Tessa Hultz, RCE, CAE, CIPS, Chief Executive Officer of Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR), has been named one of Long Island Herald’s 2022 Premier Business Women of Long Island in the Real Estate category.
The Annual Premier Business Women of Long Island Awards recognizes the achievements of outstanding, high-level business leaders who have impacted both the workplace and the communities they serve. Awards are presented in categories ranging from real estate to nonprofit organizations to hospitality and financial services. Each of the honorees will offer motivation to newcomers in the field while also joining the ranks of other storied leaders in the Richner Communications Executive Network.
Hultz currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of LIBOR, a leading regional REALTOR® trade association that serves real estate professionals throughout Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties. LIBOR has over 28,000 members and is home to one of the nation's largest, most diverse memberships. Since joining the association in early 2019, Hultz’s focus has been on transforming the organization into an industry leader for protecting and promoting the principles of the Fair Housing Act.
Hultz began her career in REALTOR® association management in 2005 when she joined the Columbia Board of REALTORS® as director of the organization’s Education Department, leading its advocacy efforts. At the time, she was also aspiring to be a first-time homebuyer. The experience of working to make the dream of homeownership possible for others while saving up for and dreaming of her own first home had a profound impact on her approach to real estate. As a result, she has become a fierce industry advocate for fair access to safe, affordable housing for all.
In 2018, as CEO of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®, Hultz pioneered a first-of-its-kind affordable housing study by a local REALTOR® Association, which has since been cited by regional affordable housing groups to argue favorably for affordable housing projects.
Hultz’s leadership has led LIBOR to greater engagement with the Fair Housing community and elected leaders and has championed a multi-media approach to engaging REALTORS® on Fair Housing. She worked with Nassau and Suffolk County Legislators to assist with efforts in the creation of a publicly accessible database and a map indicating the properties and areas that contain racially restrictive covenants for the purpose of removal. Hultz has been at the forefront of increasing member and public education on Fair Housing, promoted implicit bias trainings, and compiled Fair Housing complaint resources to help brokers incorporate more fair housing training within brokerages.
Hultz’s dedication has earned her several notable achievements and honors, including recognition by her peers as an inaugural recipient of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Association Executives YPN (Young Professionals Network) Leaders of Tomorrow Award, and induction into the Bud Smith Leadership Society, whose members play an active, ongoing role as leading contributors to the industry and innovative mentors for the Association Executive community. Most recently Hultz was recognized by RisMedia as a 2022 Newsmaker, in the category of Crusaders, for her staunch advocacy in fair housing for all, and as a champion in finding a better way.
“Tessa Hultz is a prime example of exceptional leadership, innovation, and collaboration,” said LIBOR President Kevin Loiacono. “Long Island Board of REALTORS® congratulates Tessa Hultz on this well-deserved recognition as an influential leader and mentor within our association, industry, and Long Island’s community,” said LIBOR President Kevin Loiacono.