Colors of Influence Reviews

Conversation with Melvin Broadous, President, Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors     What does your appointment as President of the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors mean to you? Being the first person of color to head the organization means a lot. I’ve been a broker since 1992, and been a member of the realtor association. I’ve been involved in association governance for sometime. Over the years, colleagues and members have told me that I’m on track to run the organization. The realtor association operates under a very strict code of ethics. It is my goal to highlight that, and let the public know that they are protected under the representation of member realtors. Why is it important to emphasize the value of realtor representation? Realtors bring tremendous value to real estate transactions. For the buying and selling public, I believe there is some disconnect in understanding the value of real estate representation. I want to bring that back to...

A Conversation with Kenneth Jones, President, Northwest Minority Business Council For more than 30 years, the Northwest Minority Business Council (NMBC) has been linking major corporations and public agencies to minority-owned businesses, a multi-billion dollar sector representing and impacting today's global economy. The NMBC currently serves the states of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Alaska. Last year, the Council welcomed a new President, following an exhaustive nationwide search. “There were several qualities we were looking for in selecting the leader for the Northwest Minority Business Council," said Chairman of the Board, Fernando Martinez, a Vice President with Washington Mutual. As the board progressed through a very rigorous selection process, Kenneth’s name continually rose to the top, says Martinez. "We needed an individual that was a passionate, experienced leader, and visionary. We wanted an individual that would create a positive force wit...

Last night, I had the opportunity to hear former Mexico President Vicente Fox at The Schintz. Fox is the first in a glowing lineup of speakers for the 2008 World Affairs Council Speaker Series, which will include Kim Dae-Jung, former President of South Korea (April 18), and Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice O’Connor is scheduled to speak on Sept. 27. In his talk President Fox addressed the necessity for continental trade agreements and called for immigration reform. He noted that in decades past, the United States has been a strong champion of establishing market economies and the democratic rule of law across the globe. He addressed the threat of the United States’ increased protectionist stance against its neighbors. “Today, it’s sad to see the leading nation of the world that taught all of us to open our markets is going backward. Now it’s building walls, now it’s isolating itself from the rest of the world,” he said. “Walls don...