See more photos from the Shaping Texas Conference by scanning the QR code.

This year’s annual Texas REALTORS® conference brought more than 2,000 REALTORS® to Grapevine to discuss the latest real estate issues, connect with colleagues, and conduct association business. The event equipped members with actionable insights and tools to better showcase their value as real estate professionals.

Keynote Kicked Off the Conference (pun intended)

NFL Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith took attendees in the standing-room-only Opening Session through his journey, on and off the football field. He delivered a powerful message of leadership and overcoming adversity. “Change is scary if you’re not willing to adjust,” said Smith. “We have a lot of changes in this industry, and we have to be open and ready.” Immediately following, attendees enjoyed a fun evening at the ’80s-themed Welcome Reception.

Education and Forums Provided Something for Everyone

Education sessions and forums delivered personal and professional growth on a variety of topics, including housing affordability, risk reduction, farm and ranch, commercial, property management, AI, marketing, and more.

During the Governmental Affairs Forum, keynote speaker David Wasserman, Senior Editor and Elections Analyst for “The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter,” provided an insightful analysis of the upcoming presidential election, saying it was too close to call a clear advantage for either candidate. He then analyzed key state races across the U.S. and gave a breakdown of key Texas House and Senate races. 

At the Public Policy Forum, Luis Saenz, former Chief of Staff to Gov. Greg Abbott; Logan Spence, former Chief of Staff to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; and Gavin Massingill, former Chief of Staff to Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen, shared stories about the work, stress, and collaboration needed among these offices and with legislators from both parties.

Texas REALTORS®/REACH Labs Innovation Showcase: Battle of the Best Pitch

This annual event featured a pitch battle, “Shark Tank”-style, among four innovative real estate tech startups: Curb Hero, Jointly, KeyPleaz, and Pitch59. The CEO of each business made a five-minute pitch followed by Q&A. The winner, chosen by audience members, was Pitch59. 

Installation Gala Sets a High Standard

Gold standard was the theme of the Texas REALTORS® Installation Gala, which was reflected in attendees’ attire and the event’s décor. After entertainment by singer-songwriter Kelly Willis, 2025 association leaders were installed by emcee and installing officer Cindi Bulla, 2020 Chairman of Texas REALTORS®:  Tony Lloyd as Secretary/Treasurer, Jennifer Wauhob as Chairman-Elect, Jef Conn as Immediate Past Chairman, and Christy Gessler-Whetsel as Chairman.

In her remarks, Gessler-Whetsel spoke of the Japanese practice of Kintsugi, the art of repairing chips and cracks in fine china by gluing them back together with gold. She explained that family and friends, mentors, and other REALTORS® on her leadership journey are the gold that puts her back together after challenging times. She also thanked Texas REALTORS® President and CEO Travis Kessler and his wife, Shelley, for decades of service to the REALTOR® family. Kessler will retire at the end of March 2025 after more than 40 years working for the REALTOR® association.  

Global Partnerships Strengthened

The Global Reception, a conference highlight, celebrated the ongoing partnership between Texas REALTORS® and AMPI. This event included a gift exchange and a presentation that honored the commitment of both organizations to strengthen U.S.-Mexico real estate collaboration. The reception underscored the importance of the partnership and recognized the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) by Texas REALTORS® President and CEO Travis Kessler and Emilio Rojas Cobián, AMPI President and Gabriela Hernández Chargoy, AMPI International Director. The MOU sets forth the understanding of the parties related to connecting and establishing a mutually beneficial relationship for its respective association members. The AMPI delegation also attended the VIP Dinner and the Installation Gala, which provided additional networking opportunities with key figures in the real estate industry.

Board of Directors Meeting

The association’s Board of Directors met to conduct the business of the association and hear important updates.

  • Texas Real Estate Commission Chairman Scott Kesner and Executive Director Chelsea Buchholtz spoke of proposed forms changes, improved timelines for enforcement activities, and a new rule allowing more time for broker succession after the death of a designated broker of a business entity.
  • NAR 2026 First Vice President candidate Colin Mullane, a broker from Oregon, assured members that “we do our best work when stuff gets hard.” He also promoted the value of the three-tiered agreement of national, state, and local associations.
  • NAR Region 10 Vice President Marvin Jolly encouraged members to continue to check facts.realtor for the latest updates related to the settlement. He also shared that NAR has come out against a proposal for rent caps, saying it would actually make housing less affordable.
  • Texas REALTORS® General Counsel Lori Levy provided an update on how the NAR settlement affects REALTORS® in Texas and explained several form changes. She pointed out that the changes increase the choices for how brokers and their clients conduct business.
  • Kenzie Honey, Finance Director of the Abilene Association of REALTORS®, was honored for earning the REALTOR® Association Certified Executive (RCE) designation.
  • Michael DeHart was recognized for his upcoming retirement after 14 years leading the Fort Hood Area Association of REALTORS® as its association executive.
  • Secretary/Treasurer Jennifer Wauhob provided an update on the finances of the association, presenting a balanced budget that includes annual dues of $117 per year (unchanged since 2012). Directors approved an Issues Mobilization/Political Advocacy Fund assessment of $30 per year and a Legal Fund Assessment of $10 per year, an increase from $5 previously.
  • Directors received updates from all association committees on recent activities. The board also approved the association’s 2025-2026 Strategic Plan.