Team 2010 candidates & officers-elect voice goals

Steve Goddard
Candidate for President

I would be honored to serve as our Association’s 2010 President.
As your President-elect, I have travelled the length and breadth of this state to learn what you, my fellow members, require to become more successful, professional, and cutting-edge in your business. I have developed wonderful relationships and learned so much about our very diverse state. The quote that I live by is that of my great-great-uncle, Robert H. Goddard, the Father of Modern Rocketry: “It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.”

He was a man of great vision, a practical experimenter, and the first to demonstrate that the liquid-fuel rocket was not only possible, but a viable means of achieving extreme altitudes.

But there are limits to what one person, no matter how inspired or creative, can do. Any difficult project—like the development of a high-altitude rocket—is greatly enhanced by the combined efforts of many bright minds. As I’ve traveled across the state, I have met members who are bright and forward thinking, and possess vast experience. As President, I plan to further encourage collaboration between the Leadership Team and members.

I am passionate about the issues our industry faces, and I believe that by working together our Leadership Team can keep C.A.R. relevant in today’s times, while delivering value to individual REALTORS® as they strive to succeed in the day-to-day business of selling property. My goal as 2010 President is to nurture the C.A.R. membership in its legislative, educational, and technological efforts. My vision is three-fold:

First, I believe that C.A.R. will be challenged like never before in keeping the REALTOR® in the center of the transaction. We must reach out to the public at large to increase awareness of how and why REALTORS® are key to helping people make the best choices in what is generally the most significant transaction of their lives.

Second, we must continually focus on enhancing our professionalism. I believe strongly that REALTORS® must better educate themselves, thus raising the level of professionalism of the industry overall. That’s why I have achieved 11 professional designations.

Third, the Leadership Team and I will promote legislation that protects private property rights. Toward that end, I hope to work with the REALTOR® Action Fund to boost political fundraising, because in this difficult economic time, it is more important than ever to invest $197—the true cost of doing business—to protect private property rights throughout California. I fervently believe in private property owner’s rights and will work closely with C.A.R.’s Sacramento lobbying groups to preserve and protect those rights; as well as address housing affordability at both the state and local association levels.

I am well prepared, committed, and passionate about leading C.A.R. in 2010. Just as my great-great-uncle was able to see the future, I see the future of California real estate, and the sky is the limit.

Steve Goddard, ABR, CIPS, CLHMS, NCP, CRP, E-Pro, GRI, LTG, PMN, SRES, QSC, is a broker and manager for RE/MAX Marquee Partners, Manhattan Beach. As an Army Company Commander in Vietnam, he earned the Bronze Star. He began selling real estate 35 years ago, specializing in residential real estate, residential income properties, commercial buildings, and leasing. He also is a developer and a licensed general contractor. During the past 25 years, he has been consistently ranked among the top 10 agents in his company’s group of 400 agents. For a detailed list of Goddard’s leadership activities, please visit www.stevegoddard.com.


Beth L. Peerce
Candidate for President-elect

I want to first thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Treasurer for 2008 and 2009. It has been a truly wonderful experience. I’ve been fortunate to have served as Chair of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee and on the Leadership Team with 2008 President Bill Brown, 2009 President Jim Liptak, President-elect Steve Goddard, and Executive Vice President Joel Singer. I could not have asked for a brighter, more caring group of officers to work with.

I am now asking for you to elect me your President-elect for 2010 and allow me to serve as 2011 President. I believe that my leadership experience at C.A.R. and the National Association of Realtors®, and at my local Southland Regional Association of Realtors®, has qualified me for these special positions. But experience alone—more than 35 years as a broker—is not enough. I also have an unshakeable belief in organized real estate and a desire to see that C.A.R. remains an organization that is “of the members, by the members, and for the members” (to paraphrase Mr. Lincoln!). This is not an idle election statement. As many of you have, I’ve worked through a number of “down” cycles in the real estate market, and feel very strongly that this is the time for C.A.R. and our local associations to use this opportunity to be there in the trenches with our members and to do everything in our power to help our fellow members through these difficult times. The office of President-elect is a very important one in our organization. Not only would I be able to continue to serve as an active member of your Leadership Team with Steve Goddard, Joel Singer, and your newly elected Treasurer, but I also would be there as the 2010 president’s “right hand” to fill in whenever and wherever he needed me to do so.

Having served in 2008 at NAR both as Chair of the Conventional Lending Committee and as a member of past president Vince Malta’s Lending Task Force, I’ve been fortunate to have had input into NAR’s recommendations of future federal lending policies for our government.

Currently, I’m a member of the Supervisory Committee of NAR’s Realtor® Credit Union, which will begin operations in May. And this year, I also have been asked to serve as a member of the NAR Executive Committee. I believe that these NAR appointments help to bring C.A.R.’s needs and viewpoints to the national level.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions or suggestions you might have as to how we can together make C.A.R. even better than the organization currently is. I can always be reached at bethp@car.org and welcome your comments and ideas.

By now, you are probably aware that I always close my articles and talks with my favorite quote: “As long as you don’t care who gets the credit, you can accomplish a great deal!”

