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Bob Hale has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR) for more than 20 years. Under Bob's leadership, HAR has grown to become the largest trade association in Houston and the largest local REALTOR® association in the country, with more than 23,000 members. Thanks to his vision and drive, HAR.com is a household brand in the greater Houston area and the most frequently visited web site for Houston real estate.

Inman News honored Bob with its 2008 Innovator of the Year Award considered one of the most prestigious and coveted recognitions in the real estate industry. He has also earned recognition from NAR's Realtor® Magazine, as one of the 25 Most Influential Thought Leaders in the American real estate industry in 2006. Realtor® Magazine stated "Our influencers aren't just those with the latest gizmo or hot idea; they're also thought leaders who are reshaping how the real estate industry functions. Each has a profound impact on the present and future of real estate." According to REALTOR® Magazine, "Hale is widely regarded as a visionary and a leader who puts his members' business needs first."

He was also recognized by Inman News as one of the 100 Most Influential Real Estate People in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Inman News stated "people on the list embody words like leadership, innovation, ingenuity, power and persistence."

It is worth noting that HAR.com received 1.5 BILLION hits per month from an average of 1 million unique visitors in 2008, viewing Realtor® listings 12 million times monthly, resulting in more than 550,000 annual FREE leads for Houston area Realtors®. It is the only local site listed among the 25 most frequently visited real estate Web sites in the country according to comScore Media Metrix.

Bob Hale assists HAR in its mission "to help its members achieve ongoing profitability" by adopting and implementing a market-driven, member-centric business plan, recruiting and retaining a highly professional staff, re-engineering its governance and becoming a cutting edge, technologically advanced association. Bob strongly believes in providing "high tech" member services in a "high touch" manner.

Bob firmly believes that political involvement and TREPAC fundraising activities are extremely important functions for Realtors® and for HAR. "A healthy business climate and the protection of property rights are two strategic elements HAR follows closely," says Hale. He participated as an RPAC (Realtor® Political Action Committee of NAR) Sterling R in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, a Golden R in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and a Sustaining Golden R in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Bob is also a member of the RPAC Hall of Fame.

In 1998 and 1999, Bob assisted HAR in bringing together the largest local Realtor® associations throughout North America for Vision 2000, a two day conference which facilitated the restructure of NAR's governance, earning Hale a place on the list of 10 people to watch in 1998 by Inman News.

In 2003, Bob assisted HAR in hosting "Associating with Success," a cutting-edge leadership conference where leading local and state associations, MLSs, and brokers shared their best practices. The conference theme was "Creating a Powerful Association/Broker Partnership." Participants included the President, President-Elect, and CEO of NAR.

Bob served as Chairman of the Texas Society of Association Executives from 1997-1998, and as President of the Houston Society of Association Executives in 1993.

On a national level, Hale has served on the National Association of Realtors® "Common Vision Work Group", the "Internet Data Display Work Group", the "Virtual Office Web Site Task Force", the "Technology Advisory Group", the "Existing Home Sale Work Group" and the "Real Estate Services Task Force". Hale served as 2004 Chair for the NAR Business Technology and Information Systems Forum and as a member of the NAR Convention Program Advisory Group. In 2007, Hale served on the NAR Credit Union Task Force. On a state level, Hale served on the 2005 TREPAC Trustees and 2003 TAR Executive Committee, Limited Brokerage Service Task Force, and Dues Work Group. He received the Tom D. Morton Memorial Award at the 1997 Texas Association of Realtors® convention. Bob is frequently invited to speak on industry trends, HAR technology initiatives and member services, at major industry events around the country. » NAR Convention (2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2008) » NAR Association Executive Institute (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008) » Inman Real Estate Connect (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008) » Real Trends Gathering of Eagles (2000 and 2005) » RISMedia Real Estate Leadership Conference (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007) » RISMedia CEO Exchange (2006 and 2007) » Keller Williams Realty National Convention (2005 and 2006) » Strategic Partnership Conference California (2006) » NAR Mid Year Meeting (2004 and 2006) » National Association of Real Estate Editors (2004 and 2008) » TAR Convention (2003) » TAR Association Executive Seminar (2003) » Regional AE Conference - North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia (2005) » Associating with Success Conference in Houston (2003) » New York State Association of Realtors® (2003) » Illinois Association of Realtors® AE Institute (2002) » Connection - The MLS Forum (2002 and 2008) » Re/Max of Indiana Convention (2005) » Re/Max of Texas Convention (2002) » NAR Leadership Conference (2001)

Bob is a native Texan and a graduate of the University of Texas, where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in International Business, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence. Upon graduation from UT Law School, Bob served as the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Texas Association of Realtors® in Austin. He began representing the Houston Association of Realtors® in 1973 as legal and legislative counsel, with an emphasis on association and anti-trust law. In 1988, he assumed the role of President & CEO. He is married to Susie Hale.