Las Vegas Realtors apologizes after a dramatic start to 2025
The association's new president, who stepped into the role a year early after two other leaders abruptly resigned, hopes to restore LVR's credibility.
Key points:
- The local association was mired in controversy last year, with allegations of election tampering and an altercation at an LVR event.
- Just two days into his new role, 2025 President Joshua Campa resigned, citing a toxic environment that affected his mental and physical health, concerns about blackmail and other issues.
- George Kypreos — originally slated to lead in 2026 — is now president, and began his term by issuing a video apology to LVR members and the community.
Months of controversy, the unexpected departure of a new association president at the beginning of the year, threats of blackmail, a president-elect stepping into the role early — it all sounds eerily similar to the events at NAR a year ago. But in this case, it describes the recent upheaval at a local association in Nevada.
A new president apologizes
On January 3, George Kypreos, in his new capacity as president of Las Vegas Realtors, posted a YouTube video to address the litany of controversies the association endured over the last year.
"Our entire membership, our entire community is owed an apology," Kypreos starts out by saying, mentioning allegations of election tampering, breaches of confidentiality, suspensions and resignations.
"Our failure is not about mistakes made by individuals, it's about an institution falling short of the promise it makes to the people it serves," he added.
'Environment of toxicity' prompts sudden resignations
Kypreos, a longtime broker/owner in Las Vegas, started the year as LVR's 2025 president-elect, putting him in line to assume the presidency in 2026.
But on January 2, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal, two resignations moved Kypreos into the role a full year early. Immediate past president Merri Perry and 2025 president Joshua Campa abruptly left the association, with the Nevada Current reporting that members received an email stating the two leaders "have resigned from their positions on the LVR Board of Directors and all committee[s] effective immediately."
The drama seemed to be too much for Campa. In a lengthy Facebook post on Jan.3, he publicly announced his resignation — a decision, he said, that took "a lot of soul searching."
Among the many issues Campa cited, he said his tenure with the organization "deteriorated my mental and physical health these last 3 years trying to make change that I thought our members wanted," and "the environment of toxicity" had taken a toll on his family and his business. He also expressed concerns about "the threat of blackmail to the people around me if I stayed in the position."
"I can no longer stomach engaging in a culture where people make getting an award or obtaining their next volunteer position the center of their lives," Campa added.
Election drama, a suspension and a fight
Some of the issues within the Las Vegas Realtors came to light in August 2024 when member Britney Gaitan, who was campaigning against Stephanie Grant for the role of association vice president, accused the association of election tampering.
Local news station KTNV Channel 13 reported that LVR CEO Wendy DiVecchio told Gaitan in an email to "keep campaigning" because her vote tallies were behind Grant's. Gaitan expressed concern that LVR leaders were trying to manipulate the election results, and the email chain was leaked to the media, leading LVR to request a third-party investigation that resulted in a 30-day suspension for DiVecchio.
In November, two association members filed complaints with Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford requesting further investigation of the matter.
Earlier in the year, a fight broke out between two local agents attending the LVR Brokers Forum in March — an incident the association appeared eager to downplay in its statement to the media.
Changing the culture in 2025
Kypreos said he has seen first-hand how "agendas, political maneuvering, and sensational drama" impacted the organization.
"We find ourselves preoccupied with egos and power struggles instead of highlighting the ethics and transparency, which has clouded our judgment," he said. "We put our credibility on the line and lost."
Going forward, Kypreos said LVR will institute changes so that "small factions" can no longer control leadership decisions.
He also called on LVR members to help ensure those who seek leadership positions are "qualified, prepared, and committed to the values we stand for."
Campa hopes Kypreos will succeed, ending his Facebook post with this message: "George will be LVR President in 2025, he has been a solid neutral leader. Give him grace, he will make mistakes, but no one person is perfect. He will need the support of all of you."