Illinois REALTORS® recently announced the internal promotion of several staff members who have shown their dedication and commitment to the association and its members. The staff changes were part of a reorganization of the Marketing & Communications and Governmental Affairs departments.

Beginning in early 2020, Illinois REALTORS® initiated a process to enhance the Marketing & Communications team’s focus on brand development, management and marketing our many services to existing and perspective members.

“We’re one of the leading sources of education, training and professional development for brokers in the state,” said Jeffrey Baker, Illinois REALTORS® incoming CEO. “Our Marketing department is the vehicle we use to go to our members with the services we provide them, rather than requiring them to come to us.”

The department’s staff changes began with the addition of Vice President of Marketing & Communications Anthony Hebron in mid-June, and now culminate with the promotion of Stephanie Sievers to Director of Marketing. Gideon Blustein, Director of Outreach, will serve with Hebron and Sievers as the department’s senior management team.

Sievers, who has worked at Illinois REALTORS® for more than 12 years, has been a critical element in all facets of the association’s marketing and communications and is well-suited to lead the marketing team going forward. Speaking of her team, other promotions include David Hine to Graphics & Design Manager and Kelli Jessup to Digital Marketing Manager.

Hebron said of the changes: “Illinois REALTORS® already possesses strong brand equity among its members. Going forward, we will strengthen and build on that through a strategic, comprehensive marketing strategy for the association as a whole.”

To that end, another major move was the promotion of Dawn Tebrinke to Senior Marketing Content Manager. For the past five years, Tebrinke has promoted the Illinois REALTORS® real estate school. With her promotion, the marketing team can take advantage of her advanced skills and experience to market all association services.

As for the Governmental Affairs Department, its changes cap off a reorganization that began in 2019.

“State and local advocacy are core functions of the association and our members expect nothing but the best,” Baker said regarding the recent Governmental Affairs changes. “Greg St. Aubin and Julie Sullivan have been the preeminent advocacy duo at the state capitol for decades.”

However, Julie Sullivan is retiring at the end of this year. To help fill that void, Jim Clayton, who most recently served as one the association’s Local Governmental Affairs Directors, has been promoted to serve on the statehouse advocacy team as Manager of State Government Affairs. St. Aubin and Clayton, with the help of additional lobbying staff, will spearhead one of the most substantive public policy agendas in the association’s history this coming year. Illinois REALTORS® plans to make a concerted push for passage of housing policies that provide more affordability, opportunity and stability throughout the state.

Additionally, Alex Finke will become Manager of Advocacy Programs, overseeing local and statewide political advocacy, as well as the association’s involvement with federal programs such as the REALTOR® Party and the Federal Political Coordinator program. Over the course of the last year, the Governmental Affairs department saw changes in its management of federal policy issues, REALTOR® Party initiatives and participation in state elections. Last fall, recognizing his skill and experience in political messaging and campaign data analytics, the association brought in Finke, then a Local Governmental Affairs Director, to manage its large election participation efforts.

“In only one year, Alex refined everything from how we evaluated races to the messaging we used in our campaigns. He made us more tactical and that made our independent expenditure campaigns this year highly effective,” Baker said. “Our political operation is significant, and our members take pride in our leadership role with the REALTOR® Party at the national level. This is an area that demands the ability to think strategically and Alex has proven he has the discipline and focus to do just that.”

These reorganization and staff promotions are the result of a comprehensive two-year review and analysis of the association’s individual departments to ensure better service to members. All these changes combined, should ensure the members will be well-served in the coming years and the association is positioned to not just withstand challenges, but to thrive and grow.