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About Us
THE GREATER PROVIDENCE BOARD OF REALTORS®
Established in 1907, we are the oldest and largest REALTOR® Board in Rhode Island and one of 1,700 REALTOR® Boards affiliated with the National Association of REALTORS®, The Voice for Real Estate®. As a professional trade association for real estate agents, we work to promote homeownership and to enable our members to successfully conduct their real estate business with integrity and competence and to promote the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
OUR MISSION
“Our mission is to serve our members by developing and promoting programs and services that enhance their ability to conduct their individual businesses successfully, ethically and professionally. We shall encourage cooperation among members, promote a positive Realtor image within the community and be a proactive advocate for real property rights and homeownership.”
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REAL ESTATE AGENT AND A “REALTOR®”?
Both would be able to practice real estate in the state which has issued the license. However, a REALTOR® is a real estate professional who has elected to join the REALTOR® organization. Individuals would be members in a local REALTOR® Board, the State Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®. This is referred to as the “three-way agreement.” Members receive services and benefits at each level of the REALTOR® organization, including the right to use the REALTOR® logo in connection with their real estate business, the right to call themselves a REALTOR® and would adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. Recognizing the value of a REALTOR® membership, 4,000 of Rhode Island’s 6,000 licensed real estate agents have elected to be members of the REALTOR® Association.
OUR OFFICE
The Board office is located at 365 Eddy Street, 1st Floor in Providence, Rhode Island. For directions to the Board office, click here.
OUR STAFF
Michele Caprio, CEO
Suzanne Silva, CFO
Beth McSherry, Executive Administrator
A BRIEF HISTORY
The Greater Providence Board of REALTORS® was founded in 1907 as the “Providence Real Estate Exchange.” The purpose of this organized group was to promote harmony among its members and to promote the real estate interests of the City of Providence. In 1914 this organization was incorporated by the State of Rhode Island, renamed the Greater Providence Board of REALTORS®, and elected as a Member Board of the National Association of REALTORS®, thereby granting the right to the use of the term REALTOR® and within its territory subject to the conditions set forth in the bylaws.
In 1951 the Greater Providence Board formed the Multiple Listing Service, which later became the Statewide Multiple Listing Service in conjunction with the RI Association of REALTORS®. Throughout the years, the Board created numerous programs and services to meet the needs of its members and developed a national reputation as an award-winning Board in the New England Region. Awards and affordable housing initiatives include:
1989 Greater Providence Board and City of Providence
awarded Community Housing Initiative Award.
1991 Greater Providence Board establishes the “Revolving Land Acquisition Fund” with Stop Wasting Abandoned Property (SWAP).
1992 Greater Providence Board partners with Stop Wasting Abandoned Property (SWAP) and the Local Initiative Support Coalition (LISC) for Princeton Place Cooperative, 13 units of affordable cooperative housing.
1993 United States Conference of Mayors and National Association of REALTORS® select Greater Providence Board and City of Providence for outstanding affordable housing efforts.
1994 Greater Providence Board is awarded The Fannie Mae Foundation’s “Partners in Housing” Award in Washington, D.C.
1995 New England Society of Association Executive awards Greater Providence Board with the Outstanding Achievement Award.
The Board and its membership have devoted countless volunteer hours to community groups and work to organize an annual golf tournament, which has benefited charitable organizations such as the Child Life Program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, the REALTOR® Relief Foundation, Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Recently the Board created the Irving H. Levin Scholarship Fund to enable a Veteran to establish a career in real estate, established the first Statewide Cultural Diversity/Equal Opportunity Committee to increase diversity in the REALTOR® membership, promote fair housing practices and to increase REALTOR® involvement in minority communities, was awarded a National Association of REALTORS’® Diversity Grant to fund an awareness campaign on predatory lending, and in 2008 was selected as the Ambassador Board to the country of Nicaragua.
In 2007, the Greater Providence Board of REALTORS® celebrated 100 years of excellence in serving our members and updated its Strategic Plan to achieve our mission of promoting homeownership, providing programs and services which are of value to our members and to position us as the “Board of Choice” in Rhode Island.
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