June 21, 2023
Association launches new name to reflect geographic reach and impact across 12-county region
The Knoxville Area Association of Realtors® has announced a new name: East Tennessee REALTORS®.
The association comprises 12 counties: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Cumberland, Fentress, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott and Union.
“East Tennessee REALTORS® reflects the broader scope of our organization in serving 12 counties and more than 6,000 members, as well as our larger, more collaborative approach to serving the needs of REALTORS®, residents, business owners, home buyers and communities across the region – both in our territory, alongside our sister associations and across the entire state,” East Tennessee REALTORS® CEO Lyle Irish said. “Our purpose is to unite and serve our members, and this new name better represents our collective identity and interests.”
Organization staff and leadership gathered with members at the East Tennessee REALTORS® office in Knoxville on June 20 to announce and celebrate the name change. Pictured from left: Professional Development Director Lauri Figueroa; Governmental Affairs Specialist Catrin Latham; Governmental Affairs and Policy Director Hancen Sale; Member Services Coordinator Jordan Scott; Communications Director Jeff Fyke; Chief Operating Officer James Holden; MLS Coordinator Jared Hencke; and Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice President Lyle Irish.
East Tennessee REALTORS® will continue its mission to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business ethically, professionally and successfully and to promote the preservation of the right to own, transfer and use real property.
The evolution of the regional association can be seen over its 111-year history. In 1912, The Real Estate Board of Knoxville was founded and chartered by the National Association of Real Estate Boards. In 1941, the name of the organization was changed to Knoxville Board of Realtors, and then in 1991, it was changed again to Knoxville Association of Realtors to reflect that the organization comprises individuals who voluntarily enter into an agreement to accomplish a shared purpose. In 2003, the name was updated to Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS® to reflect the merger with the Anderson County Board of REALTORS® and the Cumberland County Association of REALTORS®.
Twenty years later, the National Association of Realtors approved the name change to East Tennessee REALTORS® at its national conference in Washington, D.C., in May.
The organization’s brand will remain the same, featuring the same logo with only the name changed, reflecting the stability and consistency of the association’s mission and work. Various assets and identifiers will be updated with the new name, including but not limited to, the website URL to www.etnrealtors.com, email addresses, social media handles and pages, and building signage.
“As both the real estate industry overall and the East Tennessee market specifically continue to grow and evolve, so must our association,” East Tennessee REALTORS® 2023 Board President Ryan Levenson said. “In our efforts to serve the local and regional housing markets and ensure the long-term prosperity of the region, the name change to East Tennessee REALTORS® better reflects the mission, vision, reach and impact of our organization and our shared work and goals as REALTORS® and members thereof.”
The name change announcement comes on the heels of the release of the association’s 2023 State of Housing report, presenting and interpreting the latest data on real estate market supply and demand, population trends and economic conditions affecting the East Tennessee housing market. The report will inform upcoming policy and advocacy priorities for East Tennessee REALTORS®, and the association plans to announce those agendas and other upcoming initiatives and enhancements to its service to members and communities across East Tennessee.
For more information, visit www.etnrealtors.com.
About East Tennessee REALTORS®
Founded in 1912 and evolving from the Knoxville Area Association of REALTORS®, East Tennessee REALTORS® has been serving the real estate interest of its members and the public for more than 100 years. The association comprises 12 counties in the region: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Cumberland, Fentress, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott and Union. The purpose of East Tennessee REALTORS® is to unite and serve its members and to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business ethically, professionally and successfully and to promote the preservation of the right to own, transfer and use real property. For more information, visit www.etnrealtors.com.
