Traders Realty located in Peoria, Dunlap, and East Peoria agents attended the Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR) 94th Annual Convention and Expo at the Pheasant Run Resort and Spa, September 29-October 1, 2010, in St. Charles.

The Convention featured sessions including tips on working with buyers and sellers, industry trends, effective communication and marketing, using social media tools to boost business and top producer tips. Featured speakers included negotiation pro Steve Harney, nationally syndicated real estate columnist Bernice Ross, tech guru Doug Devitre, memory coach Tom Weber and top trainer Kim Daugherty.

“In the current market, an agent has an important choice to make – wait out the market or take it upon themselves to use the time to better themselves. The IAR Convention and Expo offered agents the perfect opportunity to boost motivation, enhance their education and build their referral network, all in one place,” said IAR President Sheryl Grider Whitehurst.

The Convention also featured two continuing education classes. Instructor Lynn Madison highlighted disclosure, fair housing, antitrust and other issues with her class, “Legal Issues – Risk Management Remix for Today’s Market.” Instructor Kevin Stahle walked REALTORS® through technology tools and developments they can use in business with his class, “Technology Applications in Real Estate.”

A state-of-the-art trade expo featured some of the real estate industry’s top vendors including marketing and insurance providers, banking and mortgage services and business technology service providers.

The Convention also included Inaugural Gala activities for the 2011 officers of the association. The 2011 IAR officers are President Sheryl Grider Whitehurst, ABR, CRB, GRI, Development and Operations Coordinator with Traders Realty in Peoria; President-Elect Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, broker-owner of Century 21 Alonzo & Associates, La Grange Park: Treasurer Michael Oldenettel, CRS, GRI, managing broker-owner of RE/MAX Results Plus in Jacksonville.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is a voluntary trade association whose 46,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, the Illinois Association of REALTORS® works to protect the rights of private property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation that safeguards and advances the rights of real property ownership.