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SAM Client Testimonials
Featured Testimonial
Featured Testimonial
Thanks to Carole and Kelsi, we have made some great hires, revamped our compensation program, developed career paths, and implemented an entirely new performance management system.”
“Carole and Kelsi are an integral part of our team and a reliable and constant source of up-to-date knowledge. They are our “go to” for all HR questions and concerns, especially during these new times. Thanks to Carole and Kelsi, we have made some great hires, revamped our compensation program, developed career paths, and implemented an entirely new performance management system.”
Submitted by:
Michelle Mills-Clement, CEO, Chicago Association of REALTORS®
Chicago, IL
Client Testimonials
I have used NAR's Strategic Association Management consultants for a variety of things over the past few years and have been incredibly delighted with the value of the services provided and the professionalism of everyone there."
"I have used NAR's Strategic Association Management consultants for a variety of things over the past few years and have been incredibly delighted with the value of the services provided and the professionalism of everyone there. I've had an HR Audit completed, our entire staff's compensation analyzed, and most recently obtained HR consulting services regarding an urgent employee matter that was quickly resolved. I would highly recommend this service to any chief staff executive at local and state associations!”
Submitted by:
Anne Rendle, CEO, CORE Association of REALTORS®
Trenton and Branchburg, NJ
Membership: 4,181
SAM does great work and I highly recommend them for a variety of management needs!”
At my former Association I brought Carole Kaptur from SAM in for a thorough staff audit. Carole did an amazing job identifying the strengths and weaknesses of our staff, and made suggestions on how to improve. Kelsi has been great to work with in the quest to hire team members at two Associations I’ve managed. SAM does great work and I highly recommend them for a variety of management needs!”
Submitted by:
Rob Wigton, CEO, Gallatin Association of REALTORS®
Bozeman, Montana
Membership: 1,200
Kudos to NAR for providing these services."
"Kudos to NAR for providing these services. The compensation analysis helped with recruiting and budgeting. The staff audit Carole prepared gave me lots of food for thought from an internal strategic planning perspective. The staff searches (two) Kelsi worked on attracted qualified candidates, and I especially appreciated how thorough the process was and the help they offered with final interview questions, etc. I continue to highly recommend the SAM team.”
Submitted by:
Chuck Kasky, CEO, Maryland REALTORS®
Annapolis, MD
Membership: 27,000
Kelsi Dunn is always helpful, efficient, and a pleasure to work with. NAR's compensation analysis provided good information from a local and national level. Mahalo, Kelsi!”
"Kelsi Dunn is always professional, courteous and efficient. She knows what I need and she gets the job done in a timely manner! Thank you, Kelsi!”
Both submitted by:
Sharon Baba, Chief Operating Officer, Honolulu Board of REALTORS®
Honolulu, HI
Membership: 6,575/6,680
NAR's Strategic Association Management group, and Carole Kaptur in particular, was wonderful to work with."
"NAR's Strategic Association Management group, and Carole Kaptur in particular, was wonderful to work with. She gave our Executive Committee accurate information regarding compensation, and she truly had our strategic planning committee thinking and moving in a forward direction when deciding where and how they wanted to see our organization thrive. It was two well-spent days!”
Submitted by:
Lisa Yelichek, Chief Executive Officer,Stark Trumbull Area REALTORS®
North Canton, Ohio
Membership 1,500
[Carole] makes strategic planning fun and exciting, which is a true gift.”
When I was the AE of REALTORS® Association of Maui, Carole Kaptur came out and led our strategic planning session. She was a great facilitator who helped us analyze our current services and offerings, decide what we wanted to be in the future, and put together a plan that would help us develop and grow as an organization. I have already hired Carole to lead my new organization through the strategic planning process. She makes strategic planning fun and exciting, which is a true gift.”
Submitted by:
David Belew, Executive Officer,Upstate Alliance of REALTORS®
Fort Wayne, IN
Membership 1,650
Working with SAM made the entire process quick and easy.”
"The Strategic Association Management (SAM) team kept us grounded and focused during our search for an Executive Officer. Carole provided knowledge and expertise that we didn’t have. Most importantly, she really listened to what was important to us. Working with SAM made the entire process quick and easy.”
Submitted by:
Marla Johnson, Former Chair, Chief Executive Officer Search Committee,
Maryland Real Estate Group, Inc.
Frederick County (MD) Association of REALTORS®
Membership: 1,200 members
Service used: AE Search
[Carole] did a fantastic job and delivered a comprehensive report within a week. The entire process was very smooth and effective.”
"When we needed an objective third party to help us identify how our association could operate more effectively, we reached out to NAR and a few other organizations for consulting help. We chose NAR’s Strategic Association Management (SAM) program because we knew the team would understand the REALTOR® world. Carole met with everyone on staff to get their perspective and developed recommendations to help us understand how we could improve as a team. She did a fantastic job and delivered a comprehensive report within a week. The entire process was very smooth and effective.”
Submitted by:
Tyrone Adams, CAE, RCE, President/CEO, Colorado Association of
REALTORS®
Membership: 25,800 members
Service used: Staff Audit
We are thrilled with our choice and extremely grateful for Carole’s services.”
"Our Association was given the task of hiring a new CEO for our very large board. We interviewed consultants and agreed on hiring Carole Kaptur for our search. Carole helped us continually through the whole process with professionalism, experience, knowledge, and guidance. We were able to reach Carole at all different times of day. Due to our distance and the ongoing pandemic, we appreciated her availability. We are so lucky to have hired a phenomenal CEO who joined our association only 28 days ago. We are thrilled with our choice and extremely grateful for Carole’s services.”
Submitted by:
Wendy Smith, President, Monmouth Ocean Regional REALTORS®
Tinton Falls, NJ
Membership: 11,000
"It is an honor to submit this testimonial for Carole Kaptur. I am in my 25th year as a CEO in association industry. Those years have included four very different associations, ranging from a state, regional, national, and now, Harford County Association of REALTORS®. I have experienced countless situations that are unique to the association industry.
NAR is the only association that I have been affiliated with that provides a human resources department to assist the local and state AEs and boards of directors.
“In the first quarter of 2019, the Harford County Association of REALTORS® hired Carole Kaptur to assist them in the search for a new AE. I was interacting with Carole and her team for several months during the interview process, leading to my being hired as the new AE in August of 2019. It was a very positive and professional experience, even if the outcome had been different. Carole is an amazing lady and is a wealth of knowledge, experience, wisdom, and kindness. As AEs, we must navigate minefields almost daily. There have been several occasions over the past year and half that I have reached out to Carole for advice and/or a sounding board to a complex problem. I consider her as an extension to our association. The Strategic Association Management department offers so many services. Carole has a comprehensive understanding of the organization. Whether it is the AEs or boards of directors anywhere, Carole knows the territory and knows the people.”
Submitted by:
Kathy McFadden, CEO, Harford County Association of REALTORS®.
Bel Air, MD
Membership 1,400