2021 can suck a hot d*ck
RIP Betty White
RIP Ken Jenny
Kenneth Jenny, respected real estate industry vet, dies at 66
His real estate career began at Coldwell Banker in 1984, according to Jenny’s LinkedIn profile. At Coldwell Banker, he climbed the ranks over the course of about seven years to become COO, with all operations across North America under his purview. From there, Jenny moved on to become senior vice president and CMO of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates where he spent about three-and-a-half years, after which he became CEO and co-owner of real estate media company RealEstate.com, where he worked nearly six years.
At the end of his career, Jenny focused his attentions on his real estate tech and brokerage services consultancy, tranCen, which he ran for over 25 years. Over the course of his consultancy career, Jenny worked with notable clients like Zillow Group, Opcity, MoxiWorks and Realogy, among others.
Am I the only one that gasped when I read he was 66? Oh man.
Ken wasn’t exactly a fan of the MLS industry, but I respected his opinion. He didn’t shy away from tough topics and I appreciated that he spoke his mind in an unfiltered type of way. Some great tributes on Facebook.
The last time I saw Ken was in Newport Beach, pre-pandemic. I had a lunch meeting with someone at the Pelican Grill. As I was walking out I spotted Ken at another table with a group of people.
He had a big smile as I approached the table (who doesn’t like to be recognized when out?) with a “Hiya doing Greg.”, he stood up, introduced me to the people around the table, in a flattering way. We briefly chatted and I left.
I’m sure he was meeting the people at that table to help them with something or connecting them to other people that could help them. Helping. Connecting. That was his way.
RIP Ken.
RIP Bob Offut
Scott Quinn let me know that an industry innovator recently passed, and I asked me if he wrote something, would I post it on Vendor Alley. It’s my honor Scott.
The MLS industry lost one of its early pioneers this week. Bob Offutt was an advertising sales rep who moved from Louisville KY to Greensboro, NC in 1969. Bob was amazed there was no homes magazine in Greensboro for the public to look at houses for sale. He quickly decided he would start a company to solve that problem and in 1971, he started Offutt Publishing. In short order, Bob was doing homes magazines in many east coast cities then started printing MLS books. His homes magazine and MLS book publishing company was growing rapidly and the company employed lots of folks working 3 shifts per day.
Scott Quinn
In 1979, the company delivered its first “on-line” MLS system which was based on IBM Series 1 computers. The company was very successful selling their new “on-line” MLS system which delivered the blazing speed of 300 baud on the famous TI 745 paper terminals.
In 1999 the company delivered one of the first internet-based MLS systems and had great success selling that system for many years. In 2006, Mr. Offutt sold his company to First American and enjoyed many great years of travel and retirement with his wife Lois and his family.
Bob was a fun-loving guy so as made famous by the old Budweiser commercial, let’s just say, Bob, we salute you, you were a “Real man of Genius”
To Bob Offutt, thanks for all your contributions to the MLS industry and may you RIP.
Freddy
Freddy’s Funeral , Medical , & Other Expenses
“We are looking to raise money for Suzanne, Freddy’s wife, and the Sarabia Family to help with Funeral, Medical, and Other expenses during this difficult time. Unfortunately, we lost this loving Husband, Son, Brother, Uncle, Step-Dad, Step-Grandpa, and Friend to COVID last week. “
Great to see the generosity the industry is showing toward Freddy’s family. Giving and helping out someone else is need is one of the best things you can do for yourself. So click on the link above and put a smile on face for the rest of the day. Rest In Peace Freddy.
RIP Noreen Davis
REBGV mourns the loss of Noreen Davis
It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of our friend and colleague, Noreen Davis. Noreen died last night after a brief and brave battle against cancer. We are heartbroken.
Noreen worked at REBGV for more than 22 years. Over this time, numerous people came to know her well and appreciate her quick smile, good humour and willingness to take on challenges. She was a dedicated team member who stepped up to hard work.
As a former REALTOR® and long-time Manager of Member Services, Noreen was well-known and liked by REBGV staff and members alike. She was a staunch supporter of her team in Programs and Events, Member Services and MLS®.
