FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anne Cicero
Office: 800-403-0101, ext. 130
E-mail: annecicero@morealtor.com
May 31, 2011
Russ Cofano appointed chief executive officer of Missouri Association of REALTORS®
(COLUMBIA, MO.) Russ Cofano was appointed CEO of the Missouri Association of REALTORS® by Association President Joyce Thomas May 31, 2011. Cofano, a native of Washington state, will begin his official duties June 15.
Cofano has 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, including work as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for one of the largest real estate brokerage companies in the nation, and CEO of a real estate technology start-up company. As legal counsel and consultant to the Washington Association of REALTORS®, Cofano developed and managed the association’s legal hotline and was instrumental in the passage of significant legislation, including Washington’s real estate agency and property laws.
An active educator, Cofano has instructed more than 5,000 REALTORS® in his career on a variety of legal and business issues, earning the Washington REALTORS® Instructor of the Year award. He also has been a featured speaker on intellectual property and technology-related issues at numerous real estate industry events, such as Inman Connect.
As CEO of Missouri’s largest trade organization, he will provide strategic leadership to the communications, member services, education, legislative, legal and professional standards functions of the association.
“Russ will bring an abundance of experience to the association. He has a proven track record as a strong advocate for REALTOR® issues and a tech-savvy, visionary leader,” said Thomas.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration/finance and a J.D. from the University of Washington. Cofano serves as vice chair of the board of trustees for Eastside Catholic High School and is a high school Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) girls basketball coach. He also is a recipient of The Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” award.
“The Missouri Association of REALTORS® has a rich history, and I look forward to myriad opportunities to engage with its membership and foster greater awareness of the association’s value, both to its members and to the citizens of Missouri, whom it also serves,” said Cofano.
Founded in 1936, the Missouri Association of REALTORS® has more than 19,000 members across the state.
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