Greater Regional alliance of realtors®

GRAR Leadership Academy

This exclusive, year-long program offers a dynamic blend of experiences, education, and opportunities that are intended to foster a new generation of real estate industry leaders that are diverse in age, career experience, companies/brokerages, service specialties, geographic location, and gender. The class size is determined by the Candidate Review & Development Committee and is typically limited to 20 members per year.

We are pleased to introduce the Class of 2023!

Jamecia Adams

Manuel Avila

Dawn Bebout

Geoff Brown

Katrina Cole

Sally Daling

Duke Gray

Julie Grevengoed

Dan Harland

Ryan Hesche

Brian Hevelhurst

Courtney Kellogg

Shawn Kiphart

Kevin Kroondyk

Emily Maglothin-Clear

Amanda Rogers

Jared Schuitema

Jessica Smith

Amanda Stickney

Julie Woltil

Programming will focus on

  • An Inside Look at GRAR’s Leadership Team & Its Meetings
  • Effective Networking Techniques
  • Building Strong Business Relationships
  • Community Involvement & Volunteerism
  • Goal Setting
  • Public Policy & Legislative Advocacy
  • Public Speaking Skills
  • Real Estate Technology & Tools
  • Continuing Education Credits (including legal)
  • We will include some social activities too!

GRARLA Class of 2023 & Alumni Luncheon 

Social/Networking Luncheon w/GRARLA Alumni and the Board of Directors. Following the luncheon, the Class of 2023 will participate in a getting-to-know you exercise. Held at Watermark Country Club.

Goal Setting Workshop

Goal setting workshop w/Special Guest Instructor, Kevin Polakovich. Held at GRAR.

Sponsored by

Shark Tank

Team building event (using the Shark Tank format) where the GRAR Officers (Walter Perschbacher, Paul Bunce, Kris Keegstra, and Scott West) will serve as our Sharks. Held at GRAR.

Sponsored by

Public Speaking Workshop

Public speaking workshop (using the Toastmasters format) w/Special Guest Instructors, Jodi Smith and Kevin Kelling. Appetizers and cocktails at 11:30 a.m. (location to be determined) and workshop from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at GRAR.

Sponsored by

Group volunteer project

Held at Home Repair Services – 1100 Division Ave S, 49507

Sponsored by

Lead with Joy & You’re a Weirdo Workshop

Workshops with special guest instructor, Valerie Garcia. Held at GRAR.

 

Sponsored by

Observance of Board of Directors Meeting

Breakfast and observe the GRAR Board of Directors Business Meeting. Held at GRAR.

 

Sponsored by

Legal Update

Legal Update with special guest instructor, Brian Westrin. Held at GRAR.

Sponsored by

Michigan REALTORS® Convention & Expo

Bus trip to Detroit for the day to attend the Michigan REALTORS® Convention & Expo.

Sponsored by

Annual Broker’s Meeting & Economic Update

GRARLA will observe the Annual Broker’s Meeting at the Pinnacle Center, have lunch, and then receive an economic update from Dr. Beaulieu.

Social & Education Event with GRARLA Alumni

Panel discussion, Q&A, and happy hour w/GRARLA Alumni. Held at Dave & Buster’s.

Sponsored by

Installation & Awards Celebration

Attend GRAR’s Annual Installation & Awards Celebration to be recognized as a GRARLA graduate.

100% attendance is encouraged in order to successfully graduate the GRARLA program and to be recognized at the Annual Installation & Awards Celebration.  However, we understand that participants might have a pre-planned trip or an unexpected event arise. Therefore, one absence may be approved administratively with no requirement for a make-up session.  Any additional absences will require approval by the Candidate Review & Development Committee and a make-up session might be required.

We are proud of our GRARLA Alumni

If you are undecided if GRARLA is for you, please feel welcome to reach out to any one of our alumni members to ask about their experiences and the bonds that they have formed with classmates.  Below is a roster (by year) of our graduates:

Class of 2022: Ingrid Anastasiu, Jim Connell, Vickie Delands-Kochans, Tedros Fremichael, Jan Hawthorne, Alison Kinsman, Sarah Medina, Pamela Merriman, Lisa Newell, Julie O’Neill, Tanya Powell-May, Rick Rico, Brook Sharp, Paul Ten Eyck, Lisa Thomas, Adam Tolley, Tim Van Stensel, Deena Vroegindewey, and Madeline Witt.

