A born leader: `Grand matriarch' mentors Realtors

Irene Vogel's guiding hand came sweeping into the Las Vegas real estate arena 30 years ago. As executive vice president of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, Vogel has been referred to as a teacher, a negotiator, a resource, a dynamo, as well as one who cares deeply about the trade group and its members.

Association President Lee Barrett, who has known Vogel since her early days in Las Vegas, described her as the association's "grand matriarch."

"As you look to a mother or grandmother for leadership, she provides it as if it were a family, (just) as a matriarch would for a family," Barrett said. "She understands how everything works and she knows how to take charge; she has to in that position."

Vogel has worked with association presidents and helped implement their visions on and off since 1974. She has collaborated with area Realtors on an everyday basis, shaping their talents with her words of instruction and inspiration. She has planned events, fund-raisers and classes for the membership, helping to mold its image for the public.

Although she took a 10-year break from her post in 1990, Vogel has always enjoyed her "behind-the-scenes" role at the association.

"I'm constantly in touch with the agents that are coming into the office. I've always enjoyed that kind of a rapport," she said. "And I liked the education aspect of it. We would run education classes, and I guess that's always been my love; that's always been interesting to me.

"At the office, the day goes by very fast. To this day, I look at the clock and can't believe it's 5 o'clock, and then the staff says good night to me."

It was 11 days ago when Vogel spoke at the Nevada Association of Realtors leadership meeting in Greenhorn Creek, Calif., and discussed the Realtors she has mentored and how leadership can play an "important part" in one's work.

Kellie Rubin, broker-salesperson at Re/Max Achievers, saw the effect that Vogel had on the 16 members of the group, all of whom shared "rave reviews" of Vogel's oratory.

"When she got done, they just felt that she synergized them," Rubin said. "They were really feeling that there was leadership within all of them, and that you have to look into yourself and find it."

Vogel found it within herself in 1974, when she and her husband, Allen, moved to Las Vegas from Rolling Hills, Calif. She'd gotten into real estate "accidentally" in the suburban town, and later accepted an offer to be assistant to the executive vice president at GLVAR.

The couple were no strangers to Las Vegas, where they had enjoyed many vacations. Vogel found the association to her liking, and two years later, the incumbent executive vice president resigned. So, the job was offered to Vogel, a position she would hold for the next 15 years.

Association presidents, past and present, have found Vogel instrumental in moving their agendas forward.

"She sits down with you in planning meetings and gets an idea of what your goals are," Barrett said. "Through the systems of the association, she'll find out how to implement them."

Late last year, Vogel and her staff helped accomplish Barrett's goal of setting up risk management classes for the membership, using equal amounts of savvy and attention to detail.

Vogel's watchful eye also makes its way to events such as the group's installation of officers dinner, where she personally oversees the menu and inspects every table's floral arrangement, all the way down to the color of the tablecloths, according to Rubin.

"If something comes up and needs to be planned, Irene is going to have that project so handled," Rubin said. "I have never met anybody in all my experience in business who is as organized and meticulous as Irene."

In her role, Vogel also needs to trust her instincts, since she works with Realtors of varying talent and experience. Jack Woodcock, owner-broker of Prudential Americana Group, said many agents have benefitted from her guidance and coaching.

Conversely, Vogel instinctively knows how much guidance is necessary.

"She learns very quickly about the characteristics and little nuances of each person's personality," said Woodcock, who once served with Vogel as association president. "She in turn knows how to bring out their strongest traits and help them work on their weaknesses to the point where they become well-respected leaders.

"And she doesn't have any aversion to pointing out someone's weaknesses. If someone gets in the pipeline to be an officer, she's told them in no uncertain terms what it will take for them to straighten up and fly right. But she does so with genuine love and affection 99 percent of the time."

It was in 1990 that Vogel retired from the association, saying that it was "right" for both her and the group, as "change was needed." Soon after she joined Woodcock at Prudential with the same industrious approach she'd had for 15 years, as she helped build the firm's management team and establish programs there that are still used "to this day."

Christopher Homes became an eight-year stop for Vogel, and she found head honcho Chris Stuhmer to be "the most outstanding builder in Las Vegas."

In 2000, Vogel came out of "retirement" and resumed her post as executive vice president for the association, after it had asked her to return.

"In my office, it was the same furniture that I had picked out before," she said. "And friendships got renewed. A lot of new programs started and a lot of old programs resurfaced; I recycled them.

"I think there was a feeling of confidence there after I came back. Many of these people had worked for me for years, and they were happy that I was back."

In her years with the group, Vogel has looked after the entire Las Vegas real estate machine, down to the very core of the vocation itself.

"She's brought attention to the real estate profession within the community. That's created an awareness of what we do and how we represent our clients and customers," Woodcock said. "That's made people look at us as professionals, instead of real estate deal makers. We not only respect her, but we all care very deeply about her. We would not be where we are today without her."

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