Chicago-area REALTOR® Nancy Suvarnamani brings a unique combination of experiences to her slated position on the 2021 Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors.

President of Century 21 SGR in Chicago, Suvarnamani has served in leadership positions on the local, state and national REALTOR® association levels. She was a founding chair of the Chicago chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) and is a past president of the Chicago chapter of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI). She’s earned nine designations: ABR, CDPE, CIPS, CRB, CRS, MRP, RSPS, SRES and TRC.

She says she wants to be on the Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors, “To bring the voice of REALTORS® in Chicago to the board and to share our vision of how the association should evolve. I’m in touch with a diverse base of REALTORS® being an immigrant woman of Asian-American heritage,” says Suvarnamani, an AREAA member for the last 12 years. “I can bring their needs and voice to the table.”

While a member of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® (CAR), she served as 2006 president and was honored as its 2007 REALTOR® of the Year.

“One of the most important lessons I learned came from our outreach program,” she says. “I discovered how important it is for leaders to meet members in person, listen to their concerns and identify resources that could be used to help them reach their goals. We need those discussions to keep the association relevant.”

As NAR’s Global Coordinator to the Asia Pacific region, Suvarnamani says she was profoundly impressed by the national association’s commitment to advancing its ideals and the Code of Ethics. “I have witnessed major changes in the region, including the adoption of private and government oversight of the industry, the start of inchoate multiple listing services and a shift towards cooperation instead of a go-it-alone attitude. That shift, in large part, was brought about by NAR’s influence in the region.”

Suvarnamani is the global coordinator for the NAR Global Alliances Advisory Board and the Global Business and Alliances Committee, as well as a member of the Public Policy Coordinating Committee. She has served on multiple Illinois REALTORS® committees annually since 2002, and she has chaired the International Working Group and the Housing Opportunity Working Group. She was a member of the 2014 Leadership Development Class.

She is the State Legislative Contact for State Rep. Theresa Mah of Chicago and Federal Political Coordinator to U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth.

In addition to Suvarnamani, five others are slated to serve on the 2021 Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors:

• Ayn Bartok (returning), broker-owner of All in One Real Estate Company in Harrisburg,
• Linda Dressler of RE/MAX Suburban in Schaumburg,
• Tracey Royal, president and designated managing broker of Team Real Estate Services in Oak Park,
• Eddie Ruettiger of Baird & Warner in Plainfield and
• Matt Silver (returning), partner of Corcoran Urban Real Estate in Chicago.