Thanks in part to what she’s learned through the Egyptian Board of REALTORS® (EBOR), Teresa Camarato wants to serve on the Illinois REALTORS® 2020 Board of Directors.

She says she truly didn’t appreciate association membership until after she joined the Egyptian Board of REALTORS® in 2006. “It wasn’t until I became involved with the Egyptian Board of REALTORS® and leadership that I learned the difference between a REALTOR® and someone who just sells real estate,” says the managing broker for Property with TLC, LLC. “The Code of Ethics, Professional Standards and the REALTOR® Party Action Committee (RPAC) are such huge tools for us.”

Camarato is one of nine REALTORS® slated to join the board of directors at the Fall Business Meetings, Sept. 17-19 at the Chicago Marriott in Naperville. She is being featured in a series of articles on slated board candidates.

Involvement leads to learning opportunities

She volunteered for numerous EBOR committees, learned the value of advocacy and protecting the rights of local private property owners. She joined the EBOR Board of Directors, became EBOR president in 2016 and its REALTOR® of the Year in 2019. She served as the past chair of the MLS, Professional Standards and Awards committees, and is now chair of the Ed Tech Committee.

She also saw consistency between the state and local associations when she became involved with Illinois REALTORS®. She volunteers for the Professional Standards and the Grievance committees, serves as the State Legislative Contact for state Sen. Dale Fowler of Harrisburg and has been an annual Major Investor in the REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) since 2013.

She gets satisfaction from all these activities and from helping consumers find the right property. “I have always been a person who tries to do their best at everything that I attempt,” she says. “I get a feeling of accomplishment when I have completed something well. I measure my success when I have a client who refers me to all their friends and family. It’s then that I know I’ve done a good job for their particular needs and they feel strongly about it.”

Camarato, who leads five real estate professionals at Property with TLC, used to have a Florida real estate license. She has earned several designations over the course of her career, including Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), e-PRO, GREEN and the Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) certification. Continuing her education has reinforced what she’s learned through REALTOR® associations.

“I was asked at one point in my career if I felt that I was ready to ‘give back,’” says Camarato, who was awarded the Herrin Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2018. “I agreed to volunteer at a higher level, and I have never regretted it. Not only do you help the profession that you love, but you never stop learning new things in a consistently evolving business. Volunteering at the local, state and national association levels is also a great opportunity to develop your leadership skills, which not only help you in your career, but in everyday life.”

(This is the third in the series of stories about slated candidates for the Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors. Read the stories about Chicago REALTOR® Christopher Pezza and Champaign-area REALTOR® Matt Difanis.)