ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland REALTORS® reflects the rich diversity of the state we serve. In 2026, that diversity is powerfully visible in local leadership: six Maryland associations are led by Black women presidents. Is it a record? Likely. But the real story is not about numbers. It’s about progress. Across Maryland, association leadership is becoming more representative of the members and communities we serve. And when leadership reflects lived experience, perspective, and possibility, the entire profession grows stronger.
Why This Matters
“When I saw Yolanda Muckle serve as Maryland REALTORS®’ President in 2023, it affirmed for me that leadership in the profession could reflect diversity at the highest levels,” said Terez Dorsey, the first Black female President serving the Frederick County Association of REALTORS® (FCAR). “That moment affirmed that leadership within the industry could reflect the diversity of the communities that REALTORS® serve.” For Dorsey and others, visibility is more than symbolic. It is transformational.
“We’re sending a message,” added Paula Diggs Smith, President, Harford County Association of REALTORS®, now serving her 44th year as a REALTOR®. “It’s important that our children and generations to come see themselves represented by men and women in leadership positions.”
For decades, women have comprised the majority of the real estate workforce. Leadership roles, however, have not always reflected that reality. The emergence of more women — and more women of color — in top positions marks a meaningful and forward-looking shift for the industry.
Six Leaders, Six Paths
While they share a cultural background, gender, profession, and a deep respect for cultivating trust and professionalism, these six presidents — Paula Diggs Smith, Terez Dorsey, Shandell Green, Tiffany Harris, Annette Matthews, and Carole Webb — represent a wide range of experiences. Their ages span from their 30s to their 70s. They entered the profession through different doors. They balance varied family demands and lead in distinct ways. Yet they share common advice: get educated, show up, get involved, speak up, and mentor others.
“For me, leadership has never been just about being invited into the room,” said Tiffany Harris, President, Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS® (GBBR). “It’s about showing up fully, contributing meaningfully, and making sure the door stays open for the next person.” Harris, broker/owner of Century 21’s Harris Hawkins & Co., earned her license in 2014 after nine years in property management. Real estate was not originally part of her plan. “I had a high school friend who offered me a referral, and real estate wasn’t what I had planned to do, but she encouraged me.” She began as a dual-career agent and quickly discovered how much she valued the profession and its power. “I wanted to provide the knowledge my family didn’t have when my grandmother lost her house due to a reverse mortgage. Nobody knew how to save it.” For Harris, leadership is about expanding access to information that builds generational wealth.
For Dorsey, the mission is deeply personal. Having experienced periods of housing instability, she understands firsthand the life-changing power of stable housing. “I know what it feels like to question where you’ll lay your head at night, and I also know the pride and stability that comes with holding the keys to your own home,” she said. Purchasing her first home in 2018 reinforced her belief in the importance of access, education, and advocacy. “That journey fuels my commitment to ensure others have access to the same opportunity.”
Diggs Smith’s path began with a newspaper ad. “My first job out of college was with the mortgage/collections department of a bank in Ann Arbor, Michigan,” she said. There, she was encouraged to attend banking/appraisal seminars. Something about these seminars clicked, and she began to pursue real estate in earnest. After relocating to Baltimore, she attended a real estate career night, then earned her license in 1982. “Because of my prior work with a bank mortgage collections department in Michigan, real estate jumped out at me,” she said. “I also had a one-year-old son, so I needed the flexibility that this career can provide.”
Annette Matthews, President of the Southern Maryland Association of REALTORS® (SMAR), has built an enduring career in real estate spanning nearly two decades. Her journey began with Long and Foster in Suffolk, VA, where she started in 2006. The profession’s flexibility was a significant factor in her decision, especially as her children grew older and her family’s needs shifted. Annette’s entrance into real estate was encouraged by her husband, Calvin, who was serving in the U.S. Navy at the time and was already a licensed real estate professional. Calvin believed Annette would thrive in the industry. “You’ll be good at it. You like to talk to people!” he said. After moving from Arizona in 2014, Annette decided to obtain her Maryland real estate license. Her commitment to helping others and her passion for connecting with people have been central to her success and leadership within SMAR.
Shandell Green, President of the Mid-Shore Board of REALTORS® (MSBR) and a REALTOR® with The Gerdes Team with Real Broker, LLC, began her real estate career after obtaining her license in 2019, following her earlier experience as an assistant and office manager. “My boss told me that I am more than managing the office and sitting behind a desk,” Green said. She embraces a leadership approach founded on engagement and collaboration.
Carole Webb, President of the Prince George’s County Association of REALTORS® (PGCAR) and a REALTOR® with Samson Properties, often shares the heart behind her business: every home has a story—and my story helps you move smarter. “I got into real estate through personal experience navigating homeownership challenges,” Webb said. “That journey shaped my perspective and drives my commitment to helping others make confident, informed decisions from the very beginning.” She added, “Serving others led me to association involvement, where I believe that showing up and contributing to the success of others and this industry matters just as much as producing.” Raised in a service-based family, giving back was natural. Today, that foundation continues to guide her leadership as she remains committed to holding the door open for others to grow, lead, and step forward.
Overcoming Barriers
Each of these leaders encountered obstacles along the way — from the absence of role models who looked like them to subtle and sometimes overt discrimination. Dorsey often felt she had to work harder to earn respect. “Even with a daughter with cerebral palsy I still needed to show up,” she said. “I believe we should leave the world better than we found it.”
“As a Black female brokerage owner in a competitive marketplace, I had to overcome barriers related to access, visibility, and credibility in spaces where representation has historically been limited,” Harris said. “These obstacles refined my leadership, deepened my commitment to service, and reinforced my belief that progress in our industry requires courage, adaptability, and collaboration.”
Diggs Smith recalls moments in the 1980s when implied references about neighborhoods and clients required her to “read between the lines.” “It was tough, but I was tougher. I knew I couldn’t dwell on these opinions. I kept my chin up and kept pushing forward.”
In every case, perseverance and purpose prevailed.
The Leadership Academy Pipeline
Five of the six presidents credit Maryland REALTORS®’ Leadership Academy as a pivotal experience in their growth. Dorsey, a 2024 graduate, recalls a message about the importance of decision-makers reflecting those impacted by decisions. Harris, a 2021 graduate, says the program helped redefine what leadership looks like—and who it includes. Diggs Smith, a 2022 graduate, found her advocacy sharpened and realized she had a voice that could influence change. After more than four decades in real estate, she now focuses on lifting and inspiring others, embracing the idea to “Be One, Do One and Bring One.” Green, a 2023 graduate, emphasized collaboration and connection, while Webb, a 2020 graduate, described the program as where she truly found her voice as a leader. Matthews credits her leadership preparedness to years of volunteer service and progressive leadership roles that strengthened her skills and understanding of organizational leadership.
A Collective Impact
Individually, each achievement is significant. Collectively, their leadership represents something even greater. “Leadership is not about finding one leader but awakening all leaders,” Dorsey said. “I may be the first Black female to be president of FCAR, but I’m not leading in isolation.”
Six leaders. Six journeys. One forward-looking profession— increasingly reflective of the communities it serves and committed to expanding opportunities across Maryland.