The Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico hired Nathan Brooks, a former firefighter and real estate veteran, as its new executive director.
After graduating high school in New Hampshire in 1995, Brooks joined the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, where he served as a firefighter for three years until a knee injury forced him to hang up the gear.
During his time at the base, Brooks said he fell in love with the state’s diverse culture and chose to create a life here. He said he enjoyed the intricacies of real estate management and wanted to create a difference in the industry.
Brooks would go on to work for the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors (GAAR) for 13 years, serving as operations administrator and director of professional development before being promoted to the chief operations officer role from 2017-2023.
He credits GAAR for helping him acquire the skills necessary to perform in his new role.
As the new executive director, Brooks oversees two staff members and reports to the board of directors. He is involved in all financial aspects of the association including strategic planning and day-to-day operations.
Brooks is currently attending the University of New Mexico, earning a bachelor of business administration degree with a concentration on organizational leadership. He plans to graduate in 2024 and aims to utilize his newfound skills to improve his work.
Albuquerque Business First recently caught up with Brooks to talk about his career goals and interests.
This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.
Albuquerque Business First: You collect sports cards. How did you get into the sport of collecting?
Nathan Brooks: I’m an avid collector of sports cards in general, but I also like to go to different shows around the state and collect gems and minerals. It all started when I was a kid. I collected everything when I was younger — rocks, baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards. You name it, I collected it.
What are your career goals? Long term, I want to guide this association into the future and just make it a little better than I found it.
Do you have any advice for realtors here in New Mexico? Just take every opportunity to get the skills and knowledge that you need to be successful in your business, whether it’s residential or commercial real estate. Focus on professional development and use the resources that your association has to offer.
Source: “Meet the Commercial Association of Realtors New Mexico’s new executive director“
