During the Fall Business Meetings in Lombard, the Illinois REALTORS® Board of Directors will vote on six nominees, including the principal and managing broker for Ware Realty Group of Chicago Sarah Ware.

“This is the second year I applied,” said Ware, whose business includes two offices. “I just wanted to make sure all voices are heard no matter what part of the state members are from. In addition to helping the underserved community as a residential broker, I can speak from the perspective of a female, an African-American and a commercial broker.”

Licensed since 1997, Ware started in commercial real estate but moved to residential sales in 2004. She’s always on the lookout for training and for programs that can help her better serve her clients, who sometimes feel intimidated by the complexity of real estate and financing. She works on neighborhood projects and gathers information from market studies.

“I do a lot of hand-holding with my customers,” she said.

Along the way, Ware realized the importance of educating elected officials about the unintended consequences of ill-conceived legislation and the importance of private property rights. That’s led to committee work for the Chicago Association of REALTORS® (CAR), the Illinois REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

Ware is the vice chair of the NAR Housing Opportunity Committee, a member of the NAR Board of Directors, the Diversity Committee, the Public Policy Coordinating Committee and the Smart Growth Advisory Board. She is the Illinois REALTORS® state legislative contact for state Rep. Juliana Stratton of Chicago and Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. Ware has served on many state committees and working groups, including chair of the 2016 Housing Opportunity Working Group and 2018 chair of the Leadership Development Working Group. She is a member of the CAR Board of Directors.

“I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to serve,” said Ware. “I’m excited to see how the state board operates. I’m encouraged by the possibilities.”

In addition to Ware, other nominees for the 2019 Board of Directors include: Tommy Choi, Maurice Hampton, Nykea Pippion McGriff, Zeke Morris and Karen Robertson.