The High Desert Association of REALTORS®
About us
HDAOR
Mission Statement
The purpose of the High Desert Association of REALTORS® is to help its members become more profitable and successful.
HDAOR History
Strategic Plan
Committees
Board of Directors
Staff Directory
vision Statement
2025 HDAOR President
The High Desert Association of REALTORS®
2025 President- Michael Knight
Michael Knight is the President and CEO of CENTURY 21 Desert Rock, CENTURY 21 Rose Realty and Ardent Escrow, A Non-Independent Broker Escrow. Originally from the High Desert, Michael graduated Hesperia High School in 1996. Michael’s real estate career began in 2003 when he obtained his real estate license and affiliated with CENTURY 21 Desert Rock. In 2015, Michael and Angela Knight, purchased CENTURY 21 Desert Rock followed by the acquisition of CENTURY 21 Rose Realty in 2019.
Supporting the local association of Realtors is something that has been very important to Michael. He served as a director for the Victor Valley Association of Realtors and High Desert Association of Realtors. He was part of a task force that negotiated the merger and full integration of the Victor Valley Association of Realtors and the Barstow Association of Realtors. He has been a member of the MLS committee from 2010 to 2023, has served on the LCRC, and started the local YPN committee. Michael was the State Director for the California Association of Realtors and the President Elect of the High Desert Association of Realtors in 2024.
history of hdaor
The HIGH DESERT ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® original charter was May 22, 1948. Elton Goble was the first President and he served from 1948 through 1950. Originally named, Mojave Valley Board of REALTORS® and in 1958 became the Victor Valley Board of REALTORS®. June 1, 2014 the Victor Valley and Barstow Association of REALTORS® merged forming the new High Desert Association of REALTORS®. Today, the gavel that was presented to the Mojave Valley Board of REALTORS® in 1948 is still used at all Board of Director meetings.
Things and people may have changed over the past 70 years but our mission has remained the same. “The purpose of the HIGH DESERT ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is to help its members become more profitable and successful.” Our vision is “The High Desert Association of REALTORS® is the source of essential business services and the association of choice for real estate professionals committed to excellence and through collective action promotes the preservation of real property rights.”
Throughout its history, the HIGH DESERT ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has always strived especially hard to support the needs of the High Desert communities it serves. The HDAR sponsors several fundraising events each year, with the money raised from these events contributed to several local charity organizations.
We would like to thank our Past Presidents for their excellence in leadership through the years.
