House Resolution 22

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING MRS. NITA P. MARTIN UPON BEING NAMED THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI REALTORS AND FOR HER OVERALL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.

WHEREAS, Mrs. Nita P. Martin is being honored for her historical and impactful service as the first African American to serve, from March 2022 to October 2023, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Mississippi Realtors as well as for her overall effective service in the real estate industry; and

WHEREAS, as one who knows the importance of earning an education, Mrs. Martin earned a bachelor of arts in mass communication and journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) as well as a master of business administration from South University in Austin, Texas; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Martin, a proud native of Jackson, Mississippi, who is a licensed realtor, realtor association certified executive and a fervent advocate for homeownership, began her career in 2006 by selflessly serving as a Homeownership Counselor, certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, NeighborWorks America and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and

WHEREAS, due to Mrs. Martin's zealous role in helping to prevent foreclosures during the "Great Recession", she was awarded the "Commitment to Excellent Award" in 2010 by the president of Consumer Credit Counseling Services; and

WHEREAS, after Mrs. Martin's service in homeownership counseling, which positively changed the lives of those she served, she served as the Housing, Training & Technical Assistance Specialist for USM's Institute for Disabilities Studies Home of Your Own (HOYO) Program from 2010 through 2014; and

WHEREAS, during Mrs. Martin's service with HOYO, she made vast contributions such as providing pre-purchase homebuyer education to hundreds of individuals, and she secured $500,000 in HUD deferred loans and direct subsidies for mortgage financing; and

WHEREAS, notably, the HOYO Program, during Mrs. Martin's tenure, was awarded the "Best Homebuyer Program in the State" by Governor Haley Barbour for three consecutive years, thus establishing her rich legacy as a trusted and renowned housing professional throughout the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in 2013, Mrs. Martin became a member of the FDIC's Delta Alliance for Economic Inclusion, and staying true to her calling, she focused on improving the economic well-being of the unbanked and underserved; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Martin, from 2014 through 2018, served as Central Mississippi Realtors' Communications and Political Affairs Director, and in this role, she ghost authored more than 150 real estate columns that were published by the Clarion Ledger, and she conducted policy research that helped lead to the repeal of HOA transfer fees; and

WHEREAS, from 2018-2019, Mrs. Martin took her talents to Texas, where she served as Government Affairs Director of Advocacy for the San Antonio Board of Realtors and was appointed to the Mayor's Housing Policy Task Force and the Texas Realtors Political Involvement Committee, and she even wrote a grant

that funded the association's first Opportunity Zone Conference, which speaks to her forward thinking; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Martin, from 2019-2021, served as Director of Government Affairs for the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, where she launched political affairs and legislative advocacy for the nation's seventh largest realtor association, and she coordinated donations that totaled $1.8 million for the Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC) and expended $1,000,000 through Realtor Party campaign services; and

WHEREAS, in 2022, after making monumental contributions in Texas and Florida, Mrs. Martin returned home to her native Mississippi, where she continued her rich legacy of service and was appointed as CEO of Central Mississippi Realtors, where, under her leadership, she commenced many innovative community outreach programs such as Realtor Career Day and Power Hour Forums, just to name a few, and she activated the Realtors Party Campaign Services Program thus expanding the realtors brand in the Jackson metro area; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize an exceptional leader in the real estate industry such as Mrs. Nita P. Martin whose passionate advocacy for the industry, affordable and workforce housing, fair housing and civic engagement stands as a role model for not only realtors in the Magnolia State - but to realtors across this great nation:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Mrs. Nita P. Martin upon her service as the first African-American CEO of Central Mississippi Realtors, as well as for her overall service within the real estate industry and wish her continued success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Nita P. Martin, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.