CMLS, RESO unveil board members for 2026
Plus, Stellar MLS becomes a principal member of FIABCI Worldwide in 2026 as its global advisory arm expands its footprint.
Editor's note: From regional and statewide players to locals focused on a single market, multiple listings services and Realtor associations are the backbone of residential real estate. Here we highlight some of the latest news about the organizations that are shaping the future of the industry.
CMLS taps Shayne Fairley, Jerry Legrand for new board roles
The Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) has announced its 2026 board of directors, including the addition of two newly elected members and several returning directors.
Shayne Fairley, COO of Stellar MLS, and Jerry Legrand, chief technology officer of APEX MLS, were elected by the association's membership to serve four-year terms on the board. Both bring operational and technology leadership experience from large regional MLS organizations.
Their elections reflect a continued emphasis on governance that balances day-to-day MLS operations with long-term system and data considerations, CRMLS said in the press announcement.
Art Carter, CEO of California Regional MLS (CRMLS), was also appointed to the board to fill a vacancy and will complete the remainder of the term. Four other board members were re-elected to new four-year terms: Brad Bjelke, CEO of UtahRealEstate.com; Jeff Bosch, CEO of IRES LLC; Shelley Specchio, CEO of MIBOR Broker Listing Cooperative; and Rob Wagoner, SVP and MLS director of Heartland Multiple Listing Service.
The full 2026 board is chaired by Nicole Jensen, CEO of realMLS, with Northwest MLS CEO Justin Haag serving as vice chair. John DiMichele, CEO of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, continues as past chair.
RESO announces board of directors for 2026
The Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) has announced its 2026 board of directors, seating a leadership group as data standards take on a more central role in how real estate technology is built and deployed, the organization said this week.
Rebecca Jensen, president and CEO of Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), will continue as board chair, providing continuity as RESO oversees standards used by MLSs, brokerages, associations and technology vendors. The board maintains representation across those groups, reflecting RESO's role as a neutral standards-setting body for the industry.
According to RESO, the newly seated board will oversee standards development at a time when artificial intelligence is becoming more deeply embedded in real estate operations. AI systems increasingly depend on structured, consistent data delivered through modern APIs — areas governed by RESO's Data Dictionary and Web API standards, the group said.
RESO CEO Sam DeBord said the board's composition reflects a continued focus on collaboration across competing interests to ensure standards remain broadly usable. That approach, he noted, allows organizations of all sizes to adopt shared data frameworks without custom integrations.
Universal Consulting Opportunities recaps 2025 highlights
Universal Consulting Opportunities (UCO), the global advisory arm of Stellar MLS, expanded its international footprint in 2025, working with more than 30 markets as interest in multiple listing service frameworks continues to grow outside the U.S.
Based in Florida, UCO provided consulting and strategic support to real estate organizations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe, the group said. Over the past year, UCO worked with more than 20 new countries and organizations, focusing on MLS development, technology modernization, governance models and education tailored to local market needs. The organization also convened leadership sessions designed to encourage cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing.
During the fourth quarter, UCO participated in the RENT real estate technology conference in Paris, where UCO executives engaged with representatives from the European Association of Real Estate Professions (CEPI) and other industry leaders and policymakers. UCO also continued its collaboration with Czech technology firm Igluu and presented on MLS principles and data transparency at an industry event.
Stellar MLS was meanwhile recognized internationally this year, gaining approval as a principal member of FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation. The designation provides UCO and Stellar MLS with a formal role in FIABCI's global and U.S. chapters heading into 2026.
"This status reflects the global trust we've earned through integrity, collaboration and our commitment to FIABCI's mission thus far," Stellar MLS and UCO CEO Merri Jo Cowen said in a news release. "It's not only an acknowledgment of what we've accomplished — it's a foundation for what comes next."