“It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of this organization. I have met so many wonderful people throughout the years. Many of them have become lifelong friends. I feel blessed to be able to come to work doing something I love. Looking back on the inception of the Richmond County Real Estate Institute over the past 25 years, it gives me great pleasure to know that our institute has participated in helping to establish professionalism in our industry.”
-Debbie Lerner, Director of Education
The Richmond County Real Estate Institute (RCREI), owned and operated by the Staten Island Board of Realtors celebrated its 25th anniversary on September 15th. On that date in 1980 the school opened its doors at its first home in the Snug Harbor Humanities Building.
In September 1980 there were approximately 150 brokers and 270 licensed real estate salespeople on Staten Island. The school had been the brain child of the then current SIBOR President Carl Schlichtinger and past presidents James Trivelas and Harry T. Hermann who served as the schools first Dean. The school was originally formed as a separate corporation, owned and operated by SIBOR. The original officers were Carl Sclichtinger, president, Charlotte Furman, vice president, William Coull, vice president, Mary Ann Walstrom, vice president, Herbert Winsch, Treasurer, and Peter Schwimer, corporate secretary and educational consultant. David Zeaumeyer was the Coordinator, who is the responsible party with the NY State Department of State, the agency that licenses real estate schools in New York.
RCREI was the first school in the state to be operated by a local real estate board, offering licensing and continuing education. It was also the first school of its kind to operate independent of a college or university.
Carl Schlichtinger, in explaining one of the catalysts for the school, was quoted in the Staten Island Advance in August, 1980 saying “that as a result of faulty information that followed enactment of new licensing requirements, real estate sales people and brokers throughout the state do not fully understand their responsibilities.
George K. Wonica, a Westerleigh broker and chairman of the SIBOR Education Committee in 1980 was critical of the state in the same Advance article, saying “State officials made a drastic mistake in declaring exempt from continuing education classes those brokers who have held their licenses for 15 years…Laws change every day and it is ultimately ridiculous for them not to be subject to the same requirements.” Today, brokers with 15 years broker experience are still exempt from continuing education requirements.
On September 15, 1980, the day RCREI opened its doors for the first time a young Debbie Lerner began her career with the school. She was its first employee, and other than instructors, has been its only employee for 25 years. She and RCREI have processed literally thousands of students through pre-licensing and continuing education courses over the intervening years. There have been numerous Deans and Coordinators, and many instructors, but the constant throughout has been Debbie’s steady hand.
Sandy Krueger, CEO of SIBOR and the current RCREI Coordinator had this to say “Our school is the largest and most successful on Staten Island because of the incredible dedication of Debbie Lerner. We have wonderful instructors and programs, but the anchor has always been Debbie. My hat is off to her and to the wise men responsible for hiring her 25 years ago.”
“Among the many instructors in the school three deserve recognition for having been on board from the beginning. Fred Shayewitz, Bill Coull and Richard Ruggiero.”
Past President Fred Shaywitz says, “‘Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.’ This quote reflects the three biggest qualities Debbie Lerner possesses.”
Realtor Angela Demarco said of Debbie Lerner, “Without her encouragement and guidance throughout the years, I would have found it very hard to build my real estate career.”
Congratulations Debbie for 25 years.
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