Committees

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING 2025 COMMITTEE SIGN-UPS

We are now accepting 2025 CDAR Committee sign-ups! Be a part of a rewarding experience and make lasting relationships by participating in committee work at the association level. This year’s sign-ups are available via an online application form. And if you served on a 2024 committee, remember that you’ll still need to sign up to continue on your 2025 committee of choice.

If you’d like to participate with a committee (or committees!) in the new year, sign up today!


The California Desert Association of REALTORS® is a member-driven organization. We offer a variety of committees for our members to serve on, many of which participate in association events, giving back to the community, and so much more. To find out more about each committee, including what qualifications are needed to serve on each committee, scroll down and choose your committee of interest.


Please note that committee information may not be up-to-date. For the most current roster of a committee, please contact the CDAR office. For the most updated information on each committee’s requirements, please refer to the CDAR Policies and Procedures manual found on the CDAR website or by contacting the CDAR office. Please be aware that some committees have requirements in order to join.

Affiliates

Job Description: To provide input into the association’s activities, meetings and events.

Committee Composition: Only CDAR affiliates may serve and vote on this committee.

Committee Size: Unlimited

This is not a budgeted committee.


2025 Chair: Valerie Acevez

2025 Vice Chair: Blaine Amidei

Staff Liaison: Rickie McCabe

Committee Members: TBA

Desert Young Professionals Network

Job Description: Plans, recommends and implements education and networking events to promote growth, membership participation and new leadership with CDAR.

Committee Composition: Only CDAR REALTORS® and affiliates may serve and vote on the committee.

Committee Size: Unlimited

This is not a budgeted committee. Committee budget is sourced through sponsorships.


2025 Chair: Cody Hancock

2025 Vice Chair: Scott Jones

Staff Liaison: Rickie McCabe & Annette Coffey

Committee Members: TBA

Fair Housing/DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion)

Job Description: Coordinates, endorses, and creates education activities related to increasing the diversity of volunteers and leadership to ensure an inclusive organization and community through diversity training programs, recommendations of inclusive policies and practices, and encouragement of diverse representation throughout the organization.

Committee Composition: Only CDAR REALTORS® and affiliates in good standing may serve and vote on the committee.

Committee Size: Unlimited

This is not a budgeted committee.


2025 Chair: Juan Martinez

2025 Vice Chair: David Sidley

Staff Liaison: Aubrey Tolbert

Committee Members: TBA

Finance

Job Description: The Finance Committee plays a crucial role in overseeing and managing the financial affairs of CDAR.

Committee Composition: The composition of the Finance Committee will consist of seven to nine (7-9)
CDAR REALTORS®.

Note: This is a closed committee and we do not accept sign-ups through the “Join a Committee” application.


2025 Chair/Treasurer: Mike Jeppson

Staff Liaison: Annette Coffey & Aubrey Tolbert

Committee Members: Susan Marshall (2025 Immediate Past President), Stephanie Taylor, Scott Newton, Shane Zuspan, Kelly Tweedie, Stephen Burchard

Government Affairs

Job Description: Monitors government activity in desert cities to ensure that REALTORS® have input into matters affecting the real estate industry and private property rights.

Committee Composition: Only CDAR REALTORS® may serve and vote on the committee. Affiliates may serve but do not have a vote.

Committee Size: Unlimited

This is not a budgeted committee.


Chair: Atiyana Lawson

Vice Chair: Michael Valerio

Staff Liaison: Paul Herrera

Committee Members: TBA

Grievance

Job Description: Reviews ethics complaints and determines whether a complaint should be referred on for a formal hearing.

Committee Composition: Only CDAR REALTORS® may serve and vote on the committee. Grievance review panels will consist of 3-5 panel members, to reduce exposure of confidential information.

Requirements: All Committee members are required to attend and complete the Professional Standards training every two years.

Committee Size: Unlimited

This is not a budgeted committee.


2025 Chair: Gary Scott

2025 Vice Chair: Maria Herrera

Staff Liaison: Rickie McCabe

Committee Members: TBA

Investment

Job Description: Advise the Finance & Strategic Planning Committees and the Board of Directors on the operation and performance of the CDAR Investment Account(s). The members will discharge their duties solely on behalf of CDAR Investment and Reserve Policies.

Committee Composition: Only CDAR REALTORS® may serve and vote on the committee.

Note: This is a closed committee and we do not accept sign-ups through the “Join a Committee” application.


