The 2024 NAEBA Elections begin October 15 at 5pm Eastern Time and closes October 22 at 5pm Eastern Time. Eligible voters will be sent their voting link on October 15. The information below will help voters understand the process. Information supplied by the individual candidate is included with the ballot and previewed on this page. Thank you for your participation in this election! |
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President-Elect, Ben Clark: Brief Bio - Benjamin Clark is the President and Owner of Homebuyer Representation, Inc., an Exclusive Buyer Brokerage in Salt Lake City dedicated to providing homebuyers with the highest level of representation when they buy a home. A respected industry leader and author, Ben has spent almost three decades working to level the playing field for buyers in the real estate market. His passion for representation was sparked early in his career when he noticed that buyers rarely received the same level of representation as sellers. In 2001, Ben founded Homebuyer Representation, Inc. and committed to ensuring that his buyer-clients would receive the best possible representation in every transaction. Ben's expertise in exclusive buyer representation has earned him local and national recognition. He has authored almost 600 blog posts and has been featured in major publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, CNN Money, Bankrate.com, and the Washington Examiner. Ben’s approach centers on client empowerment through education, ensuring his clients stay informed and in control throughout the buying process. A skilled negotiator, his favorite part of the real estate process is securing a great deal for his clients, often far exceeding their expectations. He believes that his higher level of service justifies a premium price, and his clients agree, recognizing the value he brings to their home search and purchase. Ben remains committed to his vision of making Exclusive Buyer Agency (EBA) widely known, clearly understood, and the only obvious choice for smart homebuyers. He believes that buyers deserve full, uncompromised representation, and he has dedicated his career to promoting the EBA model as the gold standard for real estate buyers. As a former President of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA), Ben has been instrumental in shaping the future of the EBA model, advocating for its benefits in the media, among consumers, with governing bodies and regulators, and within the real estate community. He is a firm believer in empowering other EBAs through education, training, mentorship, and community. Ben also understands the challenges that EBA professionals face, particularly during difficult markets and as the industry makes changes that may harm buyers and Exclusive Buyer Agents. He looks for opportunities to advocate for fair treatment for buyers, stronger recognition of the EBA model, increased lead generation for NAEBA members, and additional access to tools and skills that can make the difference between success or failure for practicing EBA Brokerages. His vision includes strengthening the NAEBA network, fostering collaboration among members and the association, and promoting educational opportunities to ensure that EBA agents are equipped with top-level skills and are aware of the latest changes in the industry so they can adapt, grow, and thrive. Ben is strongly focused on creating more public awareness around the tremendous advantages a buyer receives when hiring an EBA and encouraging homebuyers to seek out NAEBA members who are committed to representing the buyer's best interests exclusively. He hopes to build a larger, more connected community of Exclusive Buyer Agents, ensuring that more buyers across the country have access to the gold standard in buyer representation. Ben is known for his ability to collaborate with a wide range of personalities and to bring together those with conflicting visions and ideas. He has served in various leadership roles at NAEBA in the past, including as President, Secretary, and Regional Director, and he has participated in, and chaired, multiple committees within the organization. Certifications/Designations:
| Margaret Lebenson Brief Bio - I began my career as an Exclusive Buyer Agent with Gea Elika at Elika Associates in New York City in 2016. I live in Brooklyn New York and assist buyers in all five boroughs of New York City. Gea's involvement with NAEBA was formative in my training and help me to understand the larger national mission of representing buyers. I enjoyed participating in the annual NAEBA conferences and volunteered for the committee to plan the 2019 Conferences. I subsequently became involved on the CEBA Committee and headed the committee which launched the online product this year. Secretary Job Description: Service Term is two years. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors and the general membership; see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; be custodian of the corporate records and in general perform all duties incident to the office of the Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Board of Directors. Any of the Secretary’s duties, except records oversight, may be delegated to appropriate professionals or to his or her designee by the Board of Directors. President-Elect Job Description: Service Term is one year followed by two years as President and one year as Immediate Past president. The President-Elect shall automatically become President of the Organization and the President shall automatically become the Immediate Past President at the beginning of the calendar year. The position is a voting member of the Board. The President shall be the chief elected officer of the Organization, shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall be a member, ex-officio, of all committees and councils. The President shall also, at the annual meeting of the Organization, and at such other times as deemed proper, communicate to the Organization or to the Board of Directors, such matters and make such suggestions as may tend to promote the welfare and increase the usefulness of the Organization, and shall perform such other duties as are necessarily incident to the office of President or as may be specified by the Board of Directors. |
Composition and Term of the Board: The Board shall consist of not less than four (4) elected Directors and not more than eight (8) elected Directors, each serving a single term of two years. Directors shall be eligible to continue upon the completion of one term and may serve no more than three consecutive terms, if elected. Following the service of three consecutive terms, members will be eligible for election to the Board after the passage of one (1) year. A Director elected to the position of President-Elect, Secretary or Treasurer may serve beyond the three (3) consecutive terms stated above to complete the duties of his or her office, including serving in the position of President and Immediate-Past President. In addition to the elected Directors, the officers of the association shall be president, secretary and treasurer. In addition, there shall also be either a president-elect or immediate past president serving in alternating years dependent upon the presidential term. Board Member Responsibilities:
| Voting Guidelines: Only Exclusive Buyer Agent Brokers may vote. EBA Brokers in good standing will be sent an individual and secure ballot link in October to vote for the directors and officers who will serve beginning January 1 in the following year. Voting is anonymous with the secure link sent to eligible voters and provided by a third-party election platform. Officers The officers of the Organization shall be President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President and such other officers as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. Open positions of President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by the voting members of the Organization during the regular election in October to fill the office in the following year. The President-Elect shall automatically become President of the Organization and the President shall automatically become the Immediate Past President at the beginning of the calendar year. A. Officers shall be elected annually each October; the exact date or dates to be determined each year by the Board of Directors. B. The term for officers shall begin January 1 following the elections. C. Secretary and treasurer shall serve 2-year terms, limited to two (2) consecutive terms. D. The president shall serve a 2-year term, limited to one (1) term in any five-year period, except in the case of a vacancy. E. The immediate past president and president-elect shall serve 1-year terms alternately based on the term of the president. The immediate past president shall serve the first year of the president's term and the president-elect shall serve during the second year of the president's term. These positions shall not serve concurrently. F. No individual may hold more than one board position at a time. G. The President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer, at the time of his or her election or appointment must be a current or past member of the Board of Directors. Term of Office – Each officer shall take office at the beginning of the calendar year following election or selection at the time specified in these Bylaws or at such time designated by the Board of Directors. Officers shall serve for a term of at least one (1) year and no more than two (2) years, or until a successor is duly elected or appointed. |