Past Presidents
1948 Elton S. Goble
1949 Elton S. Goble
1950 Elton S. Goble
1951 Jack D. Ewing
1952 Wheeler Sells
1953 Wheeler Sells
1954 Victor Gamble
1955 Victor Gamble
1956 Mike Dresslar
1957 Donald B. Williams
1958 Walter Woodbury
1959 William E. Hansen
1960 Chester Golden
1961 Everett M. Brummett
1962 C.M. “Bill” Hutton
1963 C.M. “Bill” Hutton
1963 Gene Miller
1964 J.O.E. Emmons
1964 Homer Matthews
1965 Robert F. Flynn
1965 Frank Hunt
1966 Douglas W. Gibson
1966 Joseph Matthew
1967 Alfred H. Crossman
1967 Fred Crull
1968 Paul R. Williams
1968 Al Rudd
1969 Gustave VandeHaegen
1969 Tom Collins
1970 Mildred Barnes
1970 Carrie Hamilton
1971 Dorothy Vaniea
1971 Kirk Isitt
1972 Boots Peter Markkula
1972 Gene Miller
1973 Warren Watts
1973 Chuck Roberts
1974 Lucy Oday
1974 Lavonne Borchert
1975 Ray Jordan
1975 Gary Stater
1976 Helen Gibson
1976 John Wilder
1977 Joe F. Corda
1977 Earl Borchet
1978 Eugene S. Williams
1978 Carol Roberts
1979 Susan Rasch
1979 Mel Ferrerra
1980 Peggy Roberts
1980 Carrie Hamilton
1981 Sam DeFazio
1981 Chuck Roberts
1982 George Frey
1982 Mel Ferrera
1983 D. Cary Watkins
1983 Gary L. Wike
1984 George Beardsley
1984 Bob Hoffman
1985 James H. Bess, Sr.
1985 Rod Kenyon
1986 Nancy Wunker
1986 Becky Otwell
1987 Denis Thomas
1987 Jason Landon
1988 Rosie Conrad
1988 Thelma Hoffman
1989 Rod Kenyon
1989 Jack Harrison
1990 Lynn Pudwell
1990 Craig Kudrle
1991 Betsy Shirkey
1991 James Phillips
1992 Nancy Wunker
1992 Chuck Moore
1993 Carrie Hamilton
1993 Jason Landon
1994 Liz Troy
1994 Hanna Knapp
1995 Mike Castellano
1995 Diane Hess
1996 Marilyn Kruger
1996 Stephanie Glassey
1997 Dee Trad
1997 Marilyn Welker
1998 Lynda Pascoe
1998 Betsy Shirkey
1999 Diane Hess
1999 Eileen Patterson
2000 Terry Fenske
2000 Ann Marie Van Guilder Hammond
2001 Nancy Wunker
2001 Hanna Knapp
2002 Janet Wentz
2002 Jason Landon
2003 Marilyn Welker
2003 Bess Kline
2004 Nancy Olguin
2004 Deborah Light
2005 Nancy Wunker
2005 Donny Jensen
2006 Teresa White
2006 Chuck Knapp
2007 Teresa White
2007 Ann McDonald
2008 Nancy Olguin
2008 Caroll Yule
2009 Curtis O’Brien
2009 Jo Ann Tidwell
2010 Curtis O’Brien
2010 Glenn Zimmerman
2011 Nancy Bilsborough
2011 Cecil Volsch
2012 Debra Harroldson
2012 Bess Kline
2013 Debra Harroldson
2013 Michele Davies
2014 Curtis O’Brien
2014 Kari Leon
2015 Becky Otwell
2016 Serena Whyte
2017 Karen Sanchez
2018 Kari Leon
2019 Cecil Volsch
2020 Larry Mason
2021 Larry Mason
2022 Glenn Zimmerman
2023 Fidel Carranza
2024 Joseph Hisquierdo
2025 Michael Knight
Board of Directors
Staff directory
Executive Officer: Diane Smith
Contact: 760-244-8841 / diane@hdaor.com
Accounting: Veronica Swarts
Contact: 760-244-8841 / veronica@hdaor.com
Accounting: Kristy Pele
Contact: 760-244-8841 / kristy@hdaor.com
Membership: Rosemary Chavarin
Contact: 760-244-8841 / rosemary@hdaor.com
Communications: Valerie Penalber
Contact: valerie@hdaor.com
HDAOR Office
Address: 11890 Hesperia Rd. Hesperia, CA 92345
Phone: 760-244-8841
HDAOR Office Hours
Open Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 4:30pm
Closed Saturday & Sunday
High Desert Association of REALTORS®
2021-2024 Strategic Plan
In one of the most highly unusual of years – 2020 – The High Desert Association of REALTORS® Leadership worked collaboratively to identify, discuss, and prioritize HDAR’s goals. With a focus on meeting the future’s challenges for the REALTOR® members of the association, the following plan identifies how HDAR will succeed.
This report overcame many obstacles to craft, draft, and revise the association’s goals to meet the following key organizational objectives:
- Engage Member Segments
- Advance Member Technologies
- Promote Member Education and Services
- Advocate and Promote REALTOR® and Fair Housing Issues
Building upon the success of the 2017-2020 Strategic Plan for HDAR, the association plans to focus on continuing to deliver the previously identified core goals, while expanding into the above efforts. The 2017-2020 Strategic Plan focused on:
- Improve Member Services
- Improve Communications
- Demonstrate Community Outreach Efforts
- Engage in Advocacy Efforts
- Address Membership and Facilities
Encouraged by the success of the association in implementing the goals of the 2017-2020 Strategic Plan – while also limited by the impacts of COVID-19 – the association leadership dutifully contributed to the shaping of this report through:
- Interfacing with peers on core issues
- Individual interviews and discussions on key topics
- Completing comprehensive feedback surveys on association needs
- Group discussions of applying feedback to association objectives
- Leadership review of key topics for inclusion in the strategic plan
Those efforts led to a careful consideration of the needs of the membership, the capacities and appropriate roles of the association, and the state of the industry. This guide is designed to be fluid and malleable as conditions impact the organization. As learned in 2020 – there is no way to predict what may occur.
The association can use this guide for organization, staff, budget, and direction to staff and committees to complete these goals collectively.
