What makes Missouri REALTORS® so great are the members that we have. Not only do we care about real estate, but we care about each other as well. We know that by investing in our fellow REALTORS® we are making our community, and the industry as a whole, stronger. That’s why we created REALTORS® Leadership Academy, a program that trains emerging leaders so they may exert a positive influence on the future of the real estate industry.
Our Leadership Academy Alumni Member Spotlight series highlights the graduates of the program. We want to introduce some of our wonderful REALTOR® leaders and showcase how Leadership Academy helped them grow. This month we are shining our spotlight on Karen Vennard.
Karen Vennard, a member of St. Louis REALTORS® and St. Charles REALTORS®, dreamt of being a doctor before she became a REALTOR She held many jobs in the medical field, such as an Emergency Medical Technician, and studied biology as a pre-med student at Lindenwood University. But as an older student, the idea of spending at least eight more years in school became less and less appealing. Luckily, it was during her undergraduate studies that Vennard discovered real estate.
One of her friends was looking to buy a new home, and Vennard volunteered to help her with the process. She fell in love with the industry and quickly got her license.
Vennard applied for Leadership Academy after she became a State Director and was elected the Vice-President of her local board. She thought that the program would enhance her leadership skills. Vennard is a 2008 graduate of the program.
“My favorite part about attending the Leadership Academy is the skills that I learned and now use in my leadership positions and everyday interactions with clients and constituents,” she said. “It was a wonderful learning experience!”
Since graduating from Leadership Academy, Vennard went on to become President of her local board. She has served on and chaired many local, state and national committees. She was elected to the Lake St. Louis Board of Alderman in 2010 and has been the President of the Board for the past 3 years. Additionally, Vennard currently serves as Past-President and as a Board of Director for the St. Charles County Municipal League.
Although Vennard did not pursue medicine, she still gives back to the medical field. She is a proud member of the St. Charles County Ambulance District Advisory Board and United Services Midwest Children’s Museum Exploratory Board.