The Iowa Association of REALTORS® (IAR) recently announced Ken Clark of West Des Moines as the 2017 REALTOR® of the Year. The IAR presented the honor and other special awards at its Inaugural Gala held recently in Coralville.
Ken Clark has been a leader in our industry for over 40 years.
Clark grew up as a farm kid helping with the dairy cows. After high school, he served in the U.S. Army Intelligence unit during Vietnam. Shortly after the military, he started in both real estate and insurance in his hometown of Pleasantville. Ken and his wife, Diane, worked at the real estate and insurance company together. He served as the President of the Marion County Board of REALTORS® in the late 1970s. Ken enjoyed serving in variety of local organizations, such as President of the Red Rock Lake Association, President of the Pleasantville Chamber, Chairman of the Marion County Republican Central Committee, and the finance chairman of his local church for many years.
Ken joined Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group in 1991 and spent nearly 25 years as a broker manager and later as Senior Vice-President for Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group. Ken and his wife, Diane, moved to West Des Moines in 2003. Recently they started a new company VIA Group, REALTORS®. Ken has been active on various committees for the Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® (DMAAR). Clark was selected as DMAAR's REALTOR® of the Year in 2010. After serving as a long-time member on the DMAAR Board of Directors, Clark stepped into leadership culminating as the President of DMAAR in 2012.
Ken has served in many capacities at the state level. As a long-time Council of Residential Specialist (CRS) Designee, Ken served in leadership roles for the Iowa CRS Chapter, including President in 2005. Clark was named CRS of the Year in 2005. Clark has volunteered to serve on several committees at the Iowa Association of REALTORS® (IAR). He has been a member of the Legislative Committee, Housing Opportunity Committee, Legal Reference and Pro Standards Committee. Ken has served on the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors for several years. Ken served as IAR President in 2016. Clark created the 20 by 2025 initiative that encourages REALTORS to serve in non-political and political roles locally and at the state level. The 20 by 2025 slogan is driven by the idea of 20 percent of our REALTORS® in all types of governmental positions by 2025.
In addition to his local and state volunteerism, Clark has served on the Professional Development Committee and the Risk Management Committee for the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Ken is currently serving on the Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee and the Board of Directors for NAR.
Ken and his wife Diane reside in West Des Moines and enjoy spending time with their two sons and four grandchildren.