Create professional development programs that help REALTORS® strengthen their businesses.
Protect private property rights and promote the value of REALTORS®.
Advance ethics enforcement programs that increase REALTOR® professionalism.
Protect REALTORS® by providing legal guidance and education.
Stay current on industry issues with daily news from Illinois REALTORS®, network with other professionals, attend a seminar, and keep up with industry trends through events throughout the year.
Congratulations to eight members beginning new terms on the 2023 Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors.
The following new directors were installed at the Illinois REALTORS® Fall Business Meetings this week in Oak Brook:
- Amy Barnes, Barnes Realty Inc., in Lanark;
- Ayn Bartok, All in One Real Estate Company in Harrisburg;
- Gaspar Flores, Jr., Su Familia Real Estate in Bolingbrook;
- Ezekiel “Zeke” Morris, EXIT Strategy Realty/EMA Management on South Side of Chicago;
- Michael D. Oldenettel, Real Estate Group in Springfield;
- Tracey Royal, Coldwell Banker Realty in Oak Park;
- Michael Simpson, Baird & Warner Real Estate Algonquin; and
- Sarah Ware, Ware Realty Group LLC in Chicago,
Barnes is the designated managing broker and owner of Barnes Realty, Inc. State Legislative Contact for state Rep. Andrew Chesney. She has been involved in REALTOR® association committees on the local, state and national levels. She is a member of the NAR’s Professional Standards Committee; she was the 2022 Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation’s (REEF) chair. She is a graduate of Illinois REALTORS® Leadership Development Program, the 2023 vice chair of the Illinois REALTORS® Grievance Committee and is a former local board president.
Bartok is the broker-owner of All in One Real Estate Company in Harrisburg. She has earned several designations, including AHWD, CIPS, GRI, SRS and e-Pro. She is the Federal Political Coordinator to Rep. Mike Bost. She’s been involved in REALTOR® association committees on the local, state and national levels. She is a graduate of the Illinois REALTORS® Leadership Development Program, chaired the RPAC Fundraising Working Group and is a former local board president.
Flores, Jr., is the sales director for Su Familia Real Estate Inc., in Bolingbrook. He is the State Legislative Contact for state Rep. Eva Dina Delgado. He’s been involved with REALTOR® associations on the local, state and national levels, including chair of the Local Government Independent Expenditures Committee for Illinois REALTORS®. He is a graduate of the Illinois REALTORS® Leadership Development Program.
Morris is the designated managing broker for EXIT Strategy Realty/EMA Management on the South Side of Chicago. He served as 2022 Illinois REALTORS® president and is a former president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® (CAR) and was also CAR’s REALTOR® of the Year. At the state level, Morris has chaired a number of working groups and committees and served on numerous others. He has served multiple terms on the Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors and is the state association’s first African American president. At the national level, Morris is serving on the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Board of Directors and was its 2020 Liaison for Community Engagement. He lent his expertise to a variety of committees, and he chaired NAR’s Fair Housing Act Anniversary Working Group, the Fair Housing Act Anniversary Implementation Group and helped spearhead the national association’s efforts to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act in 2018.
Oldenettel is the managing broker for the Real Estate Group in Springfield. He was the Illinois REALTORS® 2013 president and has chaired numerous committees and served on countless more since 1994. He is a graduate of the Illinois REALTORS® Leadership Development Program, was honored with the state REALTOR® of the Year Award in 2018 and received Presidential Medallions in 2019 and 2021. He has served in numerous leadership positions for his local associations, including 2022 president of Capital Area REALTORS®. He has represented Illinois in numerous capacities at NAR, including the 2023 member engagement liaison and 2021 NAR Region 7 vice president.
Royal is vice president of agent development for Coldwell Banker Realty in Oak Park. She is the State Legislative Contact for state Rep. Jawaharial Williams and the Federal Political Coordinator for Rep. Danny Davis. She has supported fellow REALTORS® by volunteering for committees and working groups and leadership positions on the local, state and national REALTOR® association levels. She is a graduate of Illinois REALTORS® Leadership Development Program, a member of the NAR Board of Directors, and she will be chair of the state Public Policy Forum and the Affordable Housing and Community Involvement Committee.
Simpson is the designated managing broker for Baird & Warner Algonquin. He has served on numerous committees and working groups for Illinois REALTORS®, including vice chair of the 2023 REALTORS® Political Involvement Working Group. He is the State Legislative Contact for state Rep. Martin McLaughlin and for state Sen. Donald DeWitte. He is a graduate of the Illinois REALTORS® Leadership Development Program.
Ware is the principal and managing broker and owner of Ware Realty Group in Chicago. She’s been involved on the local, state and national levels of REALTOR® associations for many years. She is the 2023 president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. For Illinois REALTORS® she volunteered for numerous committees during the last 10 years and chaired the 2016 Housing Opportunities Working Group and the 2018 Leadership Development Working Group. She is the State Legislative Contact for state Rep. Lamont Robinson. She is is a graduate of the Illinois REALTORS® Leadership Development Program. And, in 2024, she will serve as the NAR housing issues liaison.
