Last week, Illinois REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Directors (GADs) joined GADs from across the country for the National Association of REALTORS® GAD Institute in Columbus, Ohio.

Illinois REALTORS®’ Neeley Erickson directed the conference this year as chair of the GAD Advisory Group, and served on multiple panels.

“Neeley is the first Illinois REALTORS® GAD ever to serve as leader of ‘GAD Nation’,” said Illinois REALTORS® Senior Director of Local Advocacy Tom Benedetto. “As chair, she has increased our influence over advocacy priorities, strategy, and programming. The team is extremely proud of her.”

GAD Institute doesn’t just allow our GADs learn new strategies and best practices from similar states like California and New York. It allows our team to lend our extensive experiences from Illinois to benefit REALTOR® Nation, and to learn more about NAR programming and grants to bring back to local associations.

“Networking with GADs across the country provides our Governmental Affairs Team direct access to best practices,” said Erickson. “Illinois REALTORS® active participation in this national conference, and ‘GAD Nation’ as a whole, also improves local outcomes for our members.”

“The Illinois REALTORS® GAD program is candidly one of the most respected in the nation,” said Benedetto. “Our GAD team is constantly evolving and just because we are admired, that does not mean we should rest. We can learn national trends and better hone our understanding of the GAD world.