CHICAGO (March 28, 2025) – The National Association of Realtors® announced several staffing changes today as part of a months-long strategy to reduce costs, streamline operations, and reposition itself to offer robust solutions and support for its members and consumers.  

With the recent naming of new chief financial officer Matthew Cenedella, NAR’s new senior leadership team has taken shape, including the promotion of Jonathan Waclawski to general counsel and senior vice president, Legal and the progressive hiring of senior vice president of industry relations Jarrod Grasso, special advisor of brokerages Sherry Chris and chief human resources officer Sharon White. The organization also recently elevated Shannon McGahn from senior vice president to executive vice president, in addition to her existing role as chief advocacy officer, and NAR promoted Mark Birschbach to executive vice president of strategic business, innovation and technology, from senior vice president. 

NAR CEO Nykia Wright has focused the team on the association’s priority initiatives: redefining the member experience, strengthening relationships with brokerages and associations at every level, and ensuring the association’s governance structure facilitates agile, forward-looking discussions and decision making.  

NAR is also reducing expenses in some areas and reallocating budget dollars toward its Advocacy, Research, Data and Education functions that will provide members access to more useful and critical resources. This step in the organizational reshaping includes a staffing makeover that will impact 41 positions and eliminate 20 open roles that were redundant or that could be integrated elsewhere in the organization, for a total of 61 positions affected. The impacted departments include Creative and Content Strategy, Digital Strategy, Public Relations and Communications, Meetings and Events, Member Development, Human Resources, Member Engagement, Member Experience, Research, Finance and IT.  

“The industry is changing, and it is our responsibility to lead and change with it,” said Wright. “As we continue managing our finances to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, we need to invest in the best people, adopt the right processes and apply the most advanced, cost-effective technology while remaining prudent financial stewards of the enterprise.” 

About the National Association of Realtors®

As America’s largest trade association, the National Association of Realtors® is involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. For free consumer guides about navigating the homebuying and selling transaction processes – from written buyer agreements to negotiating compensation – visit facts.realtor.

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