It is with the utmost humility that I take on the role of 2023 President of the Williamson County Association of REALTORS®. It is no small honor to be installed as the leader of this remarkable organization. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously. As I have prepared for this role and the year ahead, I have had the honor and privilege to be surrounded by many talented leaders to observe, listen to, and learn from. In the past five years I’ve served as a Director, the Treasurer and the President-Elect of this Association alongside some truly amazing folks that have mentored me and guided me.
During my time serving this Association we have seen a 20.4 percent growth in Williamson County. This staggering growth has directly impacted our profession and our daily work. Judge Bill Gravel said recently “Williamson County has become the Technology Superhighway of the World.” We’ve seen Apple expand, Dell Technologies continues to invest in Williamson County, Samsung arrive on our doorstep, school bonds passed in every city that proposed bonds, road and bridge projects and water infrastructure improvements — all pointing to continued growth in Williamson County housing. Forbes even recently reported Williamson County as one of the fastest growing counties in the country. We experienced this growth and development during COVID, one of the most challenging times in modern history. It was because of outstanding leadership that this was made possible for Williamson County. What a great place to live and do business.
In 2017, I earned my Texas Real Estate Leadership Program (TRLP) designation and committed to a full year of learning and leadership. Our TRLP leader often challenged us to reflect back on what drove us to become leaders and who influenced us the most. So, in preparation to serve, I’ve looked back even further beyond my most recent years of being surrounded by such inspiring leaders. It’s not just the past few years that have brought me to this podium. Instead, it’s a lifetime of learnings and lessons, of efforts to be better and grow more.
As a very little girl my daddy wanted nothing more than a little boy to teach how to re-wire the electric panels, fix the plumbing to the swimming pool pump and repair the lawnmower. He got me! And I was the most helpful flashlight holder a little girl could be. I listened to every word he said and watched closely because I wanted to learn as much as I could. That flashlight came in handy. It was here that I built the foundation for learning to listen and to grow. My daddy taught me so much and I’m so thankful for those many lessons.
As an adult, I raised two kiddos as a single mom and built a real estate career, ultimately building a brokerage in Williamson County. Keeping the light shining and making sure that it was bright was my motivation and inspiration to ensure that my kids would see the path forward and stay focused. Some days it was difficult to hold the flashlight alone and it was through this life experience that I truly and deeply realized that successful leaders don’t lead alone. They need the right folks around them. Leaders need others to lean on, to learn from, and to take support from. Leaders can’t do it alone — ever. I’m grateful for the leadership lessons that my children have taught me.
What I know about myself is that I’m always willing to hold the flashlight. It doesn’t matter what the job is, it doesn’t matter who is doing the job. If I can be a part of something with you and learn from you, then I know I’ll be a better person from spending time with you and learning from you.
My hope this year is to illuminate the light together. To focus on you, on Williamson County, on Central Texas, and all that we must learn along the way. By shining the light together, we can see our path forward. We can sit down and talk about what we need to learn. We can shine the light on what needs to be fixed, in the direction we need to go and on all our celebrations.
Here at the Williamson County Association, we have the most dedicated group of people sitting in our committee chair seats and volunteering. Our staff and our assocation executive dedicate so much time and energy to making each day a success. By shining our lights together, we can only expect to have a bright year ahead.
