is “probably one of the most important” functions, said Wetzel.
WRAR wants to “initiate and support regulatory and legislative action that creates an environment conducive to the success of members and enhances the preservation of private property rights,” he said.
“Topping our list is always housing affordability and housing opportunities,” said Wetzel, adding that Realtors “need to encourage innovation and investment in housing.”
As executive vice president, Wetzel also wants to focus on the professional development of WRAR members, maintaining and developing ties with the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, and building relationships with new business partners, such as title insurers and attorneys, as well as enhancing existing partnerships.
But perhaps one of his biggest goals, according to Wetzel, is to “promote the Realtor brand in the marketplace.”
“More and more people are trying to sell their homes on their own,” said Wetzel. However, in a recent survey conducted by NAR, the majority of consumers who reported selling their homes on their own expressed “misgivings” about doing so again, said Wetzel.
Wetzel wants WRAR members to reach out to such home sellers and to buyers in order to educate them about the benefits of using a Realtor.
WRAR has initiated regional advertising campaigns in the past to promote the value of using a Realtor, and the association will be planning another ad campaign soon.
“We are going to be working with MAR and NAR in enhancing our Realtor image locally,” said Chodat. “[Wetzel] will certainly work with us in promoting our own imaging campaign.”
Prior to joining WRAR, Wetzel did commercial real estate consulting work, but professionally, he is best known for his years at GBREB.
Before his career at GBREB, Wetzel worked for six years at the Hunneman Commercial Co.
When asked why he decided to join WRAR, Wetzel said, “Worcester … has one of the most active real estate markets … [WRAR] is progressive and vibrant and has a solid leadership in place.”
Established in 1923, the Worcester regional association represents both residential and commercial real estate agents and brokers from more than 20 communities in central Massachusetts.
The association leases office space on Millbrook Street in Worcester, but is currently in the process of purchasing a new office in Millbury and plans to relocate its headquarters at the beginning of next year.
“We definitely need [Wetzel’s] leadership as we prepare to move,” said Chodat. “We need someone with Jim’s strong organizational skills.”
Aglaia Pikounis may be reached at apikounis@thewarrengroup.com.