OBJECTIVE 1 – ENGAGE MEMBER SEGMENTS
To improve outreach and connection between the association and the membership
Goal 1 – Provide Membership Engagement Opportunities
- Use locations, leaders, and technology to expand opportunities for members to engage with one another
- Advance efforts to establish opportunities for the membership to get involved
- Create forums for engagement within specific interest groups of the association
- Develop MLS opportunities
- Co-opt association events as a way to build community
Goal 2 – Connect Association Leadership to Brokers
- Create contacts and outreaches to brokerages by leadership
- Communicate the value the association brings to the brokerages
- Encourage Leadership among brokers, managers, and industry leaders
- Develop broker oriented information about the association
Goal 3 – Establish Association Opportunities for the Agents
- Inform agents about the opportunities their membership provides
- Create leadership training for members interested in advancement
- Promote to agents the value of involvement in the association structure
Goal 4 – Develop New Options for Member Education
- Identify opportunities to expand traditional education into new offerings
- Enlist broader platforms and offerings available to members to share education
- Encourage committee development of learning opportunities
OBJECTIVE 2 – ADVANCE MEMBER TECHNOLOGY
Ensure Member Technology provides the most available information
Goal 1 – Expand Data Opportunities
- Investigate the best opportunities to expand data exchanges
- Identify the most important data sources to best empower members
- Utilize technology that allows for the best user interface
- Ensure consistency of member expectations while also advancing access
- Incorporate connectivity to a broad list of member used business software
Goal 2 – Pursue Tech Agreements that Benefit Members
- Identify key technology offerings that are needed by members most
- Connect with providers and partners to expand membership capabilities to service their clients
- Execute agreements with appropriate partners
- Identify educational, exchange, networking, and property data opportunities
Goal 3 – Build MLS Opportunity
- Identify opportunities to expand MLS information available to members
- Pursue agreements with potential industry partners
- Consider cross-platform capabilities to minimize member impact
Goal 4 – Create Member Focused Information on Technology Opportunities
- Develop marketing materials for each offering
- Build comprehensive education on tech integration
- Create forums for member sharing on application of technology
OBJECTIVE 3 – PROMOTE MEMBERSHIP EDUCATION AND SERVICES
Reinforce membership value through advancing association offerings
Goal 1 – Increase Membership Awareness of the Association
– Promote opportunities for members in new and different ways
Goal 2 – Enable New Learning Opportunities
- Identify existing education of the association, and explore needs
- Employ technology to expand availability and convenience of offerings
- Connect emerging trends within the industry
- Seek partnerships with new education providers
Goal 3 – Empower Member Led Learning Opportunities
- Establish framework for appropriate educational offering from members
- Create opportunities to test and refine educational offering
- Vet material for appropriateness
- Enable offering options where appropriate
Goal 4 – Connect Offerings to Education, Committees, Products and Events
- Establish a compendium of available opportunities
- Develop connectivity and cross promotion across the association
- Encourage synergistic cooperation among association segments
- Encourage brokerage and member adoption of association offerings
OBJECTIVE 4 – ADVOCATE AND PROMOTE REALTOR AND FAIR HOUSING ISSUES
Promote the REALTOR® Commitment to Fair Housing, Equity & Inclusion.
Goal 1 – Incorporate Fair Housing Opportunity in the Association Advocacy
- Incorporate Fair Housing resources into advocacy efforts
- Promote use of Fair Housing resources (ie. NAR Fairhaven Course)
- Encourage discussion of Fair Housing, and where improvement is needed
- Expand awareness and understanding of the PAC with members
- Build roles for liaisons between LGR & other committees and organizations
Goal 2 – Encourage Participation in Association Advocacy
- Enlist member input on issues pertinent to the members business models
- Secure support from brokerage on association advocacy efforts
- Work with committees and association structures to raise PAC involvement
- Promote member engagement in C2EX Course
Goal 3 – Build Upon Established Community Relationships
- Support and advance relationships with local government leaders
- Build upon existing relationships with chambers and business groups
- Expand relationships with affiliated industries and aligned organizations
- Explore new organizations with similar advocacy interests as HDAR
Goal 4 – Promote Fair Housing Accomplishments
- Compile information on successful efforts of the association – and parent associations – to improve Fair Housing, Equity and Inclusion in the community
- Report success of member participation in Fairhaven Course
- Report success of member participation in C2EX Course
- Report success of member ethics course engagement
- Report success of member efforts in association Fair Housing events
NAR’s Diversity and Inclusion Commitment Statement
The National Association of REALTORS® represents more than 1.5 million REALTORS® in diverse communities across the country. NAR staff fosters a culture where diversity and inclusion are integrated into each of our five core values. Through inclusive collaboration and mutual respect for our colleagues, we focus on the principles that matter to the organization and drive how we engage each other to reach our common goals. We fully embrace perspectives from all walks of life—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, socioeconomic status, political affiliation or any other qualities by which we may define ourselves. We commit to bringing out the best in ourselves, uncovering our hidden talents, and celebrating differences in our day-to-day interactions. These beliefs are essential as we serve our members who help fulfill the dream of home and property ownership in America. https://www.nar.realtor/diversity#statement
commitees & Chairs
HDAOR REALTOR & Affiliate members may be able to serve on some committees. Please contact a committee chair person below to get details on the days and times of each committee.
HDAOR Committees & Chairs
Past Presidents Committee
Fidel Carranza- Strategic Planning Committee Chair
Bylaws Committee
Michele Davies – Bylaws Committee Chair
Finance Committee
Cecil Volsch- Finance Committee Chair
Fair Housing and Diversity Committee
Wendy A. Ramey – Fair Housing and Diversity Committee Chair
Professional Standards Committee
Jeffrey Longshore – Professional Standards Committee Chair
Government Relations Committee
Donald Brown- Government Relations Chairman
Grievance Committee
Mathilde Kirkland – Grievance Committee Chair
Special Affairs Committee
Cameron Greene – Special Affairs Committee Chair
Strategic Planning Committee
Young Professionals Network (Y.P.N.) Committee
Johnna Griffin – YPN Committee Co-Chair
Andrea N. Bergin – YPN Committee Co-Chair
want to know more??
Contact us!
call us at 760.244.8841 or email valerie@hdaor.com