President's message: Caprio named RICABOR's CEO

The Rhode Island Commercial and Appraisal Board of Realtors (RICABOR) has hired a new chief executive officer. As of April 1, Michele Caprio, RCE will be taking on the role of managing the board which services Commercial Brokers and Appraisal practitioners. Caprio will also continue to manage the Greater Providence Board of Realtors in her capacity as CEO. RICABOR was recognized by the National Association of Realtors as an accredited local board in October 2008. Serving our members, who have very distinct and specific needs, requires the experience and knowledge of our industry that Michele demonstrates. Before her role as a Realtor Association executive, Michele worked as a real estate broker and real estate appraiser as she rose through the ranks of leadership to become president of the RI Association of Realtors in 2006. She understands our vision and where we want to be as a board. Caprio also served as a director of the National Association of Realtors in 2005 and 2006. RICABOR will be located at 365 Eddy St. Working in cooperation with the Greater Providence Board of Realtors the RICABOR business model is one of shared services where costs for specific association services are shared between the two different Realtor associations. "We are pleased to work with our colleagues at RICABOR to provide full-board services", said Sussy DeLeon, president of the Greater Providence Board of Realtors. "Cooperation between our two local boards will offer our combined membership superior features - it is really a win-win." My colleagues at RICABOR reviewed several options for a shared services agreement, "In the end, the Providence location and services offered really fit with our goals for this year and beyond. I am very satisfied that our members will be getting high quality service and resources - such as educational programming, networking events and a solid leadership platform. We strive for excellence in our respective fields and we want to enhance our member's abilities to conduct their business in this environment. In addition to the management changes, the Realtors Commercial Alliance (RCA) will be a new feature available for commercial brokers and their sales staff through the State-Wide Multiple Listing Service in Rhode Island. I am excited about introducing this service to our members and their clients. The Realtors Commercial Alliance will give our commercial property listing, both for sale and lease, exposure on a national scale at CommercialSource.com. CommercialSource.com is the National Association of Realtors consumer portal for the commercial real estate industry. CommercialSource.com will be automatically populated with listings of RICABOR Members, efficiently and effectively incorporating these properties into a simple, searchable platform with national scope. Michael Alves is the president of the Rhode Island Commercial and Appraisal Board of Realtors, Providence and is owner/president of Elite Commercial, Providence.