CHICAGO (November 18, 2020) – The 2020 IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management) Annual Governance Meetings concluded on Wednesday, October 14, with a Governing Council meeting that installed the 2021 IREM Leadership Team. Chip Watts, CPM®, CCIM from Birmingham, Alabama, assumed the role of IREM president.
Watts is the president of Watts Realty Co., Inc, AMO® in Birmingham, Alabama, a position he’s held since 2006. During his tenure, he received the AMO accreditation on behalf of the company. Watts comes from a long line of real estate industry professionals; he’s a fourth-generation REALTOR, third-generation CPM, and second-generation CCIM.
Watts served as the 2008 president of the IREM Alabama Chapter, 2009 president of the CCIM Institute Alabama Chapter, and served a two-year term as a regional vice president for IREM. He’s chaired the IREM Chapter Leadership Forum, the AMO Taskforce, and is a long-serving member of the IREM Governing Council.
Watts has also been active with the Birmingham Association of REALTORS®, having earned its “REALTOR of the Year” award in 2008 and serving as president in 2014. He served as a regional vice president with the Alabama Association of REALTORS® representing Jefferson-Shelby-Blount counties in 2015 and was a long-time member of its board of directors and has chaired several committees.
He’s also been active with the National Association of REALTORS®, of which IREM is an affiliate, serving as a national director as well as on several committees, most recently the REALTOR Property Operations Committee (RPOC).
“Being able to serve as IREM president is an honor I take very seriously,” says Watts. “Property management has changed tremendously this past year, and as we go into 2021 it’s important for us to remain focused on supporting real estate managers into the future. We’re excited for what we’re going to be able to accomplish together this next year.”
Installed along with Watts are 2021 President-Elect Barry Blanton, CPM®, Chief Problem Solver at Blanton Turner, AMO®, in Seattle, Washington, and 2021 Secretary/Treasurer Renee Savage, CPM®, CCIM, president of Casavida, AMO®, in San Diego, California.
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For over 85 years, our members have made us the world’s strongest voice for all things real estate management. Almost 20,000 leaders in commercial and residential management call this home for education, support and networking. Our CPM®, ARM®, ACoM, and AMO® credentials are internationally recognized symbols of ethical leadership and a well-managed property. And our tools deliver decades of on-the-job know-how to help members get even better at what they do. Put simply – IREM and its members are here to elevate the profession. If you know real estate management, come get to know us. irem.org