Tune in to the Drive with NAR podcast as host Marki Lemons Rhyal engages in an inspiring conversation with NAR Good Neighbor Award winner Ed Gardner and Broker Engagement Committee Chair Antje Gehrken. Discover how their community service efforts are making a difference and learn how real estate professionals can create a community impact. This episode highlights the importance of being a good neighbor and the positive effects community service can have on your real estate business.

Meet the Guests...

Ed Gardner, GRI, is the broker-owner of Gardner Real Estate in Portland, Maine. He founded the Equality Community Center, which provides tenant space for 18 nonprofit organizations in Portland. Ed is a 2024 NAR Good Neighbor Awards winner.

Antje Gehrken, CCIM, is president and designated managing broker at A.R.E. Partners in Chicago, Illinois. She currently chairs NAR’s Broker Engagement Committee and is a Board Director for the Northwest Indiana Realtors Association.

This episode of The Safety Series covers ways to help your remodeling clients protect both their physical and financial safety—while also maximizing their home renovation ROI. Host Tracey Hawkins and guests Brendon DeSimone and Blayne Pacelli discuss how real estate professionals can help their clients make smart home renovation decisions, which renovation mistakes to avoid, and vetting home contractors who can do the job right. They'll also explain how leveraging tools like NAR’s Remodeling Impact Report can help you back up your advice with data.

Meet the Guests:

Brendon DeSimone is an agent at Compass Connecticut in Greenwich, Conn. He’s also a real estate investor and has bought and sold dozens of homes across multiple major markets. DeSimone was a top-producing agent in San Francisco before moving to the East Coast to sell real estate in New York and then Connecticut.

Blayne Pacelli is an agent with Rodeo Realty in the Los Angeles area. With more than 20 years of experience in real estate, Pacelli has extensive experience working with clients on presale renovations and other value-driven remodeling projects. He is an avid sports fan whose passion is snowboarding.

The REALTOR® organization’s strength lies in how the local, state and national levels work together to amplify advocacy, streamline ethics enforcement and enhance member resources. In this episode, recorded live at the AE Institute, Drive with NAR podcast host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with NAR President Kevin Sears, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations Jarrod Grasso and Denver Metro Association of REALTORS® CEO Brendan Bailey. Learn how this collaborative structure ensures a unified REALTOR® voice, protects consumers and can help your business succeed.

Meet the Guests...

Kevin Sears, a 30-year real estate veteran from Springfield, Massachusetts, is the 2025 President of the National Association of REALTORS®. He is a Broker-Associate with Lamacchia Realty.

Jarrod Grasso is the Senior Vice President of Industry Relations at the National Association of REALTORS®. Before his current role, Jarrod served as Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey REALTORS® for nearly 17 years.

Brendan Bailey is the CEO of the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS®, with nearly a decade of public affairs, advocacy and real estate industry experience. He was named Vice Chair of NAR's Association Executives Institute Advisory Board in 2023.