Missouri REALTORS® are so much more than just real estate professionals. They dedicate their time to serving on school boards and running for elected positions. They educate, serve on panels, volunteer and facilitate industry discussions. Their philanthropic efforts are inspiring, and the difference they are making within their communities is significant. Our Member Spotlight series highlights these efforts and introduces some of our wonderful members.
This month, we are shining the Member Spotlight on Katie Berry.
Katie, from Better Homes and Gardens RE Preferred Properties and St. Louis REALTORS®, is an industry leader at the local, state and national level. Her career path, commitment to volunteer work and professional achievements indicate her immense passion for lifting others up and moving them to action.
While Katie has worked as a licensed real estate agent since 2011, she taught high school Spanish and History in the Greater St. Louis Area from 2009 through 2011. She also served as a field organizer on a presidential campaign. Her responsibilities included managing and training hundreds of volunteers to conduct voter registration drives, phone banks and canvassing events—all in an effort to educate her community and motivate people to engage civically.
When Katie entered the real estate world, she swiftly built up an impressive resume. Over the last decade, she has held over 12 leadership roles at the local, state and national level. Katie is the 2021 President-Elect of St. Louis REALTORS®, a Missouri REALTORS® Director, a Missouri REALTORS® RPAC Trustee and a National Association of REALTORS® Director. Over the years, she has served on a number of local committees and councils including the SLAR Political Action Committee, the Missouri REALTORS® Advocacy Committee and the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, among an extensive list of others.
Some of Katie’s most notable community work has been with the Downtown Children’s Center, a local non-profit. According to the organization, the Center is “dedicated to serving the early childhood needs of parents that live and/or work in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.” As a board member from 2017 to 2018, Katie dedicated her volunteer hours toward providing top-notch care for children of working parents. The organization innovatively brings together businesses and childcare professionals to serve the St. Louis community.
In 2018, Katie also served as the President of the Benton Park Neighborhood Association. This volunteer-based non-profit organization serves the diverse community in the historic STL neighborhood by providing programs, services and events that effectively bring the neighbors together and encourage giving back to one’s community.
Most recently, Katie serves on the Building and Grounds Committee for her church, Trinity Episcopal Church in the Central West End, which was the first Episcopal church to be recognized by the United States Department of the Interior for its notable LGBTQIA+ history. In particular, the church is recognized for the years 1969 to 1993 for its early support of gay rights, its embrace of LGBTQIA+ parishioners and community members and its compassionate response to local AIDS patients in the 1980s.
We celebrate Katie for her leadership in the industry and her infectious community involvement. Thanks to years of volunteering and providing exceptional real estate service across the St. Louis area, Katie has connected with hundreds of St. Louis folks and inspired them to get involved with politics, with education and within their own neighborhoods.