The Iowa Association of REALTORS® introduced its 2018 Leadership Team at the Annual Convention held recently at the Marriott Conference Center in Coralville.
Mark Kamps of Iowa City was installed as the 2018 President. The remaining members of the 2018 Leadership Team include John Goede of Spencer, President-Elect; Scott Wendl of Johnston, Vice President; Jennifer Burkamper of Boone, Treasurer; and Cindy Miller of Burlington, Past President.
After high school and 2 years at Loras College in Dubuque, Mark pursued his dream of broadcasting. He attended a broadcasting school in Minneapolis, worked at a station in Florida and then moved to Iowa City. Mark worked forseveral local radios stations while finishing his bachelor’s degree at Iowa. He wore multiple hats at the stations as an on-air personality, play-by-play announcer for high school and University of Iowa sports, and sports director for the station. He interviewed coaches of all teams at the University of Iowa and was the host of a recorded TV sports show called Hawk Talk.
Mark became licensed in real estate after changes at the station and joined Smith Real Estate in 1984. Only a few months prior, Mark had begun his duties as the Public Address Announcer for the University of Iowa Women’s basketball team. Mark continued to handle the PA duties for the women’s team until 2002. Over the years, Kamps has announced men’s and women’s gymnastics; volleyball; softball; baseball and sometimes wrestling. In 1999, he took over the duties as PA announcer for the men’s basketball team, too. Mark was announcing for both basketball teams and men’s gymnastics but, as his business and family grew, he decided to focus on announcing for only the men’s basketball team. You can still hear him at men’s games as the voice of the Hawkeyes in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Meanwhile, Mark's real estate career continued to blossom and in 1989 he became co-owner of Fink and Kamps Real Estate. In 1993 he became a co-owner of the Coldwell Banker Franchise and in 1997 merged with 2 other long-time independent Iowa City Real Estate firms. Besides actively selling residential properties, Mark serves as Vice President of Coldwell Banker Real Estate Professionals. He’s actively volunteered with the local Iowa City Association of REALTORS® (ICAAR) since early in his career, having served or chaired almost every committee at the local level. Mark served as President of the Iowa City Area Association of REALTORS® in 1995. 14 years later he stepped in to fill a void on the board which ultimately led to another term as President of ICAAR in 2013. He has been recognized by his peers as ICAAR’s REALTOR of the Year twice; 1995 and 2016.
He became involved at the state level as well. Mark has served on multiple committees over the years with the Iowa Association of REALTORS® (IAR) including Legislative Committee, Executive Committee, RPAC Trustees, 3R, Realtor Foundation of Iowa, Communications Committee Chair and progressed onto the IAR Leadership team. He attends conferences around the state, on behalf of Iowa Realtor’s as well as National Association of REALTOR (NAR) Conferences throughout the country. At the national level, he serves on the Broker Involvement Council and the NAR Board of Directors.
In his free time, Mark, along with his wife and licensed Real Estate Assistant, Angela Hodges, enjoy spending time with family and friends and travelling. Alaska is the only state he has yet to visit to complete seeing all 50. Healso enjoys music and attending live concerts. Keeping true to his heritage, he loves traditional Irish music and a good Irish beer.
Mark looks forward to visiting each of the 17 local boards during his term as President of the Iowa Association of REALTORS®. He is passionate about spreading the good news of the First Time Home Buyer Savings Account thatgets underway in 2018. Planning of and determining the new location for the state association office is another important project in his Presidential year.