People on the Move: ‘Dynamic leader’ named Fort Worth association CEO
Suzanne Westrum’s leadership and business experience seen as a significant benefit to GFWAR; Relevate promotes tech and operations leaders.
Editor's note: As an industry with millions of agents and over 100,000 brokerage companies, new leaders rise to the top every day. Here we highlight executives and other notable leaders who've recently taken on, or stepped away from, roles that influence the residential real estate landscape.
Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors appoints new CEO
The Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors (GFWAR) has tapped Suzanne Westrum to lead the organization as CEO.
Westrum brings more than a decade of association leadership experience to GFWAR, which was established in 1918 and supports approximately 5,000 members. She was most recently CEO of the Prescott Area Association of Realtors in Arizona (PAAR), and previously held senior communications roles at the San Antonio Board of Realtors.
During Westrum's tenure at PAAR, the association was recognized by Arizona Realtors with the 2023 Community Outreach Award and by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce with the Business Excellence Award.
In her new role, she hopes to apply that business acumen to strengthen GFWAR's reputation in the Fort Worth business community and advocate for agent members and property rights.
"Suzanne is a dynamic leader with a tenured history of association experience that will greatly benefit the future of GFWAR," said Blake Barry, 2024 GFWAR President. "Her work at SABOR and PAAR illustrates her exceptional abilities, and we're excited to have her bring those skills to Fort Worth," Barry added.
"I am very excited to become a part of an organization as impressive as GFWAR," said Westrum. "I look forward to working with the incredible leadership team to build on the organization's enduring legacy as together we drive innovation and provide exceptional value to members and the community."
Relevate promotes technology, operations leaders
Real estate technology company Relevate has moved two valued leaders into director-level roles.
As director of development, Marc Lalonde will oversee the company's software development team and drive enhancements to Relevate One (R1). As director of operations, Susan Bauer will manage the company's client success team and project management.
Relevate CEO Mark Richburg praised Lalonde's "strategic vision, technical expertise, and commitment to excellence," which he said have been "central to our growth and the enhancement of our services." Lalonde has consulted with Relevate to develop solutions for associations and MLSs since 2003.
"My commitment is to not only uphold our high standards but to elevate them, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of technological innovation and service excellence in support of the real estate industry," Lalonde said.
Bauer has been with Relevate for five years. Before that, she brought more than a dozen new products to market while working in Geospatial Location and Spatial Analytics at CoreLogic. "Susan's ability to navigate complex challenges and inspire those around her is incredible to witness," Richburg said.
"This journey has been incredibly rewarding, working alongside a team that's as passionate about innovation and service as I am," Bauer said. "Our work supporting the real estate industry has always been close to my heart."