Leanne Barschdorf Nichols, a founder of the Keller Williams Realty franchise in Maine, is the first-ever recipient of an award named in her honor, created by the Greater Portland Board of Realtors (GPBR) to recognize her “exceptional and visionary leadership” according to 2021 GPBR President Derrick Buckspan.
The “Leanne Barschdorf Nichols Visionary Leadership Award” will not necessarily be an annual award, according to Buckspan, but will be reserved for the years when an exceptional visionary leader such as Leanne clearly emerges. There will be a plaque which will showcase the names of the recipients over future years.
“2020 was a tough year for the board, as we had to reinvent a lot of what we do. Leanne was phenomenal at navigating the ever-changing landscape during the pandemic, while also spearheading two major initiatives, the Sustainability Advisory Group and the Diversity Task Force,” said Buckspan, a principal at RE/MAX Shoreline. “Leanne not only brought these two important initiatives to the board but was also successful in rallying the members around these priorities. I wanted to commemorate and celebrate the amazing leadership that Leanne exhibited during her year as president as we also celebrate our first 100 years as a board,” Buckspan added.
When asked for her reaction to the honor, Nichols replied, “I was completely shocked! The fact is that it’s an honor to serve. When it’s something you’re passionate about, it doesn’t feel like work. I’m so grateful to the people who embraced the initiatives of 2020 and who have met the call to action that these times demanded. We navigated a lot of new waters in 2020 which required adapting to new ways of meeting, keeping REALTORS and consumers safe, and keeping them informed about frequent changes from the Governor’s office as it relates to real estate in Maine. It was amazing to see the GPBR team pull together for the members and for the community at large. Heather Horlor, our Executive Officer is amazing and was on board with everything we implemented in 2020. Her support in these action-oriented gamechangers was critical to their launch.”
An active Maine REALTOR for over 20 years, Nichols has served in many leadership roles over the past sixteen years, including Designated Broker at Keller Williams Realty, President of Maine Listings, Board Member of the Maine Association of REALTORS and, most recently, President of the Greater Portland Board of REALTORS. Spanning almost two decades of service, her REALTOR volunteerism has included roles on several committees, from Policy & Procedures to Strategic Planning and more.