Aspire North REALTORS® Gather for Fall General Membership Meeting, Education and Community Giving

10.23.2026

By Heather Sauer

Aspire North REALTORS® brought members together on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, for our Fall General Membership Meeting at the Grand Traverse Resort. The meeting was filled with association updates, leadership announcements, continuing education, exciting prizes, and an opportunity to give back to our Northern Michigan community.

Association Updates and Looking Ahead

The morning began with registration and breakfast before members gathered for a welcome and CEO address from Alan Jeffries. Members also heard from State Savings Bank, President Doug Swartz, and President-Elect Jamie Grace.

The meeting included recognition of the 2026 Board of Directors and introductions of the candidates for the 2027 Board of Directors. Members also had an opportunity to share comments and participate in discussions about the association's future.

As Aspire North REALTORS® continues to serve its members and the Northern Michigan real estate community, member engagement and volunteer leadership remain essential to our success.

The meeting also recognized the association's 80th anniversary, celebrating decades of service, advocacy, education, and community involvement.

Giving Back Through Our Coat and Mitten Drive

Community involvement was an important part of the meeting, as members continued supporting our Coat and Mitten Drive. Thank you to everyone who brought donations and helped us provide warmth to individuals and families in our community this winter.

Thanks to the generosity of our members, we collected:

New coats donated: 32
Gently used coats donated: 4

Every donation makes a difference, and we are grateful to our members for helping support this important community initiative.

The Coat and Mitten Drive is part of Aspire North REALTORS®' ongoing commitment to making a positive impact beyond real estate.

Congratulations to Our Prize Winners!

We added some extra excitement to the meeting with prize drawings to thank our members for participating and being part of the Aspire North REALTORS® community.

Congratulations to our five winners of the $200 Downtown Gift Certificates for bringing in coats for the coat drive:

Jessica Brutzman
Lisa Bradford
Doug Swartz
Clinton Herigstad
Nan Ray

We also celebrated two additional winners for attending the meeting:

Casey Kiley-Terzano — Won a year of paid local REALTOR® association dues.
Amanda Theodoran — Won a year of paid MLS fees.

Congratulations to all our winners! We hope you enjoy these prizes, and thank you for being part of Aspire North REALTORS®.

Continuing Education for Our Members

Education remained a key focus of the meeting, with two continuing education sessions designed to help members stay informed, knowledgeable, and prepared to serve their clients.

The Fair Housing Checklist — 1 Hour Fair Housing CE

Becky Burke led the Fair Housing session, offering members an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of fair housing responsibilities and practices.

Within the Law — 2 Hours Legal CE

Becky Burke and Brian Westrin presented the legal education session, helping members stay current on important legal considerations affecting real estate professionals.

We appreciate our instructors for sharing their expertise and helping our members continue to grow professionally.

Thank You for Being Part of Aspire North REALTORS®

Thank you to everyone who attended our Fall General Membership Meeting, participated in discussions, contributed to our coat drive, and invested time in continuing education.

We are also grateful to State Savings Bank for its sponsorship and support of our association. A special thank you to Next Door Photos of Northern Michigan, our Photo Sponsor.

Our association is stronger when members come together to learn, lead, volunteer, and support one another. Whether you participate in a committee, attend an educational event, contribute to a community initiative, or share your ideas with association leadership, your involvement makes a difference.

We look forward to continuing this work together and celebrating 80 years of serving Northern Michigan real estate professionals and our communities.

Want to get more involved? Keep an eye on upcoming Aspire North REALTORS® events, committee opportunities, and educational offerings. There is a place for every member to make a difference!

Heather Sauer

Heather Sauer is the Human Resource Manager for Aspire North Realtors, bringing a strong background in human resources, leadership, and business strategy. She began her career in retail management while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northwood University, later transitioning into human resources at Target, where she served as an Executive Team Leader of Human Resources. During this time, she earned her MBA from the Northwood University DeVos Graduate School.

After relocating to Traverse City, Michigan, Heather continued her HR career with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), managing more than 30 client accounts and partnering closely with leadership teams on employee relations, compliance, and organizational development. In the fall of 2023, she expanded her professional experience into business development and entrepreneurship.

In addition to her role at Aspire North Realtors, Heather is also an independent travel agent, helping individuals, families, and groups plan seamless, memorable travel experiences. Her passion for service, organization, and relationship-building carries through both her HR and travel work.