Years ago, REBGV’s managers participated in an Insights teambuilding exercise. The observations that surfaced through that exercise described Noreen perfectly:
“Noreen is warm and gracious and believes in a philosophy of ‘live and let live’… As she is highly articulate with a quick sense of humour she is often the life and soul of the party… Noreen radiates goodwill and enthusiasm. She is optimistic about life in general and human potential in particular. She is seen by most others as a friendly, practical, realistic and down-to-earth person. She tends to live for today with a ‘you only go around once’ philosophy.”
She lived her life to the fullest.
We will always remember Noreen. Please join us in extending our heartfelt condolences to Noreen’s husband Tony and the countless friends and family she touched in her life.
I met Noreen at CMLS. I didn’t get to know her too well, but I know she will be missed. #fuckcancer
Paul Griffin RIP
More sad news to report. Paul Griffin passed away this week. I met Paul when he had his consulting business, Griffin Information Systems. He has been the Executive Vice President of the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS for the last 18 years. The PRC alum has been hit pretty hard this past couple of weeks.
RIP Jim Marks
Jim was a great speaker, entrepreneur, and most of all human. He co-founded Virtual Results and was a big part of the RE.NET community. He will be missed.
RIP Jenny Natale
Last week the industry lost someone very special, Jenny Natale. I’ve known Jenny a long time, she was one of the most nicest and humblest people I’ve known in this business. She was a private person but I think Matt Cohen said it best in a recent Facebook post.
“She never put herself in the middle of things, looking to speak at conferences, and she didn’t socialize a lot at conferences either. Nonetheless, she was extremely competant, loyal and very special in ways I just can’t sum up in a short post. She spent a big part of her life making sure the real estate industry worked well for the professionals of Long Island.”
Matt Cohen
Every year I would get to see her smiling face at the MLSLI’s MLS Tech Fair and we would catch up on things going on in and outside the industry. I’m going to miss her. My deepest condolences to her family and friends.
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen dies
Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder and Seahawks owner, dies at 65
“Gates, in a statement Monday, said he was “heartbroken by the passing of one of my oldest and dearest friends.” Personal computing would not have existed without Mr. Allen, he said.
“But Paul wasn’t content with starting one company,” Gates said. “He channeled his intellect and compassion into a second act focused on improving people’s lives and strengthening communities in Seattle and around the world. He was fond of saying, ‘If it has the potential to do good, then we should do it.’ That’s the kind of person he was.”
Growing up I consumed everything I could about Microsoft. Tons of books, every newspaper article, every television interview. Those of you who know the origin story of Microsoft understand that Bill’s quote above is not overstated.
I love this quote from Paul Allen about failure. It was in a talk he gave about the first product he and Bill Gates worked on, called Traf-D-Data (a device to measure traffic patterns)
“Objectively speaking, Traf-O-Data was a failure as a company. Right as our business started to pick up, states began to provide their own traffic-counting services to local governments for free. As quickly as it started, our business model evaporated.
But while Traf-O-Data was technically a business failure, the understanding of microprocessors we absorbed was crucial to our future success. And the emulator I wrote to program it gave us a huge head start over anyone else writing code at the time.
If it hadn’t been for our Traf-O-Data venture, and if it hadn’t been for all that time spent on UW computers, you could argue that Microsoft might not have happened.”
As I sit here in the audience at the Fall RESO Conference and look around at all the attendees I can’t help wonder what 2 people are going to create next big thing. If two guys from Lakeside School can change the world, then what’s stopping us?
Thank you Paul.
RIP Hugh, I’m going to miss your parties
I’ve been to two Playboy parties in my life, both in Las Vegas. I was an AV guy working for a company called Systems 2000. We had a gig working at a convention in Las Vegas at a booth for Newline Cinema. We were next door to the Playboy Home Video booth. This was back in the days before the internet, the time where every corner had a video rental store or a Blockbusters. This was the convention that all the studios would entertain store owners with elaborate parties. But Playboy’s parties were the invites to get.
I got to know the guys working the Playboy booth, and after some horse trading (usually company swag and t-shirts) we secured an invite to the “Playboy Pajama Party” and the “Playboy Wet n’ Wild”party at a local waterpark.
While I can’t publish any of the photos I have from the “Wet n’ Wild” party I do have this photo from the Pajama Party.
I thought I had hit it off with the current Playmate of the Year, Stacy Sanches, she said I was funny. So after the party I asked her out (she declined, said she was “busy”.) But, look at this photo, she’s in to me, right?!
RIP Hugh. Hope you went out with a smile!
