Chief Operating Officer, MLS Hawaii Inc. (dba Hawaii Information Service)
1. What are the three most important priorities or initiatives that RESO should pursue during the next two years?
• Achieving meaningful adoption and implementation of the RESO Web API, and more specifically, two-way data exchanges between MLSs and listing databases and the myriad third-party services that expand and extend real estate applications.
• Focused and expert-driven work on both core and new categories of real estate data to better serve specialists and niche markets. Going beyond ‘Green’ fields to field groups that expand support for digital assistants, or for virtual and augmented reality, or to standardize agent and listing ratings and reviews.
• As a representative of a small, homegrown MLS system, I will advocate for greater representation and support for independent technology vendors, different business models, and even individual developers and entrepreneurs looking to bring innovation to the real estate marketplace.
2. How do you see your contributions as a board member being utilized for realizing these priorities?
• Our homegrown MLS is already the only public records-based, parcel-based system in production, and has been since its inception. And as the COO, I am spearheading the development of our next-generation platform based on APIs and microservices, utilizing open-source tools and leading-edge search technology, building modules under an agile, rapid-iteration, user-focused model.
Our company is also a successful B2B public records provider, serving the financial, legal, and other complementary markets, which provides for more than half of our annual revenue.
I feel I can contribute to productive, positive discussions and efforts to advance real estate technology as a whole, and to specifically guide MLSs and other legacy institutions to diversify their businesses and thrive – not just survive – in a rapidly changing marketplace.
3. The Board meets regularly, via conference calls and some in-person. Board members also are called to serve on or chair committees and special taskforces. Are you willing and able to meet the time requirements to serve as a director for a 2-year term?
• Yes, I am willing to participate in remote meetings as well as to travel when required from Hawaii.
