Meet the 2022 GCAR Board of Directors
Kendall Baker
Kendal Baker, Octagon Realty
President
As the principal broker of Octagon Realty, Kendal Baker has 14 years of experience in real estate. An active member of GCAR and CIREB, Kendal has served on the GCAR and Global MLS board of directors, the Professional Standards, Strategic Planning, and Finance Committees, and is currently a NYSAR Director. Before joining GCAR, Kendal served as a director and then President on the Washington County Board of REALTORS®. In 2022 Kendal will serve on the National Association of REALTORS® board of directors.
Kendal holds an MBA from Columbia University and was a financial advisor with CommVerge Solutions, a telecom integration company based in Hong Kong, and a Senior Credit Officer with the Bayerische Vereinsbank, based in Munich. Little known fact: Kendal is a trombone player with the Sage City Symphony and the Stardusters swing band.
Linda Yetto
Linda Yetto, R.L. Yetto Real Estate
President-Elect
Linda Yetto has had her Real Estate License since 1976. She currently is head of Acquisitions and Leasing for the Atlantic Homes Group a division of NAI/Platform Realty Group. Before joining Platform, Linda was principal broker for RL Yetto Real Estate. Her 45 combined years of experience in Real Estate Management and Sales, Property Management, and Mortgage Consulting has allowed her to work with agents, clients, tenants, investors, vendors, receiverships, city officials, and government representatives. Some of Linda’s more rewarding clients have been the VA Hospital which enabled her to work with Veterans and her work on the Vista Program for Siena College.
Kathleen Sullivan
Kathleen Sullivan, Keller Williams Capital District
Secretary-Treasurer
With more than 39 years of experience in real estate, Kathleen is an associate broker with Keller Williams Capital District. Kathleen also serves as a director on the NYSAR Board of Directors. Kathleen has extensive sales and marketing experience and is a Certified Buyer Representative specializing in residential, new construction, and condo sales. Kathleen served two terms on the GCAR Board of Directors before being elected Secretary-Treasurer and is looking forward to her new role. A lifelong resident of Delmar, Kathleen has three grandchildren who all live in the area and enjoys spending her “spare” time with them. She is a past board member and president of Bethlehem Pop Warner and has coached soccer, football, cheerleading, and baseball.
Directors
Kirsten Blanchard
Kirsten Nachbar Blanchard, Coldwell Banker Prime Properties
Kirsten Nachbar Blanchard has been a REALTOR® since 1988 and became an associate broker in 1997. She holds several professional designations including, Graduate REALTORS® Institute (GRI), Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB), Certified Buyer Representative (CBR), and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES). Kirsten’s participation in GCAR’s Community Relations, RPAC, Trade Show, Grievance, and Education committees throughout the years served her well to accept an appointment on the GCAR Board of Directors in 2019. Not so little known fact: In 2021, Kirsten became a proud grandmother to her daughter Amanda’s baby boy!
Felton McLaughlin
Felton McLaughlin, NAI Platform
Since joining NAI Platform in 2005, Felton McLaughlin has focused on office, investment, and re-development properties in the Capital Region. He has served on the Board of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District and the Mayor’s Rezone Albany Commission. He also served as the Chairman of the Colonie Business Council for two years. Before joining Platform, Felton was a partner in a Capital Region real estate investment group. Because of his background with technology start-ups, he has also been active in High Peaks Venture Partners and the Al-Tech Technology Acceleration Fund dedicated to funding start-up companies in the region.
A strong RPAC investor and always politically savvy, in 2017 Felton was appointed Federal Political Coordinator for Congressman Paul Tonko by the National Association of REALTORS®. Prior to his appointment to the GCAR Board of Directors, Felton spent six years on the Board of Directors of the Commercial and Industrial Real Estate Brokers of the Capital Region (CIREB), his last in 2017 as President.
Jennifer Olmstead
Jennifer Olmstead, Olmstead Real Estate Group Inc
Jennifer Olmstead has been a REALTOR® since 2006. She is the principal broker of Olmstead Real Estate Group. She has served as a committee member of various GCAR and NYSAR committees throughout the years. She is a member of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® and was 2019 Capital Region’s president. She also served on the state board of WCR for the past two years. She has experience in both commercial and residential real estate and is looking forward to guiding the industry in a direction that is positive and healthy for both our agents and our clients. Jenn enjoys spending time with her two boys. Engaged to a soldier currently serving in Iraq, Jenn looks forward to his return and a walk down the aisle!
Michelle Poccia
Michelle Poccia, Keller Williams Capital District
In 1989 after being successful with a “For Sale by Owner”, the real estate bug bit Michelle. In 1990 Michelle obtained her license to help other buyers and sellers. In 1993 she became a licensed associate real estate broker. As a successful professional, Michelle was appointed to and served with distinction on a variety of GCAR committees and subsequently the GCAR and NYSAR board of directors.
Dan Shepard
Dan Shepard, All In 1 Realty Services LLC
With a passion for helping people buy and sell their homes, Dan has been a REALTOR® for 15 years. To hone his professional expertise, over time Dan has obtained the CBR, ABR, RENE, and SFR designations. As a broker, Dan has provides opportunities for new agents from many different backgrounds, particularly from the military, law enforcement, and first responder careers believing that it is his past military service that enables him to help them transition into the business world.
Dan is an active member of the Professional Standards Committee and has served on several professional standards hearing panels. He has also served on the Education Committee and Broker-Owner-Managers Council. The 2020 GCAR REALTOR of the Year, this year is Dan’s first on the Board of Directors.
Kathie Spangler
Kathie Spangler, Julie & Co Realty
A REALTOR® since 2004, Kathie Spangler is an Associate Broker with Julie & Co. Realty, LLC in Saratoga Springs.
Kathie holds the Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation and has earned the prestigious Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation. In 2014 Kathie served as President of the Southern Adirondack REALTORS® as well as the Adirondack Regional Vice-President from 2015 to 2017 for the New York State Association of REALTORS®. She has been a board member of the Glens Falls Collaborative since 2016 and a Women in Business Member of the Lake George Regional Chamber since 2017.
Melissa Woodcock
Melissa Woodcock, Staged Nest Real Estate
Melissa is the Broker/Owner of Staged Nest Real Estate. She began her real estate career in 2005 as an agent and worked for two national brokers for over ten years. Melissa received the Accredited Staging Professional (ASP Professional Home Stager) designation in 2008 and the Home Staging Expert (HSE) designation in 2013. By 2016 she was ready to venture out on her own and opened Staged Nest Real Estate in Latham, NY.
Melissa also holds the CBR (Certified Buyer Representative), Certified New Home Sales Professional, and (ABR) Accredited Buyer Representative designations. Before her appointment to the GCAR Board of Directors, Melissa participated for several years on various GCAR committees including, Professional Standards, Trade Show, and Broker/Owner/Manager. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as practicing yoga, skiing, or hiking in the Adirondacks.
Jeffrey Decatur
Jeffrey Decatur, RE/MAX Capital
Immediate Past President
Jeffrey Decatur is an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Capital in Albany. He has been involved in GCAR since he obtained his license in 1994. In 2017 Jeffrey was named GCAR’s REALTOR® of the Year. Jeffrey is a member of the state association’s board of directors and serves on the NYSAR Professional Standards Committee, RPAC Trustees, Education Management, Legal Action, and Nominating Committees. He has also served on the GCAR RPAC, Education, Community Relations, and Trade Show Committees.