Since so many folks have been waiting for this information and taking guesses, I wanted to make our choice public.
After an extensive search, we hired Todd Carpenter, a founder of RE Blogworld and of mariah.com, a network of real estate and mortgage Web sites including lenderama and Denver Modern Homes. Many qualified candidates, both inside and outside of the real estate industry, applied for the position, and I asked a small set of finalists to prepare assignments detailing what they would do during their first 90 days in the role and how they would handle a challenging issue leveraging the power of the RE.net and the blogosphere.
We loved Todd’s ideas, his easygoing manner, his reputation and how knowledgeable he is about social media. We also really valued his relationships with so many REALTORS® who are using blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media channels to connect effectively with one another and with potential clients and customers.
Todd has (literally) just made the move from the mountains of Colorado to Chicago, where NAR is headquartered. He’s leaving his independent businesses behind to take advantage of this opportunity to lead the effort to help NAR’s staff and volunteer leaders engage with members and others in social media.
Todd’s official “coming out party” as our manager of social media will be at REBarCamp in Virginia next Tuesday, March 3rd. He’ll be traveling to and hosting events throughout the year, so hopefully many people will have the opportunity to meet @tcar in person.
Please join me in welcoming Todd to NAR and helping him help us succeed in this effort.
Rob Hahn
February 25, 2009 at 10:06 am
Congrats to Todd and to NAR. 🙂
First!
-rsh
Jennifer Wilson - Agent Solutions
February 25, 2009 at 10:09 am
Congratulations Todd!
You are going to be great as NAR’s Manager of Social Media.
Way to go.
Tony Sena
February 25, 2009 at 10:13 am
Glad to see it is official. Congrats Todd….Good luck!
Bill Lublin
February 25, 2009 at 10:23 am
Hilary;
NAR got rants AND raves after announcing the creation of the Social Media Manager job, that someone needs to comment on how diligent and thorough you were in your search efforts. Great job on the choice and the post! You have proved again what I have said for years – NAR has the most amazing world class staff possible!
@TCAR Congratulations on your appointment. I know that this will be a wonderful opportunity for you and that it will be a great situation for you, the organization, and the membership. Next time I’m in Chicago the dep dish pizza is on me! (Or put differently – I’ll pay for it – I would rather not wear it)
😉
Maureen Francis
February 25, 2009 at 10:34 am
Hilary, this is exciting news. I know Todd will be a great asset for all of us NAR members. He has already contributed so much to the industry, and this will only expand his reach on our behalf.
@TCAR thanks for taking on the task. I look forward to the inspiration you will bring to the job.
Mark Madsen
February 25, 2009 at 10:52 am
Excellent job Todd. I think it is great to have someone with a lending background on the inside at NAR.
Justin McHood
February 25, 2009 at 11:09 am
Todd,
Congrats! You will do great and I look forward to seeing you at many more events now.
Justin
Paul Dunn
February 25, 2009 at 11:10 am
Congrats Todd! Good to see someone with passion take that possition.
Adam Ciepiela
February 25, 2009 at 11:12 am
Congratulations! I am so glad we have a great person as the social media chair. Way to go!
Mark Green
February 25, 2009 at 11:14 am
Why not the earliest of “early adopters” of SM? Makes total sense to me – congrats Todd!
Brad Braunschweig
February 25, 2009 at 11:15 am
Congrats Todd, This is a great move by NAR.
Tim Storm
February 25, 2009 at 11:18 am
Congrats Todd. Its great to see someone from the mortgage industry in your new position. Keep up the excellent work!
Rick Pristas
February 25, 2009 at 11:18 am
Todd-
Great Job-you are taking NAR into the future!
Brian Wiesner
February 25, 2009 at 11:23 am
Hey Todd, nice work. Now that you’re in charge, have that PR guy use his spell check. 🙂 lol
Mike Harrison
February 25, 2009 at 11:30 am
Todd congratulations! NAR has made a great choice!
Jim Sahnger
February 25, 2009 at 11:31 am
Congratulations Todd! Job well done!
Brian Block
February 25, 2009 at 11:39 am
Congratulations to Todd! Now let’s just hope that NAR’s vetting process is better than Obama’s and there’s no unforeseen tax issues lingering in Todd’s past! 🙂
Victoria Del Frate
February 25, 2009 at 11:39 am
Goes to show that “good guys” don’t always finish last!!!! Congrats, Todd! Another show of what passion, dedication and working from one’s BEST, can do. Enjoy your new adventure.
Joan Ruso
February 25, 2009 at 11:43 am
Todd,
Good work and congratulations!:)
Ken Updegrave
February 25, 2009 at 11:46 am
Great to see NAR has hired somebody on the front edge of Social Media networking. Having experience with a lending background is nice too. Congrats to Todd!
Bob
February 25, 2009 at 11:56 am
Engage or just dump more propaganda on us?
This will either be the smartest thing NAR ever did, or it will prove that NAR is only interested in spin control.
Hopefully Todd doesn’t become the next paid NAR shill and apologist, and is unrestrained by those at NAR who think we are the ones who don’t get.
Good luck with this Todd.
Jackie Toppin
February 25, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hey Tod!! Congratulations on your new appointment!! Mark Madsen is my mentor in blogging, and I hope to bring blogging to the real estate industry in Alaska!! I hope to meet you in the near future.
Good Job, and I know you will do well.
Professionally,
Jackie Toppin
Mortgage Banker
Anchorage, AK
Hans Bruhner
February 25, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I think this is a brilliant move on NAR’s site. After all, with Craig’s list being the number one real estate web site and web 2.0 in full swing, there is not other choice but to have this position.
Also everything I have heard says that Todd is the man.
