Meet the Future at Realcomm's Vision Quest

Just the Facts, Ma'm... My first Realcomm panel is titled "Vision Quest: What's Next for Brokerage Automation?" (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., June 27)

According to Wikipedia, vision quest is "a journey alone into the wilderness seeking personal growth and spiritual guidance," normally involving fasting and isolation for several days. It's a Native American rite of passage. Oops.

But relax! I'll make the experience enjoyable. In fact, you'll have fun at all the morning panels in the "21st Century Brokerage" track. As the moderator, I guarantee it.

We'll begin with three panelists: Jacklene Chesler, Senior Vice President, Coldwell Banker Commercial; David Frosh, President of Sperry Van Ness; and James Marrelli, VP Commercial Real Estate Division at the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

This panel will discuss critical issues confronting leaders of all real estate firms: How will technological change impact real estate professionals? How "paperless" can we get? How fast will we transact real estate in the future?

Of course, people matter too! So the companion questions are equally important: What do clients want? Who will pay for new stuff? How can we promote adoption?

Our second related panel is "Automating Brokerage Operations: The Future is Here" with five members: Greg Ausley, President of REApplications, Deedee Hildebrand, Corporate Services Group, Grubb & Ellis Company; Mary Kendall, Attorney, Senior Implementation Manager at AccuDraft, Inc.; Harbinder Khera, CEO of MindMatrix, Inc.; and Steven Sutherland, Chief Information Officer at CB Richard Ellis.

Here we'll focus on the different brokerage office operations -- accounting, budgeting, forecasting, pipeline and sign management, marketing schedules, and commission management. How are they evolving into automated business processes? Hope to see you there. And if you're in the audience, please say hello.

Realcomm Discount... Save $70 off Realcomm's General Registration fee of $695. Register with the PikeNet code. Here's how: Go to Realcomm, click the Conference tab and then the "Register Now" button. Click the "Promo" button and enter RC06PIKE1 (that's "zero six"). Questions? Call Janice Young at 760-736-2627. Thanks!

-- Peter Pike