By Beth McGuire
Pam O’Connor Builds a Network, Influences an Industry, and Impacts Lives
Editor’s note: A PDF file version of this article is available here. A digital magazine version of this article is available here, or by clicking on the magazine cover below.
Everyone knows real estate is a “relationship business,” but unfortunately, the phrase is overused and often unsubstantiated. Talk to people who have known Pam O’Connor over the course of her 30-plus years in the real estate and relocation business, however, and they will tell you that she brings the meaning of relationship to a whole new level. When it comes to caring, O’Connor is the real deal.
“They say that what makes a leader special is their ability to show that they really care,” says John Reinhardt, president and CEO of Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Fillmore Real Estate. “I have to tell you, Pam really cares. There were times in my life when I knew I needed a Pam fix—some straightforward guidance, support and direction. It was likes Mom’s chicken soup…you always seemed to feel better.”
As she prepares to retire from her post as president and CEO of Chicago-based Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) on March 31, O’Connor’s professional and personal commitment to the network’s more than 550 global member firms, along with her colleagues at LeadingRE, will be sorely missed and never forgotten. But for O’Connor, it’s all part of her master plan.
“I’ve worked for some time to put the right people in place,” O’Connor explains. “They’re clicking on all cylinders, the company is operating very successfully, and it’s time to pass the baton. LeadingRE has been very, very good to me. I wanted to leave it in a good place, and I believe I’m doing just that.”
That baton will be passed to Paul Boomsma, the successor to the president and CEO role, who has worked closely with O’Connor since 2005 when he came on board for the launch of Luxury Portfolio International®.
“After working for Pam for 13 years, I do feel that I’m now suited to carry on the path that she began,” says Boomsma. “It’s not an easy job; however, she’s worked hard to put a great team in place and started planning for succession a number of years ago. As she said, ‘It is part of the job to prepare for the future.’ We are very excited to celebrate her career and the role she played in making LeadingRE what it has become today.”
And over the years, Boomsma has been afforded a birds-eye view of O’Connor’s expertise as a leader and mentor. “Pam is the master of maintaining relationships and is a wealth of knowledge on all matters of the industry,” he explains. “She is a consummate diplomat, a fantastic communicator and writer, and always goes out of her way to help our members succeed. She has a heart that extends from business to the lives and families of our members, and I think her ‘Culture of Caring and Giving’ is consistent throughout …read more
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