Learn more about incoming 2023 president Pam Ruggeroli, CRS, and her journey through the real estate industry
By Amelia Garza
Real estate was always in Pam Ruggeroli’s DNA—but that didn’t mean she entered this industry without hesitation.
“My mother was a REALTOR® for 30 years in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I grew up, and I swore I would never be a REALTOR®,” says Ruggeroli. For 15 years, she had a successful career as a dental hygienist, until she suffered an injury to her hand. As a single mother going through a divorce, she had to find a new path that would allow her to be there for her children.
In 2001, while selling candy bars for her daughter’s cheer team, which she coached, Ruggeroli met a broker who reintroduced her to the real estate industry.
“He handed me his business card and said, ‘Call me on Monday. Let me see how I can help.” After several months of friendship, he sat her down and said, “You’re going to real estate school,” and even paid for her classes. She’s been a REALTOR® ever since.
“In the beginning, real estate was hard,” says Ruggeroli. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to fail something for the first time in my life!’ It’s not the easiest business to get started in, but it is the most rewarding business if you are consistent and persistent.”
Over the past 20 years, what skills have served you the most in your business?
With real estate, my favorite part is helping people, especially first-time homebuyers. It’s such an exciting and scary experience for them, and [it’s important to] have a professional who can guide them through the process and basically take them by the hand and show them step by step how to get where they want to be and fulfill their dream of homeownership.
It’s been a tumultuous market. How can RRC continue to serve its members best in changing times, and what do you see happening in the market in 2023?
I wish I had a crystal ball … I see the market normalizing right now. What we experienced for the past two years is not normal. To have an interest rate below 3% is not normal. To have only a few hundred homes on the market in any given market is not normal. So I feel like we are stabilizing. And in 2023, I think we’re going to see a flat, even keel. It’s our job as REALTORS® to educate our sellers and buyers. Times have changed, and we need to be willing to give to these buyers to help them. And then letting them know that, yes, interest rates are higher, but you have two options: You can either pay yourself or you can pay somebody else. If you’re paying rent, you’re paying somebody else’s mortgage, and they’re the ones that are making all the money. Or you can invest in yourself, pay your own mortgage and have potential equity down the road. It’s all up to us and the lenders to educate our buyers and sellers.
Is there any advice you’d give to new agents getting started in today’s market?
Be persistent and consistent. Don’t give up. That’s all you can do. It took me time, but it’s all about building relationships. I think that’s what has made my career as successful as it is. If I just did it and stopped, did it and stopped, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.
What is the best business advice you’ve received in your career?
Delegate is the No. 1 thing. Also, my biggest thing I teach new agents when I’m mentoring and training them is if you take care of the people, the money will come. If you’re chasing the money and you’re not doing the right thing, it’s not going to work out. If you focus on what’s in the best interest of your clients, then everything else will work out.
What are some ways you stay active in your community and give back?
From the time I was young, I was involved in different charities and fundraising. I always say, if I had a dime for every dollar I raised, I’d be a multi-millionaire. Since 2016, my primary charity of choice is Care Fund. It provides mortgage and rent assistance to families with critically ill children. We have our big fundraiser every year in October. When a child is diagnosed with a critical illness or has a critical injury, these families are devastated. Many don’t have a lot of money to begin with—but then suddenly, one of the parents must take time off work to take that child to the hospital or doctor’s appointments, the prescription medications are through the roof and the hospital bills are crazy. The goal is to help these families have a roof over their heads. One of our mottos is, “Keeping families safe at home.” We believe no parent should have to choose between going to work and caring for their child. It’s not just all the big things we can do, but it’s the little things.
How has your family helped shape your career?
My mom and dad always encouraged me that I could be, do or have anything I wanted if I was willing to work hard enough for it. My family has always been there to support me. My mom and dad are no longer around, unfortunately.
My kids give me a hard time, saying that they grew up with me on the phone constantly and were craving my attention, but they’re very supportive of me. It’s funny because now I see them kind of doing some of the things that I learned from my mom. My daughter is in association management and is involved in different charities, so I see them learning to give back. I learned it from my mom, and they learned it from me. My partner, Jeano, who I’ve been with for more than 20 years, is a REALTOR® as well, and he shows houses for me, does home inspections, puts on lock boxes, you name it. He’ll do anything to help me—especially when I’m traveling for RRC.
What or who would you say is your biggest motivator in your personal life?
I work as hard as I do because, honestly, I want to take care of people. If I look back to 2001 when I became a REALTOR®, my “why” was my children. I wanted to buy them a house so they could have their own home to live in, and I did that. Then I worked hard to make sure they had everything they needed while they were going to school. Now, I help them any way I can as adults. I always say, work hard so you can play harder. I love working hard so I can spend time with my grandchildren in Texas.
What motivates you to be a successful leader at RRC?
When I ran my campaign for first vice president, my slogan was “Members first.” I want to make sure our members have what they want or need to help them be successful. I’m in this for our members—for the success of our Council and no other reason. I want RRC to continue to be the best education and business development provider for all REALTORS®. I think every REALTOR® should be a CRS, and anything I can do to help nonmembers understand the value of being a CRS designee, I’m here to help with that as well.
Your theme for next year is “Inspire.” Tell us about the meaning behind that word for you.
I attended Kenny Parcell’s leadership summit in Chicago last August, and it was very inspirational. I got to thinking: How did I get where I am today? And it was because of the people I was surrounded by that inspired me—my parents, the broker who became my friend and encouraged me to go to real estate school, I can go on and on.
Every single one of us, whether it be staff, current members or future members, we all have the ability to make a difference in somebody else’s life by inspiring them. I know for a fact I wouldn’t be where I am today had people not seen something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I’m proud, thankful and grateful for all the positive, inspirational influences I’ve had in my life over the years.
Photo: Steven Meckler
