Chicago Association of REALTORS® CEO Ginger Downs is honored for her service and as being named the recipient of the William R. Magel Award for leadership. Her association presented her with flowers at the Illinois REALTORS® reception on Sunday.

Chicago Association of REALTORS CEO Ginger Downs was recognized for being the recipient of the 2017 William R. Magel Award for association leadership at the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors meeting Monday.  

Downs, who will retire next year, was honored for a lifetime of work guiding associations in Chicago and in the Seattle area. The award is one of the highest NAR can bestow on an association leader.  

Ginger Downs is presented the 2017 William R. Magel Award by NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall at the national association’s Board of Directors meeting on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017.

Downs had been honored at the Illinois REALTORS® reception on Sunday. The announcement she had been named to get the award was made at the NAR Midyear Meetings.  

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get this honor,” Downs said at the board meeting held in Chicago as part of the NAR Conference and Expo.  

Downs was executive vice president of the Seattle/King County REALTORS® and the Portland Board of REALTORS® before coming to Chicago in 2005.  

In her speech, Downs had a list of things association executives should do, including:  

  • Treat each other with dignity 
  • Be a life-long learner 
  • Be prepared and understand the roles of an organization and its elements.  
  • Seek diversity 
  • Learn to forgive.  
  • Guide others to realize their potential.  
  • Look at yourself before criticizing others.