Good Job!
Lisa Sanderson
February 25, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Wow, great choice!! Congrats Todd!!
Chris Brown
February 25, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Todd
Rock and Roll man, been a fan for a long time. Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving fellow. =0)
Chris Brown aka the Implementer
Dave Woodson
February 25, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Hey Tcar, I can say I knew you when. I am excited to see you to soar to new heights and being a former mortgage guy helps as well
Dave
Jim Duffy
February 25, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Great to have someone with the passion and bootstrapping experience in the Web 2.0 spot.
Daniel Rothamel, Inman Community Manager
February 25, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Very cool. Rock on, Todd!
Rudy
February 25, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Congrats Todd!
Rudy
Social Media Guru at Trulia
Kevin Sandridge
February 25, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Yo Todd! What a coup! We now have a mortgage expert on the “inside!” Seriously, man… you’ve morphed now from the RSS Sombrero, to the Ninja, and now… well – You Da Man!
Congratulations on the position, Todd. Keep rockin’ the great Blip.fm tunes – and keep us all posted on all things “social media” over at NAR!
Gerald Santoro
February 25, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Excellent decision NAR! Way to go Todd! With your background I know you will excell.
Here’s to the future!
Leesa Sandoval
February 25, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Todd,
Congratulations I have heard great things about you! Best of luck.
Jeff Sloan
February 25, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Congratulations Todd,
It is great to see that NAR “gets it”
You are the perfect person for the job.
Derek Overbey
February 25, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I think this is a perfect match. Now go show NAR how it’s done Todd. Congrats!
Derek aka McLovin
Jim Rake
February 25, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Congrats Todd – look forward to meeting you the the “party” in Fredericksburg.
Jim Duncan
February 25, 2009 at 2:42 pm
@tcar –
As I said elsewhere – good luck and God speed. We’ll be here to support and challenge you as the situations dictate. 🙂
Carolyn Gjerde-Tu
February 25, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Way to go Todd. I really enjoyed the blog post you wrote months ago about what you would do if you were hired – I hope you stick to your word and never change being @tcar.
Kim Wood
February 25, 2009 at 3:30 pm
TOOT TOOT !! So happy for you Todd and your new ventures…. I can’t wait to see the changes 🙂
Lori Bee
February 25, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Just total awesomeness. So happy for you. And even happier for US!
Travis Egan
February 25, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Todd,
Congratulations on your move. As someone who has appreciated your work for some time, it’s nice to see that the NAR has brought on a true expert. I wish you well and I know NAR will benefit from your vast expertise.
John Lauber
February 25, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Great to hear, Todd!!
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
February 25, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I am sooo excited about this in so many different levels – CONGRATULATIONS to Todd and NAR for picking an awesome candidate who I am sure will do all of us proud!
Todd Carpenter
February 25, 2009 at 4:15 pm
What a day. I just now had a chance to read this post. Thank you to everyone who commented here. I’m really excited about the challenge.
Mariana
February 25, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Congratulations to NAR for their AWESOME decision … and w00t! w00t! to @tcar for a great opportunity!!
Cindy in Indy Marchant
February 25, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I am equally impressed by NAR to embrace Social Media in this way. It has literally taken on a life of its own in the last few years and I’m sure Todd will add a great deal to its growth and impact.
Faina Sechzer, Princeton NJ
February 25, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Congratulations to Todd and to NAR for making a great choice.
Kristal Kraft
February 25, 2009 at 5:24 pm
We miss you here in Denver already my friend!
Congrats to both tcar and NAR for taking a positive step forward! What a great combination!
kk
p.s. It all started at a Fiesta!
Taffy Wagner
February 25, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Todd, I remember when you encouraged people to read my blog Mortgagevox when I was writing for Know More Media.
Congrats to you and we miss you already.
twitter known as (moneyinmarriage)
Jillayne Schlicke
February 25, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Congratulations, Todd! It was great to finally meet you f2f at Inman Connect last year. Best of luck in your new adventure.
Susan Milner
February 25, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Congrats 🙂 I’m excited to what lies ahead.
teresa boardman
February 25, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Way to go Todd! Congratulations!
Rob Aubrey
February 25, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I may have to re-think my feelings on the NAR. way to go.
Craig Barrett
February 25, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Congrats Todd!
Rhonda Porter
February 25, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Congrats NAR and Todd!
sue woodard
February 25, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Todd – on behalf of myself and Barry Habib of Mortgage Success Source, congratulations to you – and please know that we are here to support you in any way that we can! All the best!!
sw & bh
Paul Defngin
February 25, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Congratulations Todd!
Jonas
February 25, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Wonderful news! Great work and a huge accomplishment. I’m excited for you and look forward to seeing more of your successes.
David Bartels
February 26, 2009 at 1:10 am
Todd,
We haven’t met yet, but I am a big fan. NAR got the right guy for the job. Congratulations on this and the success of lenderama too!
Suzane Pyburn
February 26, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Great News for us all. It is a good sign that NAR has hired a person with the kind of background Todd has to be their online/blogging voice. We are in this together, and together we will come through.
Todd, I hope I get to meet you some day.
Congrats!!
Suzane
Lani Rosales
February 27, 2009 at 11:01 am
NOTE: the original image of this post said “NAR’S SOCIAL MEDIA MANGER” because I (the image creator) have fat fingers and rushed the image, NOT because Hilary, Todd or the NAR was proclaiming Todd to hail from a manger. Sorry for those who got excited.
Linda Miller
January 24, 2010 at 8:59 am
Great to have you!
Len Foster
November 28, 2010 at 11:23 am
Congratulations on your appointment Todd. Looking forward to hearing about your success in this role. All the best!