Erica Meyer, October Research, LLC CEO and publisher, is stepping in today as a guest blogger. Mary will be back next week.

I’m no history buff, so you won’t be getting a history lesson from me today.

As the country prepares to celebrate our 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it forces you to reflect on how far we’ve come as a country. The lives that have been given to protect, promote, empower and progress where we stand as a country today.

I know a girl is never supposed to reveal her age, but I’m proud to have been born in the year of America’s 200^th anniversary. As you hit certain milestones, it causes you to stop and reflect where you are, how far you’ve come, the impact you’ve had on others and how you can pay it forward. We all want to make the world a better place, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to get started and where to focus your energy.

I’m blessed to have incredible parents, as many of you who attend NS3 each year know. They taught me the importance of giving back at an early age. Giving back can be in money, time or good old-fashioned elbow grease. They all make a difference. Whether it’s your community, church or a specific organization, find your passion and make it happen. Born and raised in a small town of just over 1,000 people, the sense of community in my hometown is extremely strong. We support one another, take care of one another and usually know the family we are supporting very well; in a town this small, you know everyone after all.

After moving to Chicago, I continued my support of community, but it changed because I didn’t necessarily know the people we were supporting. It was a change in mindset, but it helped me grow as a person. Countless hours were spent tutoring inner city kids in Chicago for the ACT. They needed that first opportunity to get into college; many would be the first person in their family to attend. Paying it forward to the next generation is a mutually satisfying allocation of time. 

I’m fortunate to be in a position at October Research to make a difference on a larger scale, to have a voice and the ability to make it happen. In 2012 we partnered with Curt Szymanski to introduce Make a Child Smile at NS3, which we’ve continued every year to support the children in our host communities. I still get teary thinking about the excitement on the children’s faces when they rode a bike out of the General Session Ballroom at NS3 in New Orleans. While the charities we support and the projects have shifted over the years, at the end of the day it all comes down to making a difference in the lives of children across the country. A special thanks to our NS3 sponsors and attendees for participating each year.

The October Research team closes the office each year so we can get out and make a difference in our local community. Over the years we have painted our local park’s recreation buildings, rebuilt and adapted toys for kids with disabilities, worked in food banks and homeless shelters, distributed toys to families during the holidays and done numerous other simple acts of kindness. Financially, we chose to support the organizations and groups we get involved with, along with donating 10 percent of all new subscription sales during the month of October each year. Our October efforts have supported children’s cancer organizations but primarily breast cancer research.

We celebrated 100 years of our 19^th Amendment, the right for women to vote, in 2020. Reflecting on this milestone and working in an industry of approximately 70 percent women, we decided it was time to also give back to the women in our industry. We launched our Women’s Breakfast at NS3 in 2021. Women asked for more time to continue these discussions and developing our professional network. Thus, our Women’s Leadership Summit was launched in 2022.

Since launching our events back in 2021, the growth and development of women’s programs across the country have been astronomical. I’m so proud to see all the organizations who launched companywide programs and mentoring relationships formed across companies and groups like Women in Title (WiT) and HER who are doing incredible things in the community.

Our Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) was built on four diamonds – Develop, Grow, Support and Empower. I’ve taken it upon myself as a leader in the industry to pay it forward and make a difference for the women in the workforce today and to the next generation of leaders, including my 9-year-old daughter. Some of the challenges and obstacles I faced in my professional journey made me the strong person I am today, but trust me, you wouldn’t want your daughter, niece, grandchild or loved one to have the same experience. This is the fire that keeps me going and the change I want to bring for all professional women. 

WLS is our version of a round of golf; we network, we talk business and we build long-term relationships. The feeling you get from a hole-in-one is how the women feel attending WLS. The motivation, confidence and empowerment of the women bringing new tools back to their teams is gratifying to watch.  

I encourage women to register for our this year’s WLS that will be held on Nov. 2-3 in San Antonio, TX. For the men, leaders and small businesses in the industry, this is an excellent opportunity to develop your female team members; your return on investment will be tenfold. When employees are at their best personally, they will shine professionally. Energy is contagious in the workplace, and WLS is a path for reinvigorating your team.

As we celebrate the 250^th anniversary of our country, I challenge you to find your passion, roll up your sleeves or make the investment in making a difference in the lives of others.  Whether you know the recipient of your goodwill or not, take action to make a difference. The real estate industry does an incredible job sponsoring the communities we live in and I’m proud to be a part of it. Keep up the great work.

Happy Birthday America! 

Erica Meyer
CEO & Publisher
October Research, LLC