S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

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Rod Stewart has lived in and around the Wichita, Kansas area for most of his life. He was born just north in of Wichita in Newton, the town where his mother was from. His father was from Stockton. He has been a commercial realtor since 1971. Rod and his wife Debbie have one son, John, who is a doctor of internal medicine and teaches at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He has a younger sister who resides in Wichita. Rod has been active in many real estate groups, government agencies, and service organizations. He is a true American patriot and is rightfully proud of his beliefs and convictions.

Born August 17, 1945, Rod went on to graduate from Wichita State University in 1968 and has since been a loyal fan and supporter of his alma mater. He has a Bachelor of Arts, and in 2006 he received his Masters of Arts in military history from the American Military University. He has an extensive war games collection and enjoys military history. Sailing was a favorite pastime of his for over 30 years. Rod became a member of the Society of Exchange Counselors in 1994. His first S.E.C. meeting was in the spring of 1989. He has continually participated in and promoted educational offerings within and by the S.E.C. and the CCIM organizations. He has received many awards and recognitions for his hard work, tireless support, and many successes. One of the most recent—and probably the highlight of Rod’s achievements—came in December of 2013 when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kansas CCIM Chapter and Wichita State University Center for Real Estate. Rod was instrumental in creating this award, and 7 years later he received it himself. Rod has served on the Board of Directors of the CCIM chapter for many years.

Wichita is and has been home to many notable S.E.C.’s from the beginning. Rod has worked with and for many of the Legends of the Society, and is a legend in his own right. Rod was recommended to work for Colby Sandlian, S.E.C., by his good friend Darrell Leason, S.E.C., whom he met while working on political campaigns. Colby taught Rod one of his greatest lessons in counseling: “Find out what they expect the real estate to do for them.” Rod’s first lease while working for Sandlian Management was for a small office lease, and his commission was $18.90 for the 6-month lease. Rod worked for the Sandlian organization until December 1983. It was at the end of this year that he stepped out on his own. He and his wife had acquired several investment properties by that time, and his brokerage sales and commissions continued to grow.

In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, Rod Stewart has received many awards and recognitions for his service and success. As part of the Wichita Area Association of Realtors, he is in the President’s Club and Masters Circle, was the 1999 Walter Morris Broker of the Year, and the Top Volume Sales Award winner in 1990. The Marketers of Real Estate named him Exchangor of the Year in 1980, and the Society of Exchange Counselors awarded him with the Clifford Weaver Award for the Most Creative Transaction in 1997. Additionally, he has served as Chairman on several S.E.C. committees. In 2007 he was awarded Membership in the Honor Society of the Kansas Association of Realtors.

There is much more to Rod Stewart than commercial real estate. He has vast experience in leading organizations, committees, agencies, etc. He has been very influential in the positive growth and development of the Wichita area. Rod was appointed to the Board of Land Use Economics, which advised the City Council on real estate matters. Shortly thereafter Rod was appointed to the Urban Renewal Agency Board of Directors, which oversaw millions of dollars of real estate, 100 employees, and had the power of exercising eminent domain. It is probably no coincidence that it was during this time of Rod’s leadership and real estate counsel to the agency that Wichita began seeing increased real estate activity. During this time, what is now referred to as “Old Town” was created, the Exhibition Hall was built, and the Sedgwick County Zoo was started (to name a few). The list of commissions and task forces that Rod has served on is an extensive one. Those not listed here are not to be considered unimportant. Many of the appointments Rod received were challenged for political reasons, and he fought many political battles to do what was right for Wichita, never compromising his principles in the process.

The Board of Land Use Economics soon became the Wichita Economic Development Commission, and Rod was appointed as its President. After his 2-year chairmanship, Rod resigned from city and county governmental positions and was appointed to the Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he served for 16 years. Some of the notable events that Rod oversaw while he was chairman include the Miss USA Pageant and the Coronation Ball. Additionally, he oversaw the Miss Teen USA Pageant, the Future Farmers of America Convention, and the American Bowling Congress (America’s largest convention). He improved the city’s image by educating cab drivers and others that had direct contact with visitors. Rod presented studies that showed Wichita needed a new 300-room hotel downtown. Rod was recognized by the mayor as being a key figure in bringing the Hyatt to town. All the while, Rod remained active in functions and committees at the Board of Realtors, the CCIM chapter, S.E.C. meetings, and promoting educational opportunities. Rod still continues to serve as director of marketing of the Commercial Council of the Board of Realtors. Rod humbly acknowledges that many of the events and awards he is credited with starting in Wichita could not have come to fruition solely with his efforts. Many fine men and women were extensively involved. Among them, several national marketing sessions, Kansas CCIM marketing sessions, and over 15 S.E.C. classes have been held in Wichita. Rod was instrumental in making sure that those were successful events and that the Kansas CCIM chapter received the President’s Cup Award as the Best Small Chapter in the country 3 times.

Rod’s service has not been limited to government agencies and real estate groups. The East Wichita Rotary awarded Rod the honorary position of Rotarian of the Year for his efforts in raising money to provide polio vaccines, which is a worldwide Rotarian cause. Rod was the former President of the Sports Commission Task Force, which promotes better and more amateur and professional sporting events in the Wichita area. Rod played football in his younger days and is a very avid football fan to this day. An active member in the Wichita Wagonmasters, Rod was elected their captain in the 1980s and provided leadership for the BBQ and the Chili Cook Off in the beginning years. He was a past member of the Wichita Crime Commission, Inc. and has been published in the Wichita Eagle as a commentary contributor. As a contributor, his underlying message is often about private property rights and a citizen’s freedom to choose—over a government’s desire to control.

Currently you will find Rod M. Stewart, S.E.C., at Keller Williams Signature Partners as the managing director of the commercial division. His expertise includes investment sales, 1031 exchanges, multi-family, office, retail, and property management. Rod accepted an invitation to join this organization because he likes that Keller Williams honors God, family, and business. . . in that order.