Beth L. Peerce has been an active C.A.R. Director since 1982 and served as chair or vice chair of numerous C.A.R. committees. She is an Honorary Director for Life for C.A.R. and was selected Realtor® of the Year by her local Southland Regional Association of RealtorS®. She is the broker-owner of Prime Time Properties in Studio City. Currently, as Treasurer, Peerce serves as Chair of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee and is a member of the Leadership Team.


John Cribb
Candidate for Treasurer

Never before has there been a more challenging time in the history of real estate and our organization. While we are faced with significant challenges, I believe this is our opportunity to regroup, to grow, to lead our industry, and to soar to new heights.

I’ve been involved with C.A.R. for more than 18 of the 21 years I have been a REALTOR®. I have grown to know and appreciate who we are as an association and what we do. C.A.R. is member-focused and member-involved; it’s an organization with financial strength and vision because it’s a direct reflection of you, the members. As we work through the current challenging market, it’s more important than ever that C.A.R. focus on the needs of its members and deliver the quality service we want.

As Treasurer, I will be responsible for C.A.R.’s Strategic Planning and Finance Committee and its objectives. Strength in these areas has been vital in our past, and will be the key to our current and continued success as a trade organization. This is why I want to serve you as C.A.R. Treasurer in 2010.

You can learn more about my business, accomplishments, experience, and goals by visiting my Web site (www.LeadershipCounts.net). I am most proud of my work as Chair of the Insurance Availability Task Force.

I’ve also developed and managed our legislative agenda and determined the strategy to use our political funds to move our legislative agenda forward and achieved solid results for REALTORS®.

These results came from working with the lending industry on credit scoring legislation, a government agency to achieve CalVet reforms, the California Legislature on tenancy notice, and the regulators and business leaders of the insurance industry to diffuse the insurance crisis we experienced.

C.A.R. is a great organization, but in order to remain outstanding and effective, growth and change must be a part of our plan. As REALTORS®, we are clearly going to come through this current market as changed people and I expect no less of C.A.R.

C.A.R.’s strength lies in its members, but C.A.R. must have officers with solid backgrounds in varied aspects of our organization with a demonstrated ability to communicate, bring people together, and lead. I am that REALTOR®. As your Treasurer, I will manage our Strategic Planning and Finance programs so that we move through our current market, rising above and beyond it, to new levels of excellence; ensure that our Association remains member-involved, member-focused, and forward-looking; and be an active and integral part of the Leadership Team to advance your programs and interests. As your Treasurer, I will continue working on your behalf to achieve positive results for you. Now, more than ever, experienced and proven Leadership Counts, and our members deserve nothing less.

John Cribb earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Denver, has owned two real estate companies, and has served as his region’s representative to the C.A.R. Strategic Planning and Finance Committee. He has served as treasurer of a homeowner’s association, a marketing firm, and a non-profit organization.

In addition, he has chaired key Public Policy committees (Legislative, Federal Issues, Real Estate Finance, and Government Mortgage), as well as Association Presidents Leadership Forum and Political Affairs. He also has served as a Committee Liaison, on the Executive Committee, IMPAC, and CREPAC.


Don Faught
Candidate for Treasurer

The next few years will bring many changes. Some may challenge us personally and professionally, but each one will give us the opportunity to learn and prosper. For the California Association of REALTORS®, our success will depend on our ability to understand what our members need in these changing times. I’m optimistic we can accomplish this as long as we continue to listen to our members and act on their concerns. It’s what I have spent more than 20 years doing as an agent, a broker, and an association leader, and it’s the reason I am running for the office of Treasurer.

The role of the Treasurer goes beyond ensuring the financial stability of the Association through prudent oversight of a budget in excess of $29 million annually. As Chair of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee, the Treasurer is also responsible for the development of the vision and strategies that guide the Association’s future. Having served on the Committee for the past two years, most recently as the 2008 Vice Chair, I am confident we can achieve this goal. As long as we continue to listen to and understand what agents and brokers need in an ever-changing environment, C.A.R. will remain the industry leader.

Since 1987, I have worked and participated in all facets of the real estate industry. I was an active agent. I served on numerous committees at my local association, including Investment Policy, Budget and Finance, and Strategic Planning. I am the managing broker of two real estate offices in the San Francisco East Bay. I have been successful in all of these roles because I listen to what people need and I translate it into tangible results. As C.A.R. Treasurer, I will do the same because I believe “Members Count.” This philosophy is more than a slogan, it represents my leadership style. I have already spoken personally to more than 1,000 C.A.R. members in the past few months, and I look forward to speaking to many more of you and hearing your concerns and ideas.

You count, and we all count on each other for support, advice, and guidance. I am counting on you for your support to be your Treasurer in 2010.

Back to School Awards

C.A.R. Education Foundation will announce the first round of awards being offered to deserving students and REALTORS® at the 2009 June Business Meetings in Sacramento. The deadline to submit your application to the C.A.R. Education Foundation for consideration is May 1, 2009. The C.A.R. Education Foundation was established in 2005 with the purpose of providing real estate and education-related scholarships, awards, and grants. Visit www.car.org/aboutus/carscholarships/careducation for more info.