Class of 2020 & 2021: Brittany Arraut, Shawn Beatty, Pete Bruinsma, John Dinehart, Erin Fester, Brooke Finlan, Charles Fisher, DeShawn Gholston, Curtis Gross, Maria Kauffman, Elizabeth Klopp, Kevin McCarty, Ryan Prichard, Gregg Teegardin, Megan Tefft, Kevin TerBeek, Lance Tiffany, Jordan Torrez, Alexandra Tremain, Brett Vredevoogd, Michael-Jay Williams, and Angela Worth.


Class of 2019:
  Jeannie Berger, Brandi Block, Jeff Czubak, Adam Fuller, Brandon Garnaat, Santiago Gomez, Kamie Jakeway, Laura Kelso, David Klein, Chasity Kopernik, Mitchell Luban, Kirsten Nairy, Charlie Peterson, Nicole Rinks, Shellie Silva, Cherie Smith, Tom Smolinski, Sarah Takens, Halley Vredenburg, and Scott West.


Class of 2018:
  Brenda Bolin, Lacey Connor, Ashley Dane, Sherlynn James, Antonio Holbrook, Rachel Major, Darryl Matthews, Kyle Naumann, Steve Robrahn, Kristin Ruther, Joshua Schaub, David Scheid, Rustin Scott, Brooke Krebill, Paul Spica, Steve Stuckey, Corrin Timmer, Seth Vanderwey, Amy Jo Weller, and Andrea Zoet.

 

Class of 2017: Nick Adado, Maria Blackmer, Paul Bunce, Micah Childress, Adam Connor, Amanda DeLong, Laura Featherston, Will Friend, Becca Greenhoe, Teresa Hoffman, Chad Jurgens, Wendy Katerberg, Jessica Lemmon, Dan Moralez, Andrew Norden, Jordan Painter, Scott Sharda, Dan Steffee, Hank Steffes, Lindy Tanis, and Kyle Visser. 

 

Class of 2016:  Brett Beimers, Robert Brown, Alix Criswell, Mollie Dauser, Darren DeFever, Lindsey Dykstra, Michelle Gaudreau, Kendra Havemeier, Jason Jenkins, Jacob Lietaert, Cory Maguire, Melissa Mitchell, Scott Myhre, Joshua Nawrot, Patricia Round, Leslie Ruppel, Heather Rus, Brooke Sines, and Melissa Thompson.


Class of 2015:
  Connie Bennett, Brian Clinger, Michael Courtright, Charlene Hammontree, David Jackson, Tina Johnson, Dave Kiel, Diana Meyer, Bryant Mitchell, Zach Newhof, Amalia Nunez-Marin, Beau Otis, Jodi Rogers, Mallory Strotheide, Mike VanderWoude, Rachael Veldkamp, Sheri Volkhardt, Carrie Vos, and Laurie Zokoe.

 

Class of 2014:  Jim Blehm, Yvette Blehm, Rory Byrne, Patrick Fase, Larissa Frody, Ron Hudson, Jim King, Beth Mans, Wyatt Martin, Cindy Nelson, Jayne Overbeck, Hanna Partlo, Tracie Rich, Susan Stoddard, Craig Stolsonburg, Lisa VanderLoo, Greg Williamson, and Wayne Wu.

Class of 2013:  Melanie Abraham, Bev Boerman, Mark Brace, Robin Decker, Brian DeSmit, Diane Ebbers, Michelle Gordon, George Guyott, Jeanine Herlacher, Susan Kazma, Scot Kellogg, Melissa McDermott, Ingrid Nelson, Adam Paarlberg, Susan Pastoor, Linda Pell, Amy Reedy, Jessica Tucker, and Michelle VerMeulen.

GRAR Staff Contact:  Pam VanLuven