WASHINGTON, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Terrence M. "Terry" McDermott,
54, an experienced association leader and corporate executive, will take the
reins of the National Association of Realtors' staff organization effective
July 1, 1997.
    McDermott, currently chief executive officer of The American Institute of
Architects, Washington,  succeeds Almon R. "Bud" Smith as NAR's executive vice
president. Smith is retiring after serving six years in the top NAR staff
post.
    "We had a very impressive field of excellent candidates," said NAR
President Russell K. Booth, a Realtor from Salt Lake City.  "Our leadership
team unanimously selected Terry McDermott, who brings a fresh approach and
solid business experience to our association," he continued.
    "We considered every aspect of this very demanding job and the talents
each candidate brought to the table.  It was a tough choice but a clear
choice," Booth added.
    The leadership team worked closely with executive recruiter Leonard
Pfeiffer of Korn/Ferry, Washington, and after four months of deliberation,
tapped McDermott for the Chicago-based job.
    McDermott said he hopes to build upon the many new initiatives begun by
his predecessor.  "Bud Smith brought vision and leadership to the Realtor
organization," said McDermott.  "I have pledged to apply my business and
association experience in such a way that our industry's common challenges,
accelerated by heightened consumer demand and new technology, will be met
head-on by the national association."
    Prior to joining AIA in 1994, McDermott served  for seven years as
president and chief executive officer of Cahners Publishing in Boston, the
largest U.S. business publisher.  He was with Cahners for 24 years.  A Chicago
native, McDermott majored in economics at Loyola University Chicago and
received his bachelor of arts degree in organizational development from the
National College of Education there.
    McDermott brings to NAR solid experience in publishing, advertising,
communications and association management.  "He is known for setting high
standards of performance for himself and those who work with him," Booth said.
    "I am excited about the opportunities that lie before us, and I'm ready to
begin a journey that will take the NAR to the next level and establish the
Realtor organization as the clear leader in the professional association
field," McDermott said.  "Our members will have absolutely no question that
they are receiving full value for their dues dollars as we focus on doing the
things Realtors want and need to succeed in their business enterprises.
Furthermore, whatever tasks we embark upon to serve our members' needs, rest
assured they will be done no less than excellently -- there is no room for
second best in any endeavor worth doing," he stressed.
    McDermott currently resides in Washington.  He and his wife, Susan, will
be relocating to Chicago, where NAR is headquartered.
    The National Association of Realtors, "The Voice for Real Estate," is the
nation's largest professional association, representing nearly 730,000 members
involved in all aspects of the real estate industry.
    This and other news releases issued from the National Association of
Realtors may be retrieved by calling PR Newswire's fax-on-demand service at:
1-800-758-5804, ext. 601633.  NAR releases also are posted at
http://www.realtor.com.

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