2025 Chair: Stephen Burchard

Staff Liaison: Annette Coffey

Committee Members: Stephanie Taylor, Scott Newton, Mike Jeppson, Judy Zeigler

Leadership Academy

Developing Your Real Estate Knowledge and Leadership Skills – Improving Your Business to Better Serve Your Clients, Association and Community!

Effective REALTOR® Associations require an informed membership, and leaders who understand and can anticipate the existing and future needs of the Association and Community. The CDAR Leadership Program will provide REALTORS® with the insight and tools needed to help lead your clients and the Association through an ever-evolving real estate landscape. The CDAR Leadership Program is here to better equip our members with improved leadership skills and a more informed understanding of industry and community issues.

Committee Composition: CDAR REALTORS® looking to become leaders in their community and the organization.


2025 Chair: Diane Busch

2025 Vice Chair: Serena Leiterman

Staff Liaisons: Annette Coffey & Justin Paige

2025 Academy Class: TBA

LCRC

Job Description: California Desert Association of REALTORS® Local Candidate Recommendation Committee, hereinafter referred to as the “LCRC.” It is a subcommittee of the California Real Estate Political Action Committee (“CREPAC”) organized under the CREPAC Cooperative Agreement (COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT), which is updated and approved each year. LCRC is not a “Political
Action Committee” as defined by state law and administers no political contributions. However, by written agreement with California Real Estate Political Action Committee (“CREPAC”), a small contributor committee sponsored by the California Association of REALTORS (“C.A.R.”), this LCRC recommends contributions or independent expenditures to be made by CREPAC.

Note: This is a closed committee and we do not accept sign-ups through the “Join a Committee” application. The application process to participate in the LCRC Committee happens in October-November of each year.


2025 Chair: Scott Newton

Staff Liaison: Paul Herrera

Committee Members: TBA

MLS / Multiple Listing Service

Job Description: Oversees operation of the MLS and its technological aspects and recommends enhancements, policies and procedures.

Committee Composition: Only CDAR REALTORS® may serve and vote on the committee.

Committee Size: No more than 12 members

This is not a budgeted committee.


2025 Chair: Norman Williams

2025 Vice Chair: Paige Maccio

Staff Liaison: Kaylea Barrett

Committee Members: TBA

Non-Voting Members: TBA

Professional Standards

Job Description: Members of the Professional Standards committee shall be selected to serve on hearing panels, as required, to hear matters of alleged membership duty and ethical misconduct by Association members that may result in discipline. In addition, the committee hears alleged violations of MLS rules by MLS participants and subscribers.

Committee Composition: Only CDAR REALTORS® may serve and vote on the committee. Professional Standards appointed hearing panels shall consist of a Presiding Officer (P.O.), two panel members and one alternate. All members of the committee will serve as a Presiding Officer or panel member as allowed per case.

Requirements: All committee members are required to attend and complete the Professional Standards training every two years. All committee members are required to serve a minimum of two years on the Grievance committee at CDAR or another AOR before serving on the Professional Standards committee.

Committee Size: Unlimited

This is not a budgeted committee.


2025 Chair: Jim Webb

2025 Vice Chair: Mike Jeppson

Staff Liaison: Rickie McCabe

Committee Members: TBA

Scholarship

Job Description: Annually selects Scholarship Awards to individuals to attend an educational institution – a school that has a facility, student body, physical location and a curriculum. This could be a public or private college or university, or a vocational school.

Committee Composition: Only CDAR REALTORS® may serve and vote on the committee. The Chair and Vice Chair must be REALTOR® members.

Committee Size: Unlimited

This is not a budgeted committee. Funds are raised and assigned to support the Scholarship Fund.


2025 Chair: Eric Morcus

2025 Vice Chair: Mariam Rodriguez Rivera

Staff Liaison: Aubrey Tolbert

Committee Members: TBA

Strategic Planning

Job Description: The Strategic Planning Committee is a group within the organization that is responsible for developing and overseeing the strategic direction of the organization.

Committee Composition: The composition of a Strategic Planning Committee will consist of seven (7) CDAR REALTORS®.

Note: This is a closed committee and we do not accept sign-ups through the “Join a Committee” application.


2025 Co-Chair/President: Stephenie Zinn

2025 Co-Chair/President Elect: Serena Leiterman

Staff Liaison: Annette Coffey

Committee Members: Jared Dineen Shanstrom, Rob Morel, Shane Zuspan, Alan Sarrail