For release:
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
 
LOS ANGELES (Aug. 13)—The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® today announced the appointment of real estate technology entrepreneur Scott Kucirek to lead the development and implementation of a groundbreaking initiative, CALMLS, which encompasses a statewide MLS as well as a property information service.

Kucirek will be responsible for the operational strategy, vendor selection process, implementation of the strategic vision and other top-level managerial functions associated with CALMLS.

"We are really pleased that Scott will be heading this effort to implement the California statewide MLS," said Mike Silvas, CALMLS chairman and co-owner of Morgan Lane Real Estate, a luxury market brokerage based in Napa, Calif. "Scott's impressive accomplishments in our industry, extensive experience in devising and employing innovative technologies, and proven business acumen will serve CALMLS and California REALTORS® well as we develop the CALMLS vision into the MLS of the future."

Kucirek's background combines pertinent experience in technology innovation and implementation, as well as executive management at two major realty companies with operations in multiple states. Most recently, Kucirek was general manager of Prudential California, Nevada and Texas Realty, one of the country's largest brokerage companies. In this position, he was responsible for strategic implementation and day-to-day operations of 47 realty offices with 2,100 real estate agents in Northern California and Nevada. During Kucirek's two-year stint at the helm, these offices closed approximately $8 billion worth of real estate sales and generated roughly $60 million in revenue.

Previously, Kucirek was president and EVP of new market development at ZipRealty, an innovative technology-oriented real estate brokerage company. Kucirek co-founded the Emeryville, Calif.-based company in 1999.

"We are very excited to have Scott on board because he brings exactly the right expertise to lead this forward-thinking project through its implementation stage and beyond," Silvas said. "His experience in the real estate industry underscores our commitment that CALMLS will be designed to improve the working lives of real estate brokers and salespeople through technology that's cutting-edge and cost-effective.

"Scott has a proven track-record of leading large teams of people to achieve superior results. He's demonstrated his ability to identify and expand new markets, streamline complex systems and create more efficient processes in real estate through even better uses of technology best practices."

Kucirek has a well-established reputation in the real estate industry as a visionary thinker and dynamic leader. In 2000, REALTOR® Magazine, official publication of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, named Kucirek one of its "25 Most Influential People in Real Estate."

Kucirek earned a master's degree in business administration (MBA) from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor of science degree in bioengineering, also from UC Berkeley.

"The multiple-listing service is the bedrock of real estate on which so many of the other important services that REALTORS® provide rests," Kucirek said. "California REALTORS®, who sell property in the country's largest and most diverse state, deserve an innovative, reliable and flexible statewide system that will allow them to access the data they need in a timely and efficient way. I'm looking forward to leading CALMLS and to working with C.A.R. management and California's REALTORS® to make the CALMLS vision of a statewide property-centric database a reality."

Kucirek will work with the CALMLS Board and senior C.A.R. staff. The board is comprised of 17 California REALTORS®, who represent different geographic regions, diverse brokerage firms and realty practice areas throughout the state. CALMLS intends to enable REALTORS® to access MLS and property data throughout the entire state. The entity will announce its rollout schedule and technology offerings over the next several weeks.

Sixty-six local REALTOR® associations and three regional MLSs representing more than 120,000 members across the state have already signed non-binding letters of intent to participate in CALMLS.

Leading the way…® in California real estate for more than 100 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States with nearly 175,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.