Huffman and LRRA team to promote YPN
September 8-14, 2014
By Jay Edwards
After spending his twenties in Texas, Realtor David Huffman returned home to Arkansas and it wasn’t long before he was looking for ways to connect with other young professionals in the area. Now the owner of Huffman Realty in the historic Park Hill area of North Little Rock, Huffman has been instrumental in the growth of the Young Professional’s Network, an organization with a strong and growing presence across the country.
Before venturing out on his own, Huffman was the executive broker of Crye-Leike in West Little Rock. It was there, as a member of the Little Rock Realtors Association, where he got to know LRRA AE Libby Sheard.
“I was looking for ways to connect and it was Libby who told me about Young Professional’s Network,” Huffman says.
YPN is an organization that has a presence in most of the 50 states.
From their Facebook page the mission statement of YPN reads –
“YPN helps young real estate professionals excel in their careers by giving them the tools and encouragement to become involved in four core areas:
• Realtor Associations – Attend Realtor conferences and pursue leadership roles with their local, state, and national association.
• Real estate industry – Take an active role in policy discussions and advocacy issues; be informed about the latest industry news and trends.
• Peers. Network and learn from one another by attending events, participating in online communication, and seeking out mentoring opportunities.
• Community – Become exceptional members of their community by demonstrating a high level of Realtor professionalism and volunteering for causes they feel passionate about.
Huffman says the NAR originally stated that YPN was for Realtors and affiliates under the age of 40. But they have since eased on that bit. “I like to say we are the young at heart,” Huffman says. “Real estate offices are diverse, with respect to age. The YPN meetings are a great time to talk with peers in an informal atmosphere. The young can learn a lot from the older professionals, and vice versa.”
With the support from Sheard and the LRRA, the first meeting took place just over a year ago, in July 2013. Since that time they have been consistent on meeting every month. Huffman says the turnout varies, but that he believes they have averaged around 40 or so. It is mostly LRRA Realtors and affiliates but they have had people come from Faulkner and Saline Counties as well.
They charge $5 and would welcome sponsors.
Huffman says this years proceeds went to Habitat for Humanity. “We try and make people aware of a responsibility of giving back to the community,” he said. “There is also a network of young people who have organized a foundation board for Habitat. The goal there is to build our own house under the Habitat for Humanity umbrella, from the YPN of Central Arkansas. We are trying to raise $85,000 and have local doctors and lawyers who are contributing.”
And since May, the group has become a Silver Sponsor, or Donator, to ARPAC. “I agreed that we would raise $1,000 by the end of the year for ARPAC, from the LRRA,” Huffman said.
Huffman’s close relationship to the Little Rock Realtors and his pro active nature landed him a spot on the Association’s Board of Directors. “I learned a lot over the past year about the importance of ARPAC, through my board involvement as an interviewer of candidates. It is important that we, as leaders in the industry, try to pass along some of that knowledge to our peers, specifically to the younger ones just starting out.”
The next get together of YPN is Oct. 7, at Cache Restaurant in the River Market, from 5 to 7 p.m. The cost is $5. For more information contact Huffman at david@huffmanliving.com.
