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.
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: Sandra Castaneda
Committee Members:Art Alvarez, Kevin Budde, Debi Cecconi, Kari Collins, Gary DeBiasi, Erica Dose, Bryan Ozur, Henry Portner, Laura Stone
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: Sandra Castaneda
Committee Members: Blaine Amidei, Robert Caballero, Erica Dose, Josie Dvorken, Phoenicia Friese, Maria Herrera, Mike Jeppson, Serena Leiterman, Melissa Lerma, Kamel Merabet, Marius Olbrych, Rodrigo Ramirez Jr., Kelly Ramsay, Christopher Ray, Britney Roberts, Catherine Robinson, Angie Ruiz, Hailee Sapp, Marisa Smith
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: Amie Arbid, Stephen Burchard, Mary Funk, Maria Herrera, Angie Ruiz, Judy Zeigler
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), Stephen Burchard, Scott Newton, Stephanie Taylor, Kelly Tweedie, Shane Zuspan
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: Monica Amboss, Gina Anderson, Amie Arbid, Stephanie Bell Veneris, Stephen Burchard, Chris Cali, Jared Dineen Shanstrom, Jeff Fishbein, Lance Frank, Phoenicia Friese, Mary Funk, Ana Galloway, Cary Gerken, James Griffin, Al Hackman, Maggie Hickman, Juan Martinez, Faith Messenger, Scott Newton, Marius Olbrych, Kelly Ramsay, David Siminski, Jay Tennen, Mark Weissman, Judy Zeigler, Shane Zuspan
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
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
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: Nicole Cazares, Ben Duman, Stephen Duran, Gabriel Franco, Ana Galloway, Dean Liebl, Jennifer Martinez, Lisette Molina, Brandy Nelson, Amber Placentia, Kelly Ramsay, Brittany Read, Ashley Robertson, Roy Rosales, Joshua Russell, Kelly Siminski
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. Committee terms are two years and staggered.
2025 Chair: Scott Newton (2023-2025)
Staff Liaison: Paul Herrera
Committee Members (listed alphabetically, by term): Robin DuFault (2023-2025), Judy Zeigler (2023-2025), Marnie Balog (2024-2026), Mary Funk (2024-2026), Maggie Hickman (2024-2026), Priscilla Bowler (2025-2027), Juan Martinez (2025-2027), Faith Messenger (2025-2027)
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
Voting Committee Members: Amie Arbid, Stephen Burchard, Jared Dineen Shanstrom, Lance Frank, Mike Jeppson, Andrew Kearney, Sandi Mosley, Scott Newton, Rich Pisani, Shane Zuspan
Non-Voting Committee Members: Ashley Robertson, TJ Schroeder, David Siminski, Thomas Sinclair, Daniel Trevino
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
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: Blaine Amidei, Phoenicia Friese, Mary Funk, Maggie Hickman, Bahareh Kamoei, Melissa Lerma, Faith Messenger, Bryan Ozur
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 Chair: Serena Leiterman
Staff Liaison: Annette Coffey
Committee Members: Stephenie Zinn (President), Jared Dineen Shanstrom, Rob Morel, Shane Zuspan, Alan Sarrail
