FCBOR President Tracy Tidwell focuses on education, safety, and community
June 12-18, 2017
By Nick Popowitch
Tracy Tidwell’s first interest in real estate happened on the other side of the table. Her husband, Mark Tidwell, worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Arkansas, and moved around Arkansas frequently.
“We found it very difficult in a lot of areas we moved to,” Tidwell recalled, “to be able to find places to live. So, when I did decide to get into real estate, I had a whole different angle on what it was like.”
Tidwell is the 2017 President of the Faulkner County Board of Realtors, and a 17-year veteran of the industry.
After settling in Beebe, Tidwell got her real estate license in 2000 and made the drive to Conway every morning until moving to Conway in 2010, and later, buying the Conway ERA. She considers herself fortunate to work within an organization like ERA, which offers extensive industry training.
“I have training all the time,” Tidwell explained. “I feel like it’s important to be involved, and to be a part of it and to know what’s going on. The trends and what changes are coming down the pike.”
This commitment to cultivating an informed industry is one reason Tidwell gravitated to the Faulkner County Board of Realtors, working within the organization on several projects for several years before being asked to take on the role of president in 2017. She views the board, in this respect, as a means to spread education and experience to all member Realtors.
“There are a lot of independent companies that may not have the support of a franchise, so being able to provide the quality of training that everyone should have is important.”
Through that training, Tidwell sees the opportunity to improve the education, professionalism, and safety of all members and member companies of the FCBOR. During her time as president of the board, she is also working towards improving accountability, and encouraging members of the FCBOR to hold one another to high standards as Realtors.
“We need to call each other to task if somebody slips and maybe does something that’s not quite the image of what a Realtor is,” Tidwell said. “You made this commitment to be a Realtor and you need to follow suit and live up to the standards.”
Above all, Tidwell’s is driven by a strong sense of community, and being a positive figure in the community surrounding her business.
“I’ve always felt like whatever community that you work in, draw a salary from, or you live through, you give back,” Tidwell said.
Tidwell and the FCBOR share this sense of community involvement, and are regular supporters of the Arkansas Special Olympics. The board is currently working on a new community project to sponsor pantry boxes in Conway.
“I’ve offered to sponsor a box and I’m hoping others will do the same thing,” Tidwell said, about the pantry box project. “If we can get the city to go along with and move forward with it, I think it would be great.”
As far as advice for future Realtors and those just starting in the industry, Tidwell stressed the importance of integrity and caring for the customer, whether they are buying or selling a home.
“We’re dealing with that most important decision,” Tidwell explained, “there’s a lot that goes into it. We need to focus on that when we’re working with that client, and that scenario. We need to stop what we’re doing, take a deep breath, and focus on what’s important to that person, and what helps them achieve their goal. If we allow ourselves to have outside distractions that are pulling away from that, we could make big mistakes.”
Tidwell, in her free time, enjoys traveling, taking road trips with her husband, and spending time with her three children and five grandchildren.
