www.HartfordBusiness.com • December 4, 2017 • Hartford Business Journal 3
Newsmakers
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Holly Callanan
Incoming CEO, Greater Hartford Association of Realtors
By John Stearns
jstearns@HartfordBusiness.com
You won't see Holly Callanan showing houses, but she
will be representing a lot of people who do when she
takes over Dec. 11 as the new CEO of the Greater Hartford
Association of Realtors (GHAR).
GHAR has 614 Realtor offices
and 4,100 members. You could say
Callanan has upsized her work
home, a challenge she readied for
during a four-year stint as CEO of
the Ridgefield Board of Realtors,
which has 300 Realtor members,
40 affiliate members and 20 mem
-
ber offices, all based in Ridgefield.
Callanan has always been
interested in the industry — her first job was in mortgage
lending — but in real estate, she has worked on the as-
sociation management side. Callanan, who holds a Realtor
Certified Executive (RCE) designation, said she has focused
on serving members and creating programs and educa-
tion to benefit Realtors. Among her roles, she'll work with
members and volunteer leaders and be responsible for all
GHAR programs and services, and she plans to create rela-
tionships with community leaders to help create positive
change for communities in Greater Hartford.
What's the biggest challenge you face in your new job?
Getting elected officials to recognize the power of the
Realtor, helping them understand we represent home-
owners, small-business owners and many individuals
related to the real estate industry. We are the voice of
real estate and work hard to protect the industry and
the rights of homeowners in Connecticut.
What's the biggest opportunity you face in your new job?
Helping our members understand the importance of
their role in the community. Realtors can be an influ-
ential group and they need to know that they have the
power to effect change in this state.
What's your take on the health of the Greater Hartford
residential real estate market?
It depends on the town. Towns have characteristics
that drive the market. Consumers are looking for spe-
cific traits, they are more picky. They want things like
a walkable downtown or 2-acre zoning. Some towns fit
that bill, some don't. I think the Greater Hartford mar-
ket is strong and diverse enough to please every buyer.
How would you describe the competitive landscape among
Realtors or real estate agencies in Greater Hartford?
Competition is healthy. It makes individuals strive to
be their best. If my members are competing with each
other in these tough times, it means the consumer wins.
Tell us something about you many people don't know.
I was a small-business owner from 2004 to 2014. I
built Sycamore Stationers, a home-based stationery
business in Ridgefield, from the ground up. I produced
stationery and invitations for individual and corporate
customers who wanted specialized attention to detail. It
made me realize the value of customer service.
Lembo sounds off
"This contract dispute was not
a battle between good and evil, or
David and Goliath. It was a fight
between two large and powerful
corporations that showed little
regard for patients who were
caught in the middle and merely
used as cannon fodder."
State Comptroller Kevin Lembo quoted during a
recent public hearing held in response to the Hartford
HealthCare-Anthem contract dispute that affected
tens of thousands of patients before a deal was
hatched in mid-November.
No third term for AG Jepsen
"While my love for the work
of this office is undiminished,
I am ready to pursue different
challenges. I do so knowing that
the men and women of the Office of
the Attorney General will continue
to serve and protect our state and
its residents with distinction."
Attorney General George Jepsen announcing that he
will not seek a third term as the state's top